The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-10
Repeal Repeal !

DANIEL O'CoNNELL's old cry in Ireland
will have to be raised in the United States.
We must get rid Of the laws under which
Republican officials appoint deputy mar
shals clothed with power to arrest on cleo
tion-day all Of our judges of elections, and
thus prevent the election Of congress
men in oil the Democratic districts in the
land. Such n law is intolerable. We have
no objection to the appointment OF super
yisors as mere witnesses. This is all they
are allowed to do outside 81 the cities. But
these deputy marshals with their green
ribands each bearing the threatening
words g United States Deputy MdrShai,"
ought never again to be allowed to show
their faces at voting-place. We trust
that the Democrats of the next House of
Representatives will repeal the law author
izing such officials TO be appointed, as they
may possibly be able to do by putting Il
provision for its repeal on an appropriation
bill. OF course there would be no use in
asking the present Republican Congress to
repeal the law. 1t was passed rs a means
OF perpetuating the power of the Republic
can party; and we need not expect it to
be repealed by that party.
Hon. J0HN A. MCMAHON, of Ohio, tried
several years ago to have this law repealed.
He denounced il In the House OF Repre-
sentatives in eloquent words. We give a
few extracts from his speech to show that
we are not singular in protesting against
the continuance OF this insutlerable law.
Mr.. MCMAHON said:
"The sections TO be repealed are not
found in the body OF the criminal law.
They constitute the political machinery by
which the party in power may manipulate
elections. They provide for supervisors
OF election ut every poll, and they authorize
the appointment Of an unlimited number
OF Especial deputy marshals,' whose duty
consists, theoretically, in seeing a fair
election and fair count, but whose prac-
tice has been IN the past, and will be in the
future, under the control Of either party
to corrupt. browbeat, or intimidate the
citizen In the exercise Of his right; and the
party in power is not only enabled to pay
its expenses out OF the Treasury, but to
punish all who may throw obstacles in the
way OF its success"
. awe regard the laws to be repealed as
being no aids to the purity of the ballot
box. We regard them as the means Of
corruption and oppression, expensive TO
the people, and liable 10 constant and seam
dalous abuse, as they have been in the past.
ihe system Is too great temptation and
100 powerful an agency 10 be intrusted in
the hands OF either political party.''
1.-The sections providing for special
deputy marshas and their powers and
compensation are those most Objectionable.
They are entirely indsiensible and scandal
lous."
"Upon the application OF two citizens
In any city having over twenty Thousand
inhabitants at the last Federal census. the
marshal OF the United States is compelled
10 appoint special deputy marshals for the
expressed purpose Of preserving order.
preventing fraudulent voting or registra-
ton or fraudulent conduct on the mart Of
the officers OF the election The number
be may appoint Is unlimited. Their pay i
20 per day; and they may be employed for
ten days. phus the marshal has ii in his
power TO employ as many persons as in mis-
Judgment he may need, whose only occ,l-
patton viii be furthering the cause OF the
party employing them and intimidating the
persons opposed, each one OF whom may |
DC paid 500 for his services. The nominal |
auty OF preserving order develops into un.
iimited zeal for the success OF the ticket
they are thus hired TO promote.
A more scaDdalous law was never en-.
acted under the pretext Of preserving the
purity OF the ballot-box. The marshal OF
The United States is the creature OF the
President. The special deputies are the ,
mere creatures OF the marshal. There Is
no law nor any general practice requiring 4
mem 70 DC equally divided between the a