The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1871-03-03

in the emergency when some OF the
States OF the Union should have failed
or refuse to perform their duties in re-
ference TO the elections of members of
this bod y, SO as 10 defeat their reprcscn-
tation here. Now, Mr.. Speaker, l say,
what every intelligent man knows that
no such emergency has everariscn. You
may take all the States of this Union,
and j include the Commonwealth OF
New York.an1 cxcludcthc RECONSTRUCT
ted Commonwealths OF the South under
Radical control, and you cannot any
where find Il code OF laws that does not
better protect the sacredncss Of the bal
tot box. that does not prescribe better
end taircr laws for the conduct Of cleo
tions and the determining of The will
and the choice OF the people, than any
that ever were. or in my Judgment, cvci
will be enacted by the Congress Of the
United States.
All wisdom, virtue, and legislative
ability. thank God, do net abide here,
and il ought not TO he assumed that they
do. is this pretcntious and seli-right-
cous assumption ont of which is grow
inas to-day near all of the dangers that
surround the liberties OF the people Of
this country. 1t is upon this kind Of as
that are based nearly all the
conduct, policy. and laws enacted by the
ma aiori,y of this House.. But what pow
or is given TO Congress, even in those
extreme cases to Which have referred |:
/ hope gentlemen will give me tlseir at
tcntjon in reference to this point. II is
to make or amend laws 10 regulate the
times, places and manner of holding
elections. Does this bill, with lis nine
teen cuinbroms, complicated, offensive.
and impcrtincnt sections. have one word
OF regulation of the times Of holding
elections! Not onc.H Has it one syllable
about the PAGES Of holding elections
Not one. lias il anything intended to
regulate The manner OF holding cleo
It:ons? Not a word.
On this point hope gentlemen will
Honor mo with their thoughtful attcn-
ton, for it touches the pith and marrow
OF this Whole natter. What is meant
bv the Constitution when ii conlCrs the
lpower 10 regulate tie manner OF holding
Ieipctions!. VI Int is the vital import ol
that language Does it confer upon
ills body the power to require ever.
cieetor in State TO vote 10y bollot. to
vote upon tie written or r'ii'icd ticket
Would hcisuch Il regulation relate K
Ethc manner of voting, not 10 tho man
ncr Oh holding ali election! And i
Congress my :mpose il,at condition
may il not require tliat every citizen q
this country shall vote uron Il sill, hul'
49,. - ,'a st~s.~s-r--,--4-
upon gold gilt paper, or imposo ap!
other condition, that the wisdoin, or FOL
4 Co., sc nj l..u
lrrcss lnav dictaicr uurs II rciatr W III,
manner of holding electious 10 decinr,
that every elec,or, before lie shall vote
must be rcgistcredY Why. no. 1ha
relates 10 Ike determination OF the ones
Ition who arc entitled tovote. wlicA re
longs to the States, and moi 10 Congress
That is quite another question. l, In!
no reference 10 Tic manner OF hcldins
thc election. i say. tLcrcf' re. t!at ever,
provision OF this bAl that relates 10 Ties,
matters about tle :nanueroi voting ant
the manner of deter mining VINO may ol
who may not vote, arc uncoasiilnl,ona
and void. are inpcrincnt. indecent ans
wrong. and hat they ought 10 be rcjcc
ted by this House.
! Mr. Garfield of Ohio. u hat docs Ok
clau.c mean b, the manner OF holding
I. elections!
4 Mr. Kerr. II means. Mr.. Speaker
merely ilis: That ifa state fails by IL
laws 10 provide for holding elections fol
\ Representative 10 this body at all, oi
make such laws rs plainly cvince Will
.linrncss TO dcfcnt representation here
.ithcn Congress may declare that elect ON
shah be held al certain times. ai,lat Ger
tain places, and In certain mahner;f FOL
example. that hallot-hpxcs slial! tc open
Ell at each voting precinct iii tic city 9
/. New York. andthat an election boarf
Shall bc organized there under Fedora
flaws, and in the persons OF one irspcc
tor and two judges and one clerk, " ~
may be appointed under Federal auilo
~, md that these men. that tribunal s.
constituted, may go on and receive fh
votes Of the electors Of the city OF New
y ork. who. under the Constitution ant
laws Of New York, are entitled 10 vote
, and nobody else. That is the limit OF il
4 and Say, therefore, that this House ma
exercise and exhaust lis constitutions
power inthe premises without touchin.
The Qualifications Of electors 10 vote any
" here. You have nothing 10 do wit
the rights Of the people TO vole, and s.
the Constitution expressly declares. an
so il has always been held by lie lathcr
Of the Republic. This was never quci
toned until the unhappy days Of Rc
publican asccndcncy in this counir!
within the last six years. | believe tia
the first suggestion that ihis power eAis
ted here thai was ever made hl the his
! tory Of this Government canc from tl
gentleman from Pennsylvania. | MI
Kelley, about six years ago. about III
/ time | first entered this body. Iut Ill
|, Constitution says, aud this is the begin
! ming and end OF this question. that ''th
electors III each state shall have IL
qualifications requisite for electors Of III
, most numerous branch Of the State I.cs
islaturc." WHO shall determine vli
possesses those qualifications! Can Col
grcss do IL? .s..,.
a