The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-06-01
The South Carolina Case.

IN tne Mackey-Dlbble case is totally indie
fensible. We gave brief outline of the
matter in controversy last week, showing
from the record that there is not the least
doubt that Mr.. Dibble is occupying the seat
in Congress which rightfully belongs to Mr..
Mackey, by reason of the legal ballots cast
in the election of 1880, between Mr.. Mackey
and Mr.. O'Connor, the latter now dead. 1t
is plain that the Democrats themselves re-
cognize this fact, for they are not willing to
consider the case on its merits. They un-
dertake, through parliamentary obstruc-
deny the right of Congress to pass upon
| the qualifications of its own members. In
other words they resort to revolutionary
means to prevent inquiry into high consti-
tutional privilege, and arrest legislation and
the business for which Congress was con-
vened, that minority may dictate to and
determine the action of the majority.
This extraordinary, and it is stated, I'M
precedented course on the part of the DEM
ocrats, is explained by the political situa-
ton in the South-unprecedented in the
fact that they interpose distractions to
| the consideration and discus sion of
the merits of the contest and in denying
the right Of Congress to sit In judgment
on an issue brought before it under the
sanction of the laws and constitution. The
proper committee has patiently and ex-
haustively examined into all of the facts
of the case-has made report, arraying
| the evidence in intelligent and perspicuous
order, as it was its duty to do, and now
simply asks that Congress proceed to the
consideration and discussion Of the facts as
thus developed and presented, and deter
| m inc the question at issue-whether Mr..
Mackey, the contestant, or Mr.. Dibble, the
sitting member, is entitled to the seat. 1t
is proven in the record. that there were
over 5000 more votes cast for Mr.. Mackey
than for Mr.. O'Connor in 1SS0-that even
after the ballot boxes had been purged Of
| the excess of ballots over registered voters,
resulting from the enclosing Of tissue bal
lots in larger ballots, and instead of one,
in by one person, the County Canvass
ers, all politically opposed to Mr.. Mackey,
gave him majority Of nearly nine hum
| dred-drawing out Mackey's ballots to cor
respond with the number of tissue ballots
illegally put in the box for O'Connor.-
But this did not suit the State canvassers.
Their purpose was to give the election to a
Democrat and practically disfranchise twen-
ty thousand Republicans. To accomplish
this number of precincts were thrown
entirely out, and other frauds and rascali-
ties committed, which are plainly exposed
in the report of the Committee on Elec-
lions, to convert ten thousand majority for
Mackey into 5000 for O'Connor.
1t is well understood that the seating Of
Mr.. Mackey will have very favorable eff
feet upon the Republicans of the South in
encouraging much more active and deter
mined campaigns the coming fall for Con-
gress than have been witnessed for the past
five or six years. 1t is for this reason that
the revolutionary action of the minority in
Congress was inaugurated and is persisted
in. 1t finds its parallel, in the motive which
suggested it. in the contest over the con-
fimation of Mr.. Statham as postmaster at
Lynchburg. 1t was apprehended that the
rejection of Statham's nomination would
have demoralizing effect on the Coalition
movement then forming, and under the
lead of the Democratic Senator from Vir-
ginia, determined and successful resis-
lance to the confirmation was made, for the
time, and before the election in Virginia.-
After the election, and when the Bourbons
had been defeated, there was no objection
urged, showing that the reasons for the OPP
position were not such as the laws and con-
stitution Commensurate, hut the result Of
party necessities and partizan expediency.
Seating Mr.. Mackey, as it is the purpose
of the majority in Congress to do, will GER
tainly have reviving effect upon the Re-
publicans in many Southern districts. 1t
will encourage them to organize, to nomi-
nate candidates for Congress, to poll full
vote, and to guard every point in the pro-
gress OF the election and the count, so as
to present formidable record to Con-
gress, should any attempt be made to de-
fraud the people out of their rights. 1t is
admitted on both sides that the probabili-
ties favor close contest for the control of
the next Congress. The Republicans are
fully alive to the Importance of having a
free ballot and fair count in the South, SO
that the Republicans of that section may
be fairly represented in Congress. 1t is
known that numerous districts, now rep
resented by Democrats, have Republican
maiorities, and by proper aid and encour-
agement these districts will send represent
tatives to Congress to reflect the predomi-
nent political sentiment there. The mani
festation of concern in this direction, by
the Republicans of the country, and con-
slderation given to the possibilities to be
accomplished in the Southern States, have
caused to be aroused keen interest all over
the South in the contest now going on in
Congress. If Mr.. Mackey shall be seated,
as we have no doubt he will be, it may re-
suit in twenty or twenty-five additional Re-
publican members being elected from the
South this fall. 1t will inspirit and nerve
the Republican masses, who haYe, for years
past, been turned over to the tender mer-
cies of tie Democratic bull-dozers and bal
lot-box suffers, and popular elections
counted as huge farces, only to be utilized
in fraudulent certificates of election to |
Democratic candidates for Congress and |
stimulate them to aggressive effort to main |
tain their rights and defend their manhood. |
Heretofore Southern Republicans have only |
received consideration when their votes In |
National Conventions were needed to aid |
aspirants. Had the same in
terest been manifested in the Republicans |
of the South, that has been shown in doubt
full Republican States in the North and |
West, we would now have several pro-
Republican Southern States, where |
The Western and Northern States are still |
doubtful. A different policy for the future
will bring different results. The case of
Mr.. Mackey is pregnant of important in
duences. II he shall be seated. fresh inspi-
ration will be given all through the Cotton
States to the prescribed and prosecuted Re-
publicans there, and the fruits made mani
lest in large increase in the Republican