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

1uG VII Dt1OIC ulC ltSCll ECCOSuiACS GuC
principle that the Congressional elections
are not State elections, but National cleo
tions. Ii leaves in full force the existing
statue under which supervisors are still to be
appointed by National authority. to observe
and witness the Congressional elections
whenever due application is made by citizens
who desire said election to be ''guarded and
scrutinized." II the power to supervise in
any respect whatever, the Congressional
elections exists, under section 4, article l. of
the Constitution, it is power which, like
every other power belonging to the Governs
ment of the United States,is paramount and
supreme, and includes the right to employ
the necessary means to carry 1t into effect.
The statutes of the United States which
regulate the election Of members of the
House OF Representatives, an essential part
of which it is proposed to repeal by this bill,
h We been in force about eight years. Four
Cong ressional elections have en- held I'M
der them, two of which were at the Presi-
Dental elections of 1872 and 1876. Numer-
GUS prosecutions, trials,an convictions have
been had in the courts of the United States
in all parts of the Union for violations of
constitutona!ity been called in question by
any Judge of the courts of the United States.
The validity of these laws is sustained by
the uniform course of judicial action aud
opinion.
II it is urged that the United States cleo
ton laws are not necessary an ample replied
is furnished by the history Of their origin
and of their results. They were specially
prompted by the investigation and exposure
of the frauds committed in the city and
State of New York at the elections Of 1868.
Committees representing both OF the lead
ing political parties of the country have SUBJ
mitted reports to the House OF Representa-
tives on the extent Of those frauds. A COM
mittee OF the Fortieth Congress after a full
investigation, reached the conclusion that
the number OF frauduleht votes cast in the
city of New York alone in 1868, was not less
than twenty five thousand. A committee OF
the Forty-fourth Congress. in their report
submitted in 1877, adopted the opinion that
for every one hundred actual voters Of tie
city of New York in 1868, one hundred aud
eight votes were cast, when, in fact, the
numb of lawful votes could not have ex-
ceeded eighty Eight per cent. OF the actual
voters OF the city. By this statement the
number OF fraudulent votes at the election,
In the city OF New York alone, was between
thirty aud forty thousand. These frauds
completely reversed the result OF the election
in the State of New York, both as to the
choice of Governor and State officers, and as
to the choice OF electors Of President and
vice HreS1OenL OF Cno united states. IHey
attracted the attention of the whole coun-
try. 1t was plain that if they could be con-
tinued and repeated with impunity free gov
eminent was impossible. A distinguished
Senator, In opposing the passage of the cleo
ton laws. declared that he had s'for long
time believed that our form OF Government
was comparative failure in large cities.''
To meet these evils and to prevent these
crimes the United States laws regulating
Congressional elections were enacted.
The trainers OF these laws have not been
disappointed in their results. In the large
cities, under their 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 committee of the Forty
fourth Congress, composed Of members. a
maj ority Of whom were opposed to these
laws, in their report on the New York cleo
ton Of 1876, said:
1.-THE committee would commend to other
portions OF the country and to other cities
this remarkable system, developed through
the agency Of both local and Federal author
tiles acting in harmony for an honest pur-
pose. In no portion Of the world, and in no
era OF time, where there has been an express
sion Of the popular will through the forms
Of law, has there been more complete and
thorough illustration of republican institu-