Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-05-15

are now members in Congress who hold
their seats by fraud and intimidation
In the State of South Carolina thousands
of tissue ballots were cast last fall-lit-
tie pieces of paper, forty of which would
not make as big a ballot as one of the
tickets voted by you here in Richland
county. These were voted at once and
by one voter. In South Carolina more
votes were cast last fall than there were
men, women and children and cats and
dogs. In the city of New York at one
election more than thirty-five thousand
repeated votes were cast. This was
proven by the investigation of a COM
mittee of Congress, who made an elab-
crate report on the same. In large cities
there is always great danger of such
things being done. You are free from
this species of fraud; here you do not
know what fraud is. One of the most
sacred duties of Congress is the preserva-
tiOn of the purity of elections. There is
but one safeguard against fraud and re-
peating provided by Congress, and now
an effort is being made to repeal it. To
me this question is particularly import
ant. The law provides for us-the peO-
plea certain safeguard. 1t is some
times said that this law is not as efficient
as it might be. Congress can easily
change it and make it better. But in
stead of making it better law they
seek to repeal it. And how do they try
to do it? By passing bill as laws are
ordinarily made? No. There is bill
which provides for the pay of the army
and Congressman. If they would stop
the pay of the Congressman l would not
object. Applause. The Judiciary, the
several departments of the Government,
and the support of the army which pro-
tects the settlers in the West from the
inroads of the Indians. There would be
no objections to the passage of the bill
alone. But they add to this bill meas
ures for the repeal of the election laws,
pass it and present it to the President
for his signature. Sometimes it is just
to add such measures to appropriation
bills. / have seen it done many times.
When this is done for the purpose of
aiding and sustaining the independent
departments of the Government l agree
to it. Congress said to the President:
"YOu consent to the repeal of the cleo
tiOn laws or we will make you no apprO-
priatiOns." The PRESIDENT has sent back
one Of their bills with his OBJECTIONS. He
has the right to do so. Now, my coun-
trymen, do not believe there is going
to be any serious trouble in regard to
the appropriation bill. The good sense
of both parties will see that the posi-
ton of Congress is wrong, and the next
election you Will make Congress see its
error by your votes.
have referred now to all the points
of which / was to speak. / would go a
little further-and here / think both
Democrats and Republicans viii agree
with me. This Government of ours, this
National Government, is supreme in all
its power This Government of the
people, for the people, by the people, Is
above the States; even above the great
State of Ohio. 1t has power to declare
war, make peace, collect duties on i'm
ports, and provides National courts so
that a citizen of one State can sue cit
iZen of another, and all the powers of the
Nation are supreme and above those of
the States. An idea prevailed in the
South that the States had right to Sc
cele, to cut alOOf from the Nation. We
spent millions of treasure and sacrificed
thousands of lives, but came out OF the
conflict victorious. You have judiciary
to decide all questions that may arise
between the States. 1t is important
that all these powers should be kept dis
tinct The election of members of Con-
gress, the most vital one of power,
should be kept inviOlate among the
States by a general election law. Mem
bers of the Senate, we elect by the Leg
islatures, each State as it may see fit.
The States have great power. Whilst
Senators and Presidential electors are
elected by the Legislatures, members of
Congress are elected by the people. The
future election question will be the
passage of a fair general election law
by Congress, which will provide for the
appointment of Supervisors or Marshals,
selected for each party by the judiciary,
who will see that free and fair election
is held and that each elector casts bnt
one vote, which Congress cannot inter-
fere with.
The Secretary discussed this question
for few minutes further, when he
closed and withdrew amid applause.