The sun., 1879-05-27
RELYING ON BAYoNErs, NOT BALLoTs.



WASHINGTON, May 26-The bill introduced
by Mr. Mcdonald regulating the employment Of
the militia. and the land and naval forces OF the
United States was taken up in tho Senate to-
day. Mr. Mcdonald said that when the clause
givine Congress power to regulate the times.
places. and manner Of holding elections for
members Of Congress was discussed by the
trainers Of the Constitution. fear was expressed
lest such power might be mlsused to exclude
all but favorites OF Congress from office: but
those who favored the clause said that there
was no danger that II would bo so used and
urged its necessity In order TO secure Uniform
ity in elections. They urged that its improper
use could only occur when Congress should be-
come corrupt and cease to represent tho people.
No constitutional provision could guard against
corruption In individuals.
II 1t had been supposed that the clause would
ever have been construed ms II Is now con-
strued Il could not have been adopted. That
construction was never thought OF until party
necessity dictated It's adoption. and then It was
fastened upon the elective system in tho States
50 firmly that II could not be shaken of. Super
visors OF election nro generally supporters OF
the party In power. and the evils OF this par
tisan system are apparent. Under State laws
impartial boards were obtained. thus avoiding
tle hangers resulting from pOlllcHl OlilS. HufI,
at least. was the case IN nearly all the states
until the time Of reconstruction. and then laws
We're obtained in some States resulting In tho
defeat 0f the popular vote theroin.
Mr.. Mcdonald explained the system adopted
In Louisiana by which the Returntng Board
frauds. were perpetrated, and he drew a par
lean. pnrty in the southern and in
the Northern states In regard to elections.
His objection to the present laws was that they
violated the Constitution. tending to thwArt the
will Of the people IN choosing Representatives ;
that they surrounded the polls with emlssaries
OF the dominant party, and that the elective ma;
chinery had been used and would be again used
TO obtain party triumphs He referred TO the
elections Of 1878. when. by the aid OF those laws,
in close districts the kepublicans obtained
twelve more Representatives. In the House than
they would have elected without them.
Though nominally to protect voters In tho
South. these laws had beeu used to control cleo
tions all over the country. In Massnch usetts
alone more money was paid to supervise cleo
tiOns than in all the States lately in reheliOn.
He supposed that this was to prevent the poo-
pie from electng Gen. Butler. That gentleman
was no favorite Of his. but. us citizen OF Mas
sachusetts and n candidate for Governor. ho
was entitled to fair play. aud tho, people had a
Republican party did not think so. and. conse-
quently. foreign aid was called in.
IL had been claimed that armed troops were
not allowed 70 be present ut peaceable elections.
In 1864. in his State. armed troops left their
camp near certain town and came around the
polls with arms In their hands. driving away
citizens as loyal as they We're. and freely eXer-
cisinR their own privilege OF voting. though not
residents OF the state, while preventing good
eiiilens from voting. He saw this himself, and
he knew that similar scenes occurred elsewhere
In the State.
The purpose Of the bill now introduced was
not only 10 avort danger, but remove the appre-
the champions OF fair elections and the Repub-
lican party. which. by means OF these laws. seeks
TO perpetuato its existence.
Mr. Elmunds said that he would reply to Mr..
Mcdonald at some other time.