The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-09
An Examnle and q Reproof.

A week ago Judge BRYAN, OF the Unlted
States Distric; Court OF South Carolina, was
called upon to construe the election-Iaws
which we have commented. upon in an
other column. He manifested most
praisewOrthy spirit, and administered a
well-merited rebuke to the ofliciouS FcGe-
raj tools who had put their own cOnstruc-
ton upon the act Of Congress, and con-
verted a law intended to protect the ballot
into law for the destruction Of the ballot.
We quote Judge BRYAS's appropriate
words:
q will say, touching this matter, that
in the judgment of the Court it was the
duty of these officers, responsihly charged
with such high functions, to have given
some opportunity for the discussion OF
these instructions they have given 10 their
subordnates. TO have advised the people
rs well as their sub0rdinates OF what was
expected OF them. That these instructions
should have been canVaSsed. That there
should have been given to the Judge him
self the opportunity OF examining them
critically and Of giving upon them critical
| Judgment. think that would have been
acting in fidelity alike to the Govern
ment and to the people-aliOrding the
opportunity to the Government to
protect its authority and TO the cit
izen to have that authority fixed and
limited. | cannot act with any precision
this evening. / cannot give any precise
instructions, and Lam therefore compelled
to say that these Instructions should haze
been qiuen in the Language Of the lar.
These officials should not have Interpreted
the law, but quoted the law. II they had
done this the bar OF the State, without re-
spect to parties, and the people for them
selves, and the general intelligence OF the
State, might have canyasSeed these in
stTuctions and might have taken de-
liberate and proper action upon them.
| will only say that what l now regard
as possible and proper to be done is
that the lao should be literally quoted.
That the authority of the supervisors and
marshals in the ldngudqe Of the ld'c should
be given them. When these officials I'M
dertake to interpret the law for them
selvcs-to break it up, to define it, to give
precise utterancc, not in the language OF
the law but in their own language seems
10 me that they hare gone beyond their 0l-
MOrity They have done that which
may involve themselves IN trouble and
bring trouble upon the people in aSsum-
ing q function that the law did not put
upon them. Under the circumstances
can only refer the pc0ple to the law.
can only say that what is incOnsist-
ent with the statute is no law, and carries
no authority. cannot at this hour sup
ply the instructions myself, except TO an
nouncc that general position and let it be
applied by the bar and the general intelli-
gence Of the people. These officers, | may
add, act upon their proper possibilities.
Ii upon case made they have offended
against that responsibility, have done
wrong, they are criminally responsible il
the circumstances point to criminal in
tent-if they intended oppression and
wrong to the people"
The marshals are "criminally RESPONSE
BILE" says Judge BRYAN; and. We add,
, they are responsible in civil damages. In
Richmond "hey haze gone beyond their
authority"
JOHN GeoDE was seated in the House of
Representatives because the Federal Off
Gals in the navy-yard in his district prosti-
tuted Federal places and Federal laws to
try to defeat him. The next House OF Rep
resentatiyes may have similar case from
Virginia.