Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-06-06

United States hold their seats. Its consttu-
tionality is not called in question. II is con-
fdently believed that no sound argument can
be made in support of the constitutionality of
national regulation Of Senatorial elections,
which will not show that elections Of mem
bors of the House of Representatives may al
so be constitutionally regulated by the nation
nj authority.
NOT STATE ELECTIONS.
The bill before me itself recognizes the
principle that the Congressional elections are
| not State elections, but national elections. II
leaves in full force the existing statute under
which supervisors are still to be appointed by
national authority to 'observe and witness
| the Congressional elections whenever due ap-
plCaton is made 10y citizens who desire said
elections to be guarded and scrutinized." II
the power to supervise in any respect what
ever the Congressional elections exists under
section (, article /, of the constitution, it is
power which, like every other power belong
ing to the government Of the United States,
is paramount and supreme, and includes the
right to employ the necessary means to carry
it into effect.
The statutes of the United States which
regulate the election of members Of the
House Of Representatives, an essential part of
! which it 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 1876. Numerous pros
ecutions, trials and convictions have been
had in the courts Of the United States in all
parts of the Union for violations Of these
laws. In no reported case has their constitu-
| tonality been called in question by any Judge
Of the courts Of the United States The valid
! ity of these laws is sustained by the uniform
course of judicial action and opinion.
ORIGIN OF THE ELECTION LAWS.
If it is urged that the United Statcs cleo
! ton laws are not necessary, an ample reply is
! furnished by the history Of their origin and
their results. They We're especially prompted
! by the investigation and exposure Of the
! frauds committed in the city and State Of
! New York at the elections Of 1865. Commit
! tees representing both Of the leading political
! parties Of the country have submitted reports
to the House Of Representatives on the ex-
| tent of those frauds. 4 committee of the
! Fortieth Congress, after a full investigation
reached the conclusion that the number of
| fraudulent votes cast in the city of New York
| alone in 1865 was not less than -, 900 A
| committee of the Forty-fourth Congress in
their report submitted in 1877, adopted the
| opinion that for every 100 actual voters Of the
| city Of New York in 1865. los votes were cast
when in fact the number Of lawful votes cast
| could not have exceeded eighty eight per cent
| of the actual voters of the city BY this
! statement the number Of fraudulent votes at
| that election in the city Of New York alone
was between 80, 600 and 80, 600. These frauds
completely reversed the result of the election
| in the State of New York, both ms to the
| choice of Governor and State officers, and as
| to the choice of electors of President aud
| Vice President of the United States. They
attracted the attention Of the whole country
1t was plain that if they could be continued
and repeated with impunity free government
| was impossible. A distinguished Senator in
| opposing the passage Of the Election laws
declared that he had 'for a long time boliev-
| cd that our form OF government was COM
parative failure in the larger cities" TO
meet these evils and to prevent these crimes
the United States laws regulating Congress
| sOnal elections were enacted.
RESULTS OF THE LAWS
The trainers of these laws have not been
disappointed in their results. In the large
| cities under their provisions the elections have
been comparatively peaceahlc, orderly and
honest. Even the opponents Of these laws
| have borne testimony to their value and ef-
| fciency and to the necessity for their enact
| ment. The committee Of the Forty fourth
Congress, composed of members majority
Of whom were opposed to these laws, in their
said -
The committee commend to other portions
Of the country and TO other cities this remark
able system, developed through the agency of
| both local and federal authorities. acting Ia
| harmony for an honest purpose. In 40 Tor-
| ton of the world and in no era Of time, where
| there has been an expression of the popular
will through the forms Of law has there been
| q more complete and thorough illustration of
! republican institutions. Whatever may have
been the previous habit or conduct of cleo
tions in those cities, or howsoever they may
conduct themselves in the future, this ,lrc-
ton of 1876 will stand as monument Of what
good faith, honest cndeavur legal forms and
just authority may do for the protection Of
the electoral franchise.
This bill recognizes 'lo authority and duty
of the United States to appoint supervisors tu
guard and scrutiuize the Congr. ssuual rl,c-
t;ou- but it denies TO tie government of tn
United Stats all power to maxi it's ,nl.ryis-
ion eHrCtudi. The great body Of the people Of
all parties want free and fair elections. Thy
do not think that "a free election means free
dom from the whulcsou, restraints of .aw.
or that the place Of AZ election should be
sanctuary for !twl ssh and crime. On Tia,
day Of an election peace and good order arr
more necessary than Oh any other day Of the
year. On that day the humhl,st and feehlcst
citizens, the aged and the iufrm, should b.,
and should have reason to feel, that they ART
safe in the exercise Of their most responsible
duty and their most sacred right rs maInh-r,
of society their duty and their right To- votc.
The constitutional authority 20 regulate tin
Congressional elections, which belongs to ia.
government Of the United States, and which
it is necessary TO exert to secure tn right 10
vote 10 every citizen possessing the requisite
qualifications, ought to be enforced bv an
proprate legislation.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT
SO far from public opinion in any part Of
the country favoriug any relaxation Of the
authority of the government in the prutcc-
ton of elections from violence and corrup-
ton, believe it demand, greater vgor both
in the enactment and in the execution Of laws
framed for that purpose. Any uppr, ,siou,
any partisan Partially which experience may
have shown IN the working Of existing laws
may well engage the careful attention both of