The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-06-06

ton Is made by citizens who desire said cleo
tons TO be guarded and scrutinized." II the
power to supervise, in any respect whatever,
the Congressional elections exist under Section
4, Article OF the constitution il In power
which, like evrey other power belonging TO the
Government of the United States, il paramount
and supreme. and includes the right to employ
the necessary means TO carry IL into effect
The statutes of the United States which regu-
late the election of members of the House of
Representatives, essential part Of which il is
proposed to repeal by this bill, have been in
force about eight years. Four Congressional
elections have been held under them, two OF
which were at the Presidential elections of 1872
and 1874 Numerous prosecutions, trials and
convictions have been held in the courts of the
United States in all parts of the Union for viola
tons OF these laws In no reported case has
their consttutionality been called in question
by any Judge of the courts Of the
United States. The validity of these laws is
sustained by the uniform course OF judicial ac-
ton and opinion. If il Is urged that the United
States Election laws are not necessary, an ample
reply is furnished by history OF their origin
and OF their results They were especially
prompted by the investigation and exposure
of frauds committed in the city and State of
New York at the elections of 1878 Committees
representing both Of the leading political par
ties Of the country have submitted reports to
the House Of Representatives as to the ex-
The committee of the Fortieth Con-
gress, after full investigation, reached
the conclusion that the number
of fraudulent votes cast in the city of New York
slone in le6S was not less than $4,000 A com
mittee of the Forty fourth Congress, in it's re-
port. submitted in 1877, adopted the opinion
that for every 100 actual voters Of the city Of
New York, in 1868, 1OS votes were cast, when.
in fact, the number of lawful votes cast could
not have exceeded SO per cent of the
i a.k.x IA All.
ment the number of the fraudulent
votes at that election in the city of
New York alone was between 80 900 and 40, 600.
These frauds completely reversed the result of
the election in the State of New York, both az
to the choice of Governor and State officers,
and as to the choice Of electors for President
and Vice President of the United States. They
| attracted the attention of the whole country.
II was plain that, if they could be continued
and repeated with impunity, free government
was impossible.
| A Distinguished Senator, in opposing the pas
sage of the election laws. declared that he had
| for long time believed that our form of gov
eminent was a comparative failure in the large
| cities TO meet these evils and to prevent
these crimes the United States laws regulating
| Congressional elections were enacted. The
trainers of these laws have not been disappoint-
| ed In their results. In the large cities, under
| their provisions, the elections have been COM
paratively peaceable, orderly and honest
L
| testimony to their value and efficiency, and to
the necessity for their enactment
| The committee of the Forty fourth Con-
| gress, composed of members a majority of
whom were opposed to these laws in their re-
port on the New York election of 1875, said:
The committee would commend to other por-
tons of the country, and to other cities. this
remarkable system developed through the
agency Of both the local and Federal
authorities, acting in harmony for an honest
purpose. In no portion of the world in no
era of time where there has been an
expression OF the popular will through
the forms Of law, has there been a more com
plete and thorough illustration of republican
institutions. Whatever may have been the
previous habit or conduct of elections in those
cities, or bowsoever they may conduct them
selves in future, this election Of 1876 will stand
as monument of what good faith, honest en-
deavor, legal forms and just authority may
do for the protection OF the electoral franchise"
This bill recognizes the authority and duty of
the United States to appoint Supervisors to
guard and scruunize Congressional elections;
but it denies to the Government of the United
States all power to make its provisions effectual
The great body of the people want free and fair
elections. They do not think that free cleo
ton means freedom from the wholesome re-
straints OF law, or that the place of an election
should be sanctuary for awlessness and crime
"a the day OF an election, peace and good
order are more necessary than on any other
day of the year. On that day the humblest
and feeblest citizens, the aged and infirm
should be and should have reason to feel that
they are safe in the exercise of their most re-
sponsible duty, and their most sacred right as
members of society, their duty and their right
to vote
Constitutional authority TO regulate Congress
sional elections, which belongs to the Govern
ment of the United States, and which il il nee
essary to exert TO secure the right 10 vote to
every citizen possessing the requisite qnalifca-
tons, ought 10 be enforced by appropriate leg
Station So far from public opinion in any
part OF the country favoring any relaxation OF the
authority of the Government in the protection
of elections from violence and corruption, / be-
lieve it demands greater vigor both in the en-
actment and in the execution of the laws
framed for that purpose. Any OPP
preston, any partisan partiality VIII oh ex-
perience may have shown in the working OF
the existing laws may we'll engage the careful
attention, both Of Congress and of the Execu-
tive in their respective spheres of duty for the
correction OF these mischiefs. As no Con-
gressional elections occur until after the regu-
lar session of Congress will have been held,
there seems to be no public exigeDcy that
would preclude seasonable consdera-
ton at this session Of any admins
tration of details that might improve
the present methods designed for the
protection Of all citizens in a complete and
equal exercise of the right and power of suf
frage at such elections But with my views,
both of the constitutiouality and of the value of
the existing laws, cannot approve any meas
ure for their repeal except in connection with
enactment of other legislation, which may rea-
sonably be expected TO afford wiser and more
efficient safeguards for free and honest Con-
gressioual elections.
(Signed) RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, May 20, 1879