Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-30
VETO NUMBER R
THE LEGISLATIVE BILL GETS IT.
q T [Concluded.1

The bill before me itself recognizes the
principle that congressional elections are
not slater elections. but national elections,
ItIeaves IN full force the existing statute
under which supervisors are still 10 be an.
pointed BY national authority to observe
and supervise congressional elections when
ever due application is made BY cit,zens
who desire said elections 10 be guarded and
scrutinised.
1t the power to supervise in any respect
whateverj .the congressional elections exists
under section four, article one Of the con-
stitution, it is q power which like, every
other power belonging to the government Is
paramount and supreme, and includes the
right to employ the necessary means to car
ryrit into effect. The statute Of TIE United
States which regulate the election Of mem-
bern of the house. of. representatives
or the essential part of which it is
proposed to repeal by this bin, have
been in force about eight years. Four
congressional elections have been held un.
der. them, two of which we're at the ppresi.
DENTAL elections of 1872 and 1876, Nu-
merous prosecutions, trials and convictions
have been had in the courts Of the United
States in all parts Of the union for viola
Of these laws. In no reported case
has their constitutionality been called in
question BY . y1jndse Of oourts Of the Unit
ed States. The validity Of these laws il
sustained by .fhe, uniform course Of judicial
action and opinion. If it is urged that %.
tied States election laws are not necessary
an ample reply is furnished by the history
OF their origin and of their results. They
were especially prompted BY the fnvestiea.
tion and exposure of freud committed ia
the city end state Of New York It the elec
ton of 1873. Committees and Representa-
ttves OF both Of the leading political parties
of the county have submitted reports tc
the house Of Representatives rSRardinp thu
extent Of these sfnudan xcommittee o
the htconKfess. alter q full inyaatigatiou
reachedstha c0tEansion that the uuuber q
fraudulent votes cest In the city Of New
York alonefn 1858 was not less JhuesslS;
QUO a. 60h0ltt1SS0 1.-The 44th coner6iiId3;
their report submitted In 1877 adopsod IS,
opinion thst fot every ONE hundred actua
voters olthe city ofNew York in 1868 %.
nunoreo . eighty votes were csst, III,
In fact the number of lawful votes ~
could Q have exceeded s. per cent. OF Il.
actual votes of the city. BY this etatenen
the number Of fraudulent votes a mn ~
tion in the the city Of New YoFk alonA ~
between thirty and forty Thousand. Thes
frauds completely reversed the result Of rs
election in the state of New York both ,
to the choice Of governor and state onicer
and % to the choice of electors Tor proe
dent and vice president OF he Unite
States. They attracted the attention of q
whole country. II was plain that e The
could be continued and repeated with n
punity Tree government was impOasihl
One OF the oldest senatoss 10 opposino II
passage Of the election laws declared tn,
hes.hadifof Along time believed our for
OF government ives . eemparstive fajIu,
10 the larger cities. To meet these eme
eencies and y prevent these crimes Il
UDieads6ates hws. IsGshtlAg coners,
ionl e3entDRs, were ssaetel. The lssDa
Of thssd ave - Nm dissppoaa,