Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-02-21
THE q. S. ELECTION LAWS.

johnson opposed their unconstitutional
laws. Precedents are as plentiful as the
most nervous Democrat could ask. 1t can
not be that the necessity is not imminent
only last Saturday six Democratic election
officials in Baltimore were sentenced to
prison by Judge Bond, some Of them on
the most trivial points. while on the same
day thirty two presentments were made by
an U. s. grand jury at New Orleans 1--WE
all know what that means) involving one
hundred arrests under the election laws
in only four counties of Louisiana; and the
Democratic members elect from Florida,
Hull, and from Louisiana, King, are in
dicted and will be, by such juries and judges
~ they are to 60 before, unquestionably
convicted whether innocent or guilty. 1t
cannot. be that there 10 the slightest sus-
picion that these prosecutions have not a
political as well as judicial character when
in Maryland and Louisiana Democrat is
sentenced to prison for ejecting an U.
Marshal from the room Of tho judges OF
election where he has no business; while
in tho Eastern district of Virginia where
we have an impartial Judge, the Prosecu-
ting Attorney under the ruling OF the
court enters nolk prosequi. Nor can the
Democratic members of congress escape
this conclusion when they seeall these con-
victions confined to one party and to one
section of the country; when they see
Philadelphia, the most VIGOROUSLY cor
rupt election precinct in the Union, al
lowed to pass unmolested and when it is
not recorded that any Republican Judge
Of Election in any part Of The country has
either been molested or arrested. 1t can
not be that they regard the general adj
ministration of these laws as being carried
out with reference-ex exclusive reference to
offences committed. If SO let them read
some of the evidence and sentences in the
cases recently decided in Baltimore. Many
Of them weresuch as local magistrates gen.
orally punish with leprimand or light
fine-What are called election scrimma-
ges that occur more or less at polling booths
everywhere on election days. In one We
noticed so late as last Saturday man, a
Democrat of course, who had "interfered
with" mo grave violence was charged or
proven) a Deputy Marshal who was arrest
ing a man for assaulting q voter. was
sentenced to one gear in prison. Two 9TH
ers, Democrats of course, who did not be-
lieve the u. 5. supervisor had the legal
right, refused to allow him to inspect the
ballot box before the voting commenced
and were sentenced to eight months in prss-
on. It cannot be that the Democratic
congressmen fear the charge Of UNFOLDING
corruption in elections. This election law
does not put stop to it or lessen it. While
it ID intended to terrify Democrats, its ad
ministration, 50 far, tends to give the full
est encouragement and license to tho Re
publicans who may desire to manufacture
majorities and the safety apparently guar
snteed them will bring forth more tamper-
ing with the ballot boxes at both North
and South than has yet existed. The pro-
cess is to disarm and intimidate the
enemy. and afterwards despoil him at
leisure.
1t cannot be that they expect to be
charged with desire to prevent the pun
ishment of crime. Ample provision has
been made for that. At every voting pre-
cinct the Republican party il represented
by Judge of its politics. appointed by the
State authorities. There is no jury that,
the case being clearly made out, will not
convict in a State court, unless, indeed.
some one is prepared to state and prove the
fact that the communities of the South
are 10 thoroughly corrupt that honorable
iuries cannot be obtained in them. Has
there ever been found in Southern sena-
tors pocket, as there was in Stanley
Mathews, contract signed and sealed by
a Democratic Jim Anderson, binding
himself to count in a member from
CONGRESS from State ? The truth
is, having failed at cheating, they are now
invoking the power of the general govern
ment for terrorizing the South. 1t can
not be that the repeal is not demanded by
the people of the United States. The SEN
timent Of the majority of the people OF
This country can only be known at this
moment on any public question by the
vote of their representatives in the popu-
lar branch of congress, that which is alone
elected at the ballot-bOx, and as late as
last Friday that body voted in favor Oh the
repeal of both the test OATH and the cleo
tion laws. This is the will of the Amerl-
can people at this writing, and that Will
be their will as expressed in the new con-
sress elected to succeed this. what rea-
son then is there for representatives
holding back from executing the will OF
those who sent them F?
The excuses they may have, there can be
no reasons, are of various characters. One
10 that tho Republican senate will resist
tho passage Of the bill. VIII it? Then
that is tho Republican senator's look out.
The Republican senate would have resist
ID the political legislation" tackled on 20
the Army Appropriation Bill by the
Democratic house, prohibiting the use OF
troops in the States had the Republican
senate dared do it. The people OF this
country demanded that there should be no
soldiers at the polls in q free Republic,
and the Democratic party carried out
their will. Now, the people of the coun-
try demand that one political party,
whether Republican or Democratic, shall
not from its headquarters at Washington.
harrass the citizens of the States with ar
rests and imprisonments for offences. for
the punishment of which those States have
Laws and officers and prisons, and the
Democrats in congress should heed the de-
nand. Had they needed the protest OF
the Republican leaders, and the warnings
of the Republican press that they were