The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-23

The Bayonet' Election BiiI-Grant's
GaHe for rRe-electfon-spee OF Mfr.
EIdriaEe. Z - .,rs. ss.z,-.
Mr.. Fldridge said OF all the legislation
proposed by this or any other Congress there
is none, in my judgment, more unwarrant-
able and nnjustiiable than that proposed
by this bill. It is absolutely atrocious. II
has no warrant in the Constitution. and no
precedent, unless it. be in the act to, which
this is amendatory, in any previous prac.
tlce OF the Government. Aside from that it
stands alone, original as it is hideons and
revolving. It has not the merit of one re.
deeming provision or quality. It win bind
the several States hand and foot, and deliver
them over to the Federal Government sub
jugated and helpless, the mere tools and
slaves OF Congress. This bill law, and
the law acquiesced in by the people, the
States and all State institutions. and laws.
so far as rights and powers are con.
cerped, are absolutely overthrown and
blotted out. The existence of the
States and all their institutions can only
be in the name they cannot act or move.
except by the permission and will Of the
Federal power. Sir, this bill is the crown
ing act Of Capitalization and consolidation.
Stealthily and by somewhat measured step
heretofore has been the march of Federal
power upon the rights and jurisdiction Of
States but this reaches the point and ae-
complishes State destruction by q single
bound, by one grand act. 1t brushes away
at once and finally all State machinery ana
local authority, and substitutes in their
place the Federal bayonets. 1t not only
subjugates and subjects all local and State
4 fSn4r 1ff5l - II IN =. IL
making them the instruments of its execu-
tion, loading them with pains, penalties,
and forieitures for it's neglect, but makes
them criminals for obedience to the laws of
the State whose officers they are, and to
which they are bound by their solemn
oaths. 1t creates host of new offices be-
fore unknown, and fills the land with
spies and informers with large pay
and enoluments for their filthy work
1t establishes and ordains q multitude
of crimes heretofore not known to our
law. 1t seeks to oyerawe free American
citizens and control their votes by the
menace Of the sword and the presence at
the voting precinct of the soldier Of the
army. 1t places for ten days at and before
the time of elections paid agents, two or
more at each voting place, in the interest
of the majority of Congress. to ''scruti.
nize." manage, and control the votes of the
people, to secure by fair means or foul the
continuation in power of q corrupt aud
radical Congress. Mr.. Speaker, no fair.
diced man, can read the provisions of this
bill without being convinced that it has its
origin in the interest of an unscrupulous
| and desperate party. 1t bears on its face
| and in all its provisions the clearest eyi.
dence of its origin and purpose, not to Sc.
cure, but to prevent pure and fair elections
not to aid the voter to express his own un.
| biased judgment. but to awe him into sub.
| mission and control him against his conyic.
ton. Its very title is a false pretence, il
/ not lie, adopted for the purpose of de.
fFauding the people and cheating them into
| the support Of most infamous measure
can act TO enforce the rights of citizens
of the United States to vote in the several
States of this Union"
he fllsity of this title will be perceived
| by reference to only few of the provisions
of the bill imposing conditions upon and
throwing impediments in the way Of free
suffrage. In the first place, by the first sec.
tion of the bill the Federal Government
takes full and absolute possession of the
registry of voters provided for by any ol
the states of the Union. 1t takes posses.
| ~
| vided by State laws for the administration
| of the registry laws of the States. 1t adopt:
| the registrations made by the States in the
| following proviSo
"That every registration made under the
laws of any State or Territory for any State
or other election at which such Represent
ative or Delegate in Congress shall bt
| chosen shall be deemed to be q registration
within the meaning of this act, notwith
standing the same shall also be made fol
the purposes of any State, territorial, Of
municipal election"
| Notwithstanding this it imposes penal
| ties, and denounces as crimes acts Of Suct
officers in conformity with and in obedienc,
to the registry laws of the State. 1t pro
yides for the appointment Of supervisors tt
guard and "scrutinize" the registration
and elections, whose duties among others
as provided by the fourth section, are thu
| defined:
"They and each of them are hereby au
| thoriZed and required to attend at all times
and places fixed for the registration of vo
| ters, who being registered would be enti
tied to vote for Representative or Delegate
| in Congress, and to challenge any person
| Offering to register,
| Let it be observed A.: "Required to attene
and to challenge any person Offering tC
register" How far this is calculated to en-
force the right Of citizens Of the United
States to vote, how far it goes to sustain
present to the candid mind to judge. The
bill further requires these tools of party ant
of the Federal power to attend at all time
and places where the names Of registered
! voters may be marked for challenge, ant
upon any occasion and at any time whel
so in attendance to personally inspect ant
scrutinize such registry; and this withou
regard to, and to the exclusion Of the off
GERS of the State in charge. By the fiftl
section of the bill these supervisors ar,
required" to attend at all times ant
places for holding elections for represen
tatives in Congress, and for count
ing the votes cast "to challenge an,
Ivote offered" to remain with the ballot-bo1
till the last vote is counted, and to them
selves count and canvass each and ever.
ballot, whatever may be the endorsement
; on said ballot, or in whatever box it ma.
be found" And these supervisors are au
lthorized and required to make and attacl
to the returns any statement touching tn
truth or accuracy of the registry, or tn
truth or fairness of the election, any law Q
any State notwithstanding. The sixth sec
ton provides that these supervisors shall
on the day or days OF registration, on tn
day or days when registered voters may b.
marked for challenge, and on the day Q
days of election, take, occupy, and remail
in such position or positions before. o
behind the ballot boxes as their jude
ment may dictate. And when the poll
shall be closed, they are required Z
place themselves in such, position wit
reference to the ballot-boXes as the
may choose for the purpose of canvassin
the votes. AL these things may be don
without regard for and to the exclusion 9
the State officers appointed to do the work