Daily globe., 1879-05-30

cAoo WIG oAistln& statutes un0er WnlCu bupeF-
hority to observe and witness Congressional +,
'!eotions, wherever due application is made by :
who desire said elections to be guard.
"a ana scrutinized." If there 10 power to sn- o
oervlse IN any respect whatever the Congress
'ional elections it exists under section article
OF the constitution. It is q power which, like
my other power belonging to the government !
u tne United States, is paramount and su-
pre1ao, ana includes the right to- employ the
necessary G,e means TO carry it into effect. q
The statutes Of the United States which regu- )
late the election, Of members of the House of !;
an essential part of which it
IL proposed to repeal by this bill, have been in
force about eight years. Four Congressional
elections have been held under them, two Of
and rd 1915. Numerous prosecutions, trials and
G1nyistions VIC have been had in courts OF the
United States in all parts of the Union for vio-
iatl IN OF these laws. In no reported tcaseN has
tnelr rconstltutionality b. en- called in question
Dy any !9dge OF the courts of the United States.
uniform course of judicial action and opinion.
s,I5 4, s,,. why PASSED.
Ifit is urged that the, United States election
laws are not necessary, an ample reply is fur
lllshed by the history of 'thoir origin and their
investigation and exposure Of frauds COM
mltted IN the city and State of New York at |
the elections of 1865. Commissioners repre- |
senting both Of the leading political parties Of
the country have submitted reports to the
House of Representatives on the extent Of
these frauds. A committee Of the fortieth
Congress, after full investigation,
reached the conclusion that the number of
fraudulent votes cast in the city of New
York alone in 1868 was not less than q, GOO. A
committee of the forty fourth. Congress in
their report submitted in 1877, adopted the
opinion that for every 100 electoral voters of
the city of New York in 1868, one hundred and
eighty-eight votes We're cast, when, in fact the
number OF lawful votes cast could not have
exceeded IS per cent. of the actual voters of
the city. BY this statement. the number, of
fraudulent voters at that election! in the CITY
of New York alone was between thirty and
forty thousand. These frauds completely re-
versed the result of the election in the State
OF New York, both as to choice of government
and State officers. and as to the choice Of cleo
tion of President and Vice President Of the
limited States. They attracted the attention of
the whole country. It was plain that If they,
could be continued and repeated with impuniIy
free government was impossible. "A distin-
guished Senator, in opposing the passage of the
election laws, declared he had for long time
believed that our form Of government was q
comparative failure in the larger cities. TO
meet these evils and to prevent these crimes
the United States laws regulating Congressional
elections were enacted.
| THE RESULT. f&25fF&a
The trainers of these laws have not been dis
appointed in their results. In the large cities,
under these provisions, the elections have been
comparatively peaceable, orderly and honest.
Even the Opponents Of these laws have borne
testimony to their value and efficiency and to
the necessity for their enactment. The com-
mittee of the forty-fourth Congress composed
of members, a majority of whom were opposed
i n ont fho 1Noru Vorlr
elections Of 1876, said: The committee would
commend to other portions Of the couatry and
to other cities this remarkable system deyel-
oped through the agency of both local and fed
eral authorities, acting in harmony for an hon
est purpose. In ro portion of the world and
in era of time where there has been an ex-
preston OF the popular will through the forms
OF law, there been more complete and
thorough illustration of republican institu.
tions. Whatever may have been the previou.
habit or conduct of elections in these cities, ol
J however they may conduct themselves in the
: future. this election of 1876 will stand as :
monuent of what good faith honest endeavor
legal forms and just authority do for the lro
J lection of the electoral franchise.
WHAT THE PEOPLE DEMAND.
This bill recognizes the authority and dut,
: of the United States to appoint supervisors t,
} guard and scrutinize Congressional elections
but it denies to the government of the United
States all power to make it's supervision effec
{ tual The great body of the people of all par
! ties want free and fair elections They do no
think that q Tree election means freedom from
J the wholesome restraints of law, or that tn
9 place of an election should be sanctuary fo
! lawlessness and crime. On the day of an cleo
: tion peace and good order are more nccessar
than on any other day Of the year. On tina
!. = day the humblest and feeblest citizen, tn
aged and infrm, should be, and should hav
reason to feel that they are safe in the exercis
= Of this most responsible duty, and their mos
y sacred right as members of society-their dut
= and their right to vote.
;; The constitutional authority to regulate Cor
gressional elections, which belongs to the gov
!; ernment of the United States and which it
: necessary to exert to secure the right to vote
u every citizen possessing the requisite qualifcs
, tions, ought to be enforced by appropriat
I legislation. So far from public opinion i
y any part of the country favoring any relax,
tion of the authority of government in pr,
= lection of elections from violence and corrul
e tion, believe it demands greater vigor, bot
y in the enactment and in the execution of tt
$ laws framed for that purpose.
= Any opposition, any partisan partialit
N which experience may have shown in the wo,
10 of existing laws will engage the careful after
- tlon both of Congress and of the executive
" their respective spheres of duty, for the co
ie rection Of these mischiefs. As no COngression
elections occur until after the regular session
congress Will nave Deen held, there seems TO
ed no public exigency that would preclude reaso
~ able consideration at that session of any a
80 ministrative details that might improve Il
81 present modes designed for tho protection
Ut all citizens in the complete and equal exerci
TO of the right and power of suffrage at such ele
TO tions. E4g
cn But, with my views both of the constitutio
p ality and value of the existing laws, cam
OF approve any measure for this repeal except
:e- connection with the enactment of other leg
Il lation which may necessarily be expected
re afford wiser and more efficient safeguards f
q free and honest Congressional elections.
ne (Signed) RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
ne Executive Mansion, May 20, 1879
N THE COURTS.
az District Court.
~ Before Judge Wilkin.
JURY CASES.
81. B. Clafhin & Co. vs.. The Lorilard Ins,
on ance company. On trial.
of COURT CASES.
lea Before Judge Brill.
IL In the matter of the petition of the Chica