New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-30

FIRST Tuesday alter the first MONDAY ia No
yenber preceding the expiration of the term
OF the then present Congressman. This you
will observe brings the election of State and
county officers in the Off year, and the mem-
bers Of Congress in the even year giving US
consequently, annual elections. Now, the
Attorney General contends that the Consti-
tuition strictly prohibits annual elections, and
IN order to haunonise our elections with the
provisions We cannot have an election until
November 1874 thus bringing our State aud
county election in the same year with our
election for members ot G. a .ress. But, Will .
it is true that we are now subject to annual
elections, he seems to lose sight altogether
of the fact, that, in accordance with the pro-
visions of our Constitution we do have bien-
NAL elections for each of the officers requir-
ed to be elected. We elect our county Off
GERS biennially, and our Congressman bien-
nially, but in different ycars-giving us con-
sequently an election every year. But these
are two different class of officers altogether.
We have no control over the time at which
the members of Congress are to be elected.
as that is regulated by the law OF Congress
itself. But We can and do say at what tine
our State officers are to be elected, and We
have prescribed the time in accordance with
the Constitution. 1t was our misfortune that
We were defeated in lsG8-an even wear ::
but the law regulating the time at which mem
bers of Congress shall be elected has moth
u ha tpv 70 Il nxxyifI ha -; -.
shall elect our State and county officers
Congress regulates one, and we regulate the
other. And the Attorney Generals opinion
that our biennial election ought to conform
with the biennial elections of congressman
seems to one quite fimsy. Persons, though
differing with him, give him credit for his in
genous argument but they utterly condemn
the Governor, for suffering himself to be
plant tool, in calling the Legislature together
to repeal the law, and enact a new one re-
quiring an election in 1874. Should they re-
peal the present law, we shall have 40 Leg
islature until 1875, as legislators cannot hold
over until their successors are qualified.
The Governor, never should have called
the Legislature together; but he could have
enJolned the Registrars, if he had any doubts
as regards the law and let them take an a,,-
peal to the Supreme Court, and let the Judges
pass upon the constitutionality of the law.
This would have been the best and most
economical way. But in these southern States,
we have demaSogues who place their all
upon an office, and they would Stay a man,
bankrupt the State, or bring about chaos and
confusion to crafty their political aims and
animosities. fear the House will repeal,
the law, as several of our best Republican
members have resigned. But our hope is in
the Senate. The Democrats, of course, will
do anything to disorganize cur party, and if
they see dsintegration of the Republican in
the future, by voting fol repeal of the law
whether constitutional or not, they will vote
for it. Gov. Powers, by his actions, has
driven his watmest friends from him, aud is
bring about his defeat in cur late convention,
and the Democrats.
His friends say that had he been success.
ful in securing the nomination for Governor,
the question Of the constitutionality of the
law never would have been asked, aud the
Legislature never would have heen called
together.
1t seems to be strange feature in politi-
cal economy to call the Legislature together,
at an expense to the State of nearly, or quite
twelve hundred dollars day, and the con
sequent reduction OF ten cents, on our war
rants, to save the dear people the expense
of an election as the Governor states in
one Of his Proclamations. CIvis