The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-12-09
AT

Undoubtedly the word cat" has many
shades Of meaning. Therefore, In ordc,
% get Q: its true meaning a. used In any
given connection, 1t u necessary to con-
suit what the preachers call the context
Thus do we ascertain the sense In which
tho word Eat" Il used in sections 55ll
and 6St9 Of the United States Statutes a
Large. Il requires no forced construction
Of language to give to those sections the
meaning We have said they bear. II re-
quires the utmost stretching OF the word
"ai,v for instance, to make 1t cover the
offence which has been charged against
certain persons In this city.
Let rs say, by the way. that Judge
HroHEs himself Is reported as having said
That IN the cases which are expected to
come up In his court for trial next Janu-
AIRY interesting questions will arise which
have never yet been passed upon by the
courts. We are not surprised that Judge
Huours made this remark. We should, on
the contrary, have been surprised IL nc
had formed already any opinions either
for or against the parties whom he Is en-
pectcd 70 have to try next month.
But TO return TO the law OF the United
States which we have been dissccting and
discussing. To enable any lawyer to see
the real point in the case 1t is only neces-
sary that he be furnished with the very
words OF the law. Let us quote them
again. They are a. they follow here:
Section SSH. II at any election for rep
rasentatiyc or delegate In Congress any
person knowingly ~ personates and votes,
or attempts 10 vote, In the name OF my
other person, whether living, dead, or fc-
titious: (2) or votes more than once at the
same election for any candidate for the
same Office; (3) or votes at place where
he may not be lawfully entitled to vote;
f4l or VOTES without having a lawful right
10 vote; (5) or does any unlawful act TO
secure an opportunity to vote for him.
self or any other person; (6) or by force,
threat, intimidation, bribery, reward, or
offer thereof. unhwfully prevents any
qualified voter Of any State or OF any Ter
ritory from freely exercising the right
Of suffrage, or by any such means induces
any voter to refuse to exercise such right,
or compels or induces by any such means
any officer OF an election In any such State
or Territory To receive vote from per-
son not legally qualified or entitled to vote;
IN or interfcres In any manner with any Of
ficer OF such election In the discharge OF his
duties; (S) or by any such means, or other
unlawful means, induces any officer OF an
election, or officer whose duty IL isto ascer-
tain, announce, or declare the result OF any
such election, OF give or make any cert'ti-
cate, document, or evidence in relation
thereto, to violate or refuse to comply with
his duty or any law regulating the same;
(D or knowingly receives the vote OF any
person not emitted 10 vote, 10) or refuses
10 receive the vote of any person entitled
to vote, M or aids, counsels, procures. or
advises any such voter, person. or officer
to do any act hereby made crime, or omit
10 do any duty the omission OF which is
hereby made a crime. or attempt to do 90,
be shall be punished by fine OF not more
than $500, or by imprisonment not more
than three years, or by both, and shall pay
the costs OF the prosecution.
TO emphasize the fact that the word
"at" means on clection-day only, we have
numbered the offences denounced in the
statute. We have made only eleven Of
fences, though we might have made more;
and OF these eleven offences al must be
committed on election.day or after the elec-
lion is commenced. Read them over and
Judge for yourself whether this is or Is not
the fact.
The language OF No. 2. it will lie OBJ
served, tells what the word cat" means in
this law. II any person "votes more than
once at the same election" Could he do
that ten days or one day before election
dav 4? No, sir. He must do 1t "at the
same election"; and thus the statute itself
proves that the words Dat the election"
mean on election-day.
Could person commit any one Of the
offences numbered from l 10 II on any
other than election-day? Read them:
No. /. lie could not.
No. 2. He could not.
No. 8. He could not.
No. 4. He could not.
No. 6. He could not. There can be no
such thing as "ircely exercising The right
Of suffrage and no such thing rs "rc-
ceiving votos,' &C., on any other than cleo
tion-day.
No. Z. He could not.
No. s. He could not. An officer OF cleo
tion connot announce or declare the result
OF an election which has not yet been held.
No. 0. lie could not.
No. 10. He could not.
No. II. lie could not.
Whence we argue that surely he could
not In the case Of No. 5, which we omitted
In it's regular order.
Notice, too, "a we said yesterday, that it
Is no violation Of this statute for person
to do an unta,cfM act 10 secure an opportu-
nifty to vote TOR John Smith at an election
for representative in Congress. The Of
fence denounced by this statute is the doing
of an uaIamf,d act at the election OF rep
yesentotive in Congress to secure an oppor.
tuntty 10 cote for himself or some other
person.
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Fully Sustained.
The .yndpe ~ tho Husfino s Courf of fhia