The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-03-19
THE ELECTION LAWS SUSTAINED.

It would not be easy to overesti.
mate the Importance of the decision
of the supreme court on the national
election laws, an outline of which is
reported by telegraph to-day. 1t is
a decision which knocks the bottom
out of the theory of state sovereignty
over national elections, and atfirms
most fully the principles on which
the national election laws were es-
tablished. 1t is, moreover, an addi-
tional affirmation Of national autbori
ty against the state supremacy theory
of politics and government, and it
comes in good time, while the echoes
of the struggle on this very question,
which took place during the last ses-
sion of congress, ale still heard
throughout the country. 1t is now
settled that it is within the rightful
power of congress to provide for SUI
pervision of election of it's own men,
bers, and of consequence that provi-
sion may be made for appointment OF
supervisors and deputy marshals to
administer and enforce the laws. Ev-
cry point is fully covered by the de.
cision, and every claim of those who
have upheld these laws is fully sus-
tained The late extla session Of con-
gress was forced with view to strik-
ing down these laws. The support
ers of the state supremacy theory
made a furious onslaught upon them,
and the contest Immediately assumed
the form of a struggle between those
who would strike down national au-
thority and those who would uphold
it. The extra session glided intoahe
regular session, and still the struggle
went on. Every effort was made by
tie confederate brigadiers and their
northern allies to force into the gov
ernment of the United States the con-
tederate theory as the true interpre-
tation of the nature of the govern
ment of the United States. This
led to review of the grounds on
which the great rebellion based its
claims and the ground on which it was
resisted and crushed. The country
was awakened. 1t saw again what
the democratic party was ana what
it intended. TO force repeal of laws
which it claimed were unconstitution-
al, Appropriation bills were loaded
with nullifying clauses, and an effort
was boldly made to coerce the pres
ident into signing the bills, under the
threat of suspending the government
by Withholding all means for its sup
port, in case of his refusal. awe pro-
pose" exclaimed the brigadiers, "lo
wipe out the last vestige of your war
legislation" and she who dallies is
bastard, and he who doubts is damn
ed.' But the president resolutely We
toed the bills, and put his vetoes on
grounds upon which a powerful ap-
peal could be made. Finding that
the president could not be coerced,
the most necessary appropriation bills
were at length reluctantly passed,
and the session adjourned. Then
followed the elections of 1879, in
which Judgment was pronounced up
on the conduct Of the democratic par
ty. In every northern state that par
ty was beaten. 1t found that in rails
ing these questions it had committed
a blunder only less fatal than the
rebellion itself Now comes the de
cision of the supreme court upon the
question then at issue. 1t confirms
the judgment rendered in the elec-
tions OF last year. This is nation,
and not confederacy or league of
states. The democratic party would
do we'll to take notice of the fact that
the confederate theory, including the
doctrine ofstate supremacy, for which
it has always contended, is not to
prevail. Perhaps it may learn yet
that something has happened during
the last twenty yeaIs.-Daiy Orego-
aiaaa, March 11th.