Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-06-30

exercise authority over elections helu
within the states.
We insisted and maintained, that
because of and by virtue OF the COnsti-
tutional provision, that the House OF
Representatives alone shall originate
money bills; that the representatives OF
the people had the right TO insist that
the grievances of which they complain
ell should be remedied before appropria-
tons should be made for the support OF
the government.
Inthe discussion, which has continued
for three months, one OF the most
earnest and able that has ever occurred
i'm an American Congress, the Demo
cratic party has maintained these pro-
positions. II is not necessary to enter
into the details of the argument; 1t Is
sufficient for my purpose TO briefly re-
capitulate them.
we said that the measure TO which we
objected was unconstitutional; we SAID
that there was no such person as voter
of the United States rs such; that every
man who had right to vote, had 1t be-
cause OF State authority and under State
laws; and that, therefore, the Federal
Government not creating the voter, had
no right TO interfere with HIM IN the
exercise of his rights OF franchise.
We insisted that under the laws as
they now stand there is no such thing
as a National election; that under the
provisions of the Constitution, IN order
that there should be National election,
il was fundamental that Congress
should fix the places, times and manner
of holding such elections. In that event
there might be National election, but
that is not this case; for in every IN
stance the times, places and manner
of holding elections are fixed by the
constitution and laws OF the
States. except in single IN
stance as 10 the time. The States hay-
inc exercised power upon the subject
there is no occasion for the exercise OF
power by the United States; and TO say
that the United States and each state at
the same time possess the power OIL hX-
ing the time, place and manner oil mold
ING elections, is to say that two soyer'
eighties possess the power TO do the
same thing at the same time on the
same subject matter, which Is Itself an
absurdity. We maintain as to the army
mat. IL being a creature of Congress, 1t
has no mower 10 be within the limits OF
the sovereign states except as the Con-
stitution of the United States provides,
and then only for the purpose OF sup
pressing domestic instruction OF repeI-
ling the armed enemies OF the United
States, and then only at the request OF
the Legislature thereof or the Executive
of the State, il the Legislature DC not in
session.
More than that. We have referred to
the decisions of the Supreme Court OF
the United States approving all these
propositions and declaring that the
voters were voters of the State, and that
the Federal Government had nothing
to do with them. To these decisions
the gentlemen on the other side, with
one or two exceptions, have absolutely
RETAINED i'm the debate from referring.
In addition 70 that we urged the argu-
ment that the laws we sought 10 repeal
enabled the supervisors TO come into the
State and interfere with State elections
Tor the selection of State officers, and
we also referred 10 the fact that in the
State OF New York and other States the
greatest Outrages had been committed
by the arrest of citizens without war
rant By officers who had not seen them
commit any ofense against the laws, and
who, upon bare suspicion that an Oliense
was intended, had arrested them. We
showed from experience how, IN the
South, Justice had been made 4 farce;
that Jurors were drawn in the interests
of partisanship, and that cases were lie
cided in the interest Of partIsanshlp, and
that the courts had absolutely failed tn
administer Justice TO the people in that
great section. We refer 10 the city OF
New York, where, on an election day,
more than 5000 American citizens were
imprisoned by the authority VI super
yisOrs of elections, and afterwards dis
charged by Judge of the United States
court, who decided there was no authorl-
" 10 arrest, and that they had been gull
~ of no crime. More than that, We re
ferred in our argument 10 the great doc
trine of civil liberty, and maintained
that the measures we sought to repeal
were inimical to freedom, un-American
i'm spirit, and in the end would prove
subyersiye of free government.
No more manly, no more dignihed,
no more logical debate, so far as the
Democratic side OF this House Is con-
cerned, was ever conducted on this
floor; but in what way were our argu-
ments treated by gentlemen on the
other side vi the HOuSe2 With the eX-
ceptiOn of half a dozen speeches the pre-
tended answers to our arguments might
as well have been made on any other
subjects as upon the bill now before the
House for consideration. When We
said these measures were yiOlative Of the
Constitution of the United States, Re-
publican orators replied that on this
side OF the House the majority were
Confederate brigadierS, who had at
tempted TO overthrow the Constitution
Ofthe United States When werelcrred
To the fact Of the Outrages committed on
American citizens they replied by citing
the Outragcs committed at Anderson
Vile and other prisons in the South dur
Inc the war. and when We urged that
the power OF the army should he SO
limited and qualified that 1t might not
be used 10 overthrow the liberties OF the
people. they said your side was whipped
by that army, and, therefore, you are
opposed 70 ~.
Never i'm all my knowledge has a de-
bate been 80 honestly conducted as tins
has been upon our side OF the House;
never have arguments been more un-
fairly met than have our Arguments by
gentlemen ON the other side. There are
honorable exceptions, of course. 1t
would be invidiOus 10 name them, but !
will venture 10 mention the names OF
two, and / refer 20 the distinguished
gentleman from Connecticut, Mr.. llaw-
ley, and the gentleman from New Jer-
scy, Mr. Robcson. As the result Of this
debate, bills have been passed and sent
% the President of the United States
and have been vetoed. The veto power
was designed by the Constitution as a
power 10 prevent unconstitutional legis-
latiDu, or hasty, or ili-considered legiSla-
ton, or tOeuable the Executive To- pro-
tcct itself against encrOachments
FROM other branches Of the Gov
eminent. / DEFY any gentleman 10
q H.. u