Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-03-11
STATES RIGHTS AND THE
ELECTION LAW.

ELECTION LAW.
1t has been supposed by most sen
sible people that the great question
of Estates Rights" was finally set
tied by the late unhappy war, which
was precipitated upon the country
by the Democratic party. 1t wat
thought that when the adherents Of
that doctrine consented to leave it to
the dread arbitration of the sword
the last resort,-and the God OF
battles, and when it was decided
adversely to them that there
was the end oft. But, like all 9TH
er things concerning the wellobeing
or existence of the Democratic
party, reason and precedent can not
be used in Judging of their opinions,
principles or action in the subject
matter.
The procedure of the Democratic
side of the last Congress is only a
re-opening of the wounds that
should have been left to heal or
hide themselves. The failure to
pass the appropriation bills for
money necessary to carry on the
Government is only one more at
tempt to break down the idea that
our General Government has some
power for controlling internal
affairs.
The repeal Of the jurors test
oath, the provision in accordance
with which soldiers can be stationed
at the polls, and the election law
we're the objective points in the
movement. In regard to the first
two, it is known fact that the Re
publicans were willing to agree to
their repeal. In fact it is part OF
history that the test oath was
repealed by Republican Congress
four years ago, and that its pres
ence in the Statute Book was due
only to the carelessncss of the com
pliers of said book. A Republican
Senate before the holidays repealed
tlezact and their bill was lying on
the desk Of the Democratic House
for "A days waiting only its
concurrence. This does not look
like they were very much in earnest
about the mere repeal of the test
oath.
This has no connection with
Estates Rights" but the associa-
ton comes in with the Election
Laws. The Democrats hold that
they are unfair, unjust and illegal;
that all election laws and ma
chinery is within the especial
province of the States to provide.
The Constitution of the United
States used to be considered the
guide for all legislative action. We
do not know how that is now, for
every Democrat has provided him
self with one made TO suit his own
opinions. At leas. It seems to be
that way. The Constitution, Arti~
Gle I, Section 4, says: "The times,
places and manner of holding cleo
tions for Senators and Represents
tives shall be prescribed in each
State by the Legislature thereof
bit Congress may at any time By
lar make or alter such regulations,
ercePt as to the places Of choosing
Senator'S" That disposcs of the
illegality of the law.
They say that it is unfair
in its workings. We will con-
fess that it is unfair to bal
lOt-box suffers, repeaters, bull
dozers and other such hangers-on Of
the Democratic party. Unfair it is
to those men who a few days ago
when heaven and earth were being
moved to repeal it, under its pro-
visions were being convicted and
sent to the penitentiary, while the
men they had worked for had seats
in the Congress of the, United States.
Unjust, without doubt, to those
politicians who know that they can