The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-06-05


duties than to be in the immediate presence
OF the officers holding the election, and to
witness all their proceedings, including the
counting OF the votes, and the making of
return thereof" The part of the election
law which will be repealed by the approval
OF this bill, includes those sections which
give authority to the supervisors of election
Ito personally scrutinize, count and canvass
each BALLOT" and all the sections which con-
fer authority upon the United States mar
shals and deputy marshals, in connection
with the Congressional elections. The enact
ment OF this bill will also repeal section 1922
OF the Criminal Statutes Of the United States
which was enacted for the protection of Uni
ted States officers engaged in the discharge
OF their duties ct the Congressional elections.
shals In the performance Of their duties BY
making the obstruction or the assaulting of
these officers, or any interference with them
by bribery or solicitation, or otherwise,
crimes against the United States.
The true meaning and effect OF the pro-
posed legislation are plain. The supervisors,
with the authority to observe and witness
the pre- ceedings at the Congressional cleo
ton will be left; but there will be no power
to protect them, or to prevent interference
with their duties, or to punish any viol alton
OF the law from which their powers are de-
rived. II this bill is approved, only the
shadow OF the authority of the United States
at the National elections will remain-the
substance will be gone. The supervision OF
the elections will be reduced to a mere in
spectlon, without authority on the part OF
the supervisors to do any act whatever to
make the election fair one. All that will
be left to the supervisors is the permission
to have such oversight of the elections as DO
lltical parties are in the habit of exercising
without any authority of law. in order to
prevent their opponents from obtaining un-
fair advantages. The object of the bill is to
destroy any control whatever by the United
States over the Congressional elections.
The passage OF this bill has been urged
upon the ground that the election of mem
bers OF Congress is matter which concerns
the States alone; that these election should
De controlled exclusively by the States; that
there are and can be no such elections as
National elections; and that the existing law
OF the United States regulating the Congress-
lonal elections Is without warrant in the Con-
stitution.
1t is evident, however, that the trainers OF
the Constitution regarded the election of
members OF Congress in every State and in
every district as, in very important sense,
justly matter Of political interest and con-
Germ to the whole country. The original
provision Of the Constitution on this subject
is as follows:
SEQ. A, ARTICLE l. 'sThe times, places,
and manner OF holding elections for Senators
and Representatives shall be prescribed in
each State by the Legislature thereof; but
the Congress may at any time, by law, make
or alter such regulations, except as to the
places of choosing Senator'S
A further provision has been since added,
which is embraced in the fifteenth amend
ment. 1t is as follows:
SEC. l. The right of citizens of the Uni
ted States to vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States, or any State,
on account of race, color, or previous condi-
ton Of servitude.
SEC. 2. The Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate legisla-
ton.
Under the general provision of the Consti-
tuion, (secti0n A, article y Congress in 1866 |
passed comprehensive law which prescrib- |
ed full and detailed regulations for the cleo |
ton Of Senators by the Legislatures Of the |
several States. This law has been in force |
almost thirteen years. In pursuance OF it |
all OF the members OF the present Senate OF |
the United States hold their seats. Its con-
is not called In question. It is !
believed that no sound argu-
nent can be made in support Of the consti-
of National regulation OF Sena.
orial elections which will not show that the