The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-25
STARTLING PROGRAMMES.
RecanstrucfiOn so be Reconatructed-
The Now Radical scheme-Ali the
States to have their Elections
Suspended by Grant.

The following. which we copy from the
New York Tribune. may be regarded as Of
| ficial though it is thrown out as feeler.
If the Virginia Legislature shall not now
take steps towards holding the Congress
sional elections at different time from all
other elections, 1t will deserve universal
condemnation:
| from y Washington telegram 10 y. Y. Tribune
| No more important question was ever
submitted to any Congress or any Admins.
tration than that which is forced upon the
Government at the present time by this al
! legged condition Of affairs. Senators sum
ner, Morton, "Conkling, and others, have
considered It seriously, but have failed to
discover any method of reliet. Senator Nor.
ton. particularly. is now studying the sub.
| rct, and finds cause for grave apprehen'
| sion.
| All see the constitutional imposSibility
| orintcrfcrence by Congress in state or mul-
nicipal elections. but, at the same time,
| they urge the necessity of such interfer-
encc a> the only means Of escape from them
uhe Southern loyalists, carpet-haggerS,
scalawags. and nesroes) that Congress has
| no power TO control their State affairs, they
reply. in the desperation of their helpless
ness It1aL ''lIlc NONeiHiHCDl ouSub " bC
, able to protect its loyal citizens against the
attacks OF those who. but 4 few years since,
sought TO DESTROY it." and declare that a
(; condition Of rebellion, without slavery as a
| foundation, it is true. but with the slave
holding spirit of animosty to Republican,
| ism as its basis, now exists in many locall-
ties rs rampant in its defiance of yankee
laws" as it did at any time during the war.
To such rejoinders rs these it Is difficult to
make answer.
Their efforts will culminatc in an attempt
to extend the power Of Congress in the mat
ter of the election Of its own members, so
as to give it virtual control OF all state or
municipal elections in the country. Start
linz as this announcement may be, it is, ne.
yertheleSS, true, and two bills having this
object in view are now before the House
Judiciary Committee. These bills propose
the erection of system of supervision by
United States officers appointed by the
United States Circuit Court, over all the
elections held in either the North or the
South, at which Congressman or delegates
to Congress may be chosen, notwithstand'
ing State. territorial, or municipal laws to
the contrary. In other words. it is proposed
to assume that the undoubted power OF
Congress to supervise the election Of its
own members when such elections, or re-
can be extended so as to incIudca super
vision over registration and the canvass of
votes for every other office voted for
at that election. The machinery Of this
system is complicated, but perfect so far as
the objects to be accomplished through its
operation are concerned. From the Com
missioncrs of the United States Circuit
Courts chief supervisor Of elections is
to he appointed, whose duties are described
to he to receive reports from subordinate
supervisors, furnish necessary blanks,
! books, lists, &C., and 10 cause the names OF
those uponan list whose right to register
or vote Shall be honestly doubted to be veri-
fed hy proper inquiry and examination at
the respective places by them assigned as
their residences" 1t is made the duty of
the subordinate supervisors to attend the
; sittiugs Of the boards of registration in
, their respective precincts. ana it is pro-
yided that every registration made under
the laws of any State or Territory for any
State or other election ut which such repre-
sentative or delegate in Congress shall be
/; chosen. shall be deemed Il registration
within the meaning OF this act (and also
within the meaning of the enforcement act)
notwithstanding the same shall also be made
for the purposes of any State, territorial, or
municipal election" 1t is further made their
duty TO attend the election held in pursu-
! ance OF such registrations, "tO challenge
! any vote offered to be and remain where
the bailot-boXes are kept at all times af,er
the polls are open until each and every vote
cast at said time and place shall be counted,
the canvass of all votes polled be wholly
completed, and the proper and requisite
| certificates or returns made, whether said
certificates or returns he required under
| any law of the United States, or any State,
territorial, or municipal law; and to per-
Sonally inspect and scrutiniZe, from time to
| time, and 1T all times, on the day Of eec-
ton, the manner in which the voting is
done, and the way and method in which the
poll-books, registry lists, and tallcs. or
k-hooks, whether the same are
! required by any law of the United States,
or any State, territorial, or municipal law,
are kept and to the end that each cam
didatc for the Office Of representative or
delegate in Congress shall obtain the bene-
! tit OF every vote for him cast. the said su-
; perviSors Of election are required in their
! districts to personally scrutinize, count, or
canvass each and every ballot in their dis
tricts cast, whatever may be the endorse
ment on said ballot, or in whatever box 1t
may have been placed or found )" to for
! ward reports of their proceedings to the
chief supervisors, "and to attach to the
! registry list, and any and all copies thereof,
and 10 any certificate, statement, or return,
whether the same OF any part or portion
thereof be required by any law of the
United States, or of any State, territorial,
or municipal law, any statement touching
the truth or accuracy of the registry, or the
truth or fairness of the election and
canvass, which the said supervisors
of election may desire to make or
attach, or which should properly or
honestly be made or attached, in order that
the facts may become known, any law of
any State or Territory to the contrary not
withstanding." They are also authorized
and required, during the registration and
election days. "to take, occupy, and re-
main in such position or positions. from
time to time, trhether before or behind the
ballot bones, as will in their Judgment best
enable them to see each person offering
himself for registration or Offering to vote,
and as will best conduce to their scruti-
nizing the manner in which the registra-
ton or voting is being conducted ; and ut
the closing Of the polls for the reception OF
votes, they are required to place themselves
in such position in relation to the ballot.
boxes. for the purpose Of engaging in the
work of canvas>ing the ballots in said boxes
contained, or as will enable them to fully per-
form the duties in respect to such canvass
provided in this act, and shall there remain
until every duty in respect to such canvass,
certificates, returns, and statements, shall
have been wholly completed, any law of
any State or Territory to the contrary not
wilhstanding." 1t is also provided that the
Circuit Courts shall remain open for the
transaction Of business under those provi-
sions of the uct which impose penalties and
fines for interference with the duties of
the supervisors ; that United States mar
shalS shall appoint special deputies for the
protection OF the supervisors !; that the