The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-06-05


IONS 70 be guarded and scrutinizedp IF the
power TO supervise, in any respect whatever.
the congressional elections exist under Section
I, Article of the constitution it is a power
Wnlcn, like evrey other power belonging to the
government of the United States, ia Paramount
ana supreme, and includes the right to emnlov
tne necessary means to carry it into effect
Inc statutes of the United States which regu
late the election of members of the House of
Representatives, an essential part of which II ia
proposed to repeal by this bill, have been in
lorce about eight years, Four Congressional
elections have been held under them. two of
which were at the Presidential elections of 1872
and 1876 Numerous prosecutions. trials and
CONVICTIONS have been held in the courts of the
United States in all parts of the Union for viola
uons OF these laws. In no reported case has
their constitutionaity been called in question
py any Judge of the courts of the
United States. The validity of these laws is
sus'aineo py the uniform course of Judicial &C
u ls ana opinion. Ifit is urged that the United
states Election lawsare notnecessary, an ample
reply Is furnished by history OF their origin
ana 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
mes OF the country have submitted reports to
tue House of Representatives as to the ex-
tent OF those frauds - s...
| The committee of the Fortieth Con-
gress, after full investigation, reached
the conclusions that the number
OF fraudulent votes cast in the city of New York
alone IN 1868 was not less than 1000. A com
mlttee 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, 10S votes were cast, when,
IN TACT, the number of lawful votes cast could
not nave exceeded So per cent of the
actual voters of the city. By this state
ment the number of the fraudulent
votes at that election in the city of
New YORK alone was between sc, 600 and 40. 0OO
These frauds completely reversed the result of
the election in the State of New York, both as
! 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.
1t was plain that, if they could be continued
and repeated with impunity, free government
was impossible.
distinguished Senator, in opposing the pas
sage of the election laws, declared that he had
Tor long time believed that our form of gov
eminent was 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
| paranvely peaceable, orderly and honest
Even the opponents of these laws have borne
tesumony to their value and efficiency, and to
the necessity for their enactment
The committee of the Forty-fourth Con-
gress, composed of members majority of
whom were opposed to these laws, in their re-
port on the New York election of 1876 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 formsof law, has there been more COM
plete and thorough illustration of republican
institutions. Whatever may have been the
previous habit or conduct of elections in those
cities, or howsoever 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 i"
! This bill recognizes the authority and duty of
the United States to appoint Supervisors to
| guard and scrutlnize Congressional elections
but it denies to the Government of the United
States oil power to make itsprovisions effectual
The great body Of the people wantfre 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 lawlessness and crime
| GA 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 infrm
should be and should have reason to feel that
| they are safe in the exercise of their most re-
| spOnslbla duty, and their most sacred right as
members of society, their duty and their right
| to vote.
| Constitutional authority to regulate Congress
49, -
| ment of the United States. and which it is nee
essary to exert to secure the right to vote to
every citizen possessing the requisite qualifca-
tons, ought to be enforced by appropriate leg
station. So far from public opinion in any
partOf the country favoring any relaxation of the
! authority of the Government in the protection
of elections from violence and corruption, be-
Ileve 1t demands greater vigOr both in the en-
actment and in the execution of the laws
framed for that purpose. Any OPP
preston, any partisan pertiality, which ex-
perience may have shown in the working of
the existing laws may well 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-
gressiopal elections occur until after the regu-
lar session of Congress will have been held,
there seems to be no public exigency that
would preclude seasonable considers
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 constitutionality and of the value of
the existing laws, I 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-
gressional elections
(Signed) RUTHERFORD B. HAYES
EXECUTIVE MANSION May 20, 1879.