The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-14
Election outrares at tho North.

The investigation into the late election in
New York city already tliscloses that the
:outrages upon the rights OF voters prac-
ticed, under authority OF the United States
election lazy, by little Johnny Davenport,
chief supervisor OF elections, were very
much of piece with the worst that have
been reported from the South in recent
wears. Armed with the full authority of
the General Government, Davenport, it APP
pears, arrested over $500 persons for all
legged violations of>tbe election law. But
OF, the whole number he fetched to trial only
some FIVE hundred. In other words, OF
every eighteen arrests by him made seven
teen were made without: cause, and that fact
was so seli-eYident that no effort was made
to prosecute $500 of the persons arrested.
These $500 men, so subjected to the in
dignity of arrest on charge OF crime, must,
of course, have been held for trial had they
not been entitled to vote. They were not
prosecuted because they were entitled to
vote, and not sufficient pretence OF case
against them could be made for even putting
them upon trial. i:Tllese, therefore, were
arrests OF $500 qualified voters, whose sole
offence was that they attempted 10 exercise
lawfully their lawful right to vote. How
MANY OF them, in addition to being SUBJ
jected to unwarranted arrest, were kept
locked up Until theSpo closed, does not
appear. Taking into consideration the
great number of these arrests made
about 1.-THE time Of the election, and
nearly all on the day OF election, and thede-
lays that, necessarily, occur lin procuring
sureties and giving bail, it is evident that a
great majoritysof these $500 lawful voters
arrested forattemptfng toYote were thereby
deprived of their right o,.yote. What re-
dress is there for these thousands thus
robbed OF their right to vote Theif-re-;
lease without trial is confession that they
were arrested without any evidence against
them. Manifestiy they were Illegally ar
rested in order to deprive them OF the exer-
else OF the elective franchise But it was
done under authority OF the United States,
and the men thus robbed Of the ballot are
left without redress. Yet no greater out
rage upon the, elective franchise could be
perpetrated. .f3s.if ~. i. star...
That the United States election-law could
be made the instrument OF. such glaring in
Justice is conclusive proof that it, needs
radical amendment, or should be totally
abolished. Nowhere in the country, North
or South, IS the condition such as to war
rant this system Of wholesale arrests with
ont any evidence OF probable cause IN O.!
where in q free country can such system
of arbitrary arrests be decently tolerated.
IT is q ;,rionstrous satire I upon the
United States eectionaiiaws that it ad-
mits of such abuse. 1T iis more DIS
graceful than the bulldozing against
which, neminally at least, the 1aW, was ann
ed. If the control ,ofeiections in ah the
States is I'd, be assumed by the General Coy
is,S hyt,thes Administrator,
whatever it may beat Least Yet there ReDan
end Dit TO the possibility OF such Whole;
sale arbitrary arrests and robbery OF voters
OF the right to vote II tie proper anlep O.
ments, to; accomplish this cannot be passed.,
it is yet within the power OF, the House TO,
cut,off all approp opristions far eXecuting this
law. uduntu II. Is so amended nnotSa doll,
iarshoula be voted for its eggention =. Cas.'
cage saes.a .fpol-s g. So sasl,l .ss9 j.3 81.