The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-03-06

to them. There never will be peace and good
order and consequent prosperity in the South
While any considerable number of white people
deny the colored people the rights given them
ny law. 10 insure lasting peace to the people.
the FULLEST and freest exercise of all political
rights must be conceded to ALL The honor and
prosperity OF Louisiana demand that these
outrages against citizens. these violations of
State and national law, shall be punished. That
this duty devolves upon the State all admit
ana, Whatever may be said OF the duty of the
General government to redress wrongs of its
cltlzens under these circumstances. no one will
excuse the State authorities for failure To nm
ish these offenders.
The committee say it was notpossible. within
the short time they had been in session. to in
vestlgate the elections held in all the Con0res-
s1onal districts in Louisiana and Soutb Caro-
INA, Dut sufhclent testimony was taken TO show
conclusively that in several districts in tbosa
states not only the election of congressman.
but the elections for State and county officers a.
WELL were neither fair nor free. and that nv
violence and fraud the honest expression of thne
will of those entitled to vote was prevented and
thousands of citizens of these States denrived
OF the elective franchise In Louisiana borh
violence and fraud were extensively used. In
South Carolina, fraud was more largely relied
upon. In both States these agencies. so disre-
putable III themselves, and so dangerous To the
stability of republican form of government. were
used, not only against candidates of the Re-
publican party, but against independent Dem
ocratic candidates, and candidates, bv
whatever name known, who were in opposition
to the regular Democratic candidates. thus
showing clearly that the result sought for and
accomplished was not prevention of so-called
carpet bag rule" and the establishment of So
called home rule" but the success of the
Democratic party in these States and in the ma
ton by whatever means and whatever cost.
South Carolina shares like spirit with Louisi-
ana. The Democratic leaders seem to be in
sensible to the fact that the stability of our
Government is involved in these questions. and
to be utterly unable to comprehend that their
course renders the return of material prosper
lty to these people absolutely impossible With
out peace and good order there can be no ODE
dlence to or enforcement of law. Material
prosperity can not come to these States in the
absence OF this requirement, and there must be
radical change In the management of political
affairs. The trainers of the constitution ap-
pear to have considered it safe to leave
the times, places, and manner" of
holding elections under control of States, but
1t is very evident that a condition might exist
IN future under which safety of the National
Government and the rights of citizens might
require that the times, places and manner of
elecuons should be under its own control and
not under that of the States The time has
come when Congress should exercise the power
1t clearly possesses of providing by law for fair
and free election of members of Congress The
power to pass laws prescribing times places
and manner Of holding elections for members
OF Congress necessarily implies power to pro-
vide for the punishment of violation of the law
1t will scarcely be contended-certainly it can
not be fairly claimed-that the National Gov
eminent is compelled to rely for punishment of
oHenses against its own laws upon the laws Of
the several States