National Republican., 1883-12-20
Contested Elections.

The Post invites attention to tho contested
election cases from Ohio, and especially to
tho case of Campbell VS.. Morey, and through
them to election cases in general. Thought
full democrats will pause TO consider how far
they may go in seating men who have no
right without arousing public sentiment
which makes congresses. Mr.. Morey was
fairly elected. He holds his seat by title
from tho people. Shall it be taken
from him and given to another, whose title
will rest only in tho exercise of partisan
power? By inadvertence $500 persons in
Clermont county voted for him as II. l..
Morey, the other counties voting for him rs
Henry L. Morey. Mr. Campbell petitioned
tho supreme court Of Ohio to throw out these
$500 votes. The court refused to lend its aid
to the perpetration of so palpable wrong
Mr.. Campbell now asks congress to reverse
the decision of the supreme court.
In the Chalmers Manning case from Missis-
of J. Il. Chalmers, on the back of the return
of the commissioners of election OF Tate
county. Thereupon, on this flimsy pretext,
the secretary of state threw out the 1,472
votes in that return, which all men knew be-
longed to Chalmers.
The certificate of election issued on that
fraud was rendered to Manning. He refused
to take it, tainted as it was by a crime against
the people.
The Mississippian refused to be the bene-
fciary of fraud. The Ohioan invoked the
power of the supreme court of his state to
commit fraud on the people that he might
be its beneficiary.
The house was about to swear in Mr.. Man
ming, against his will, on the first day of this
session, and had ordered the previous ques-
tion on resolution to that effect. The older
heads like Randall and Cox, took alarm and
adjourned tho house. Next day conservative
counsels prevailed. The motion to swear in
Manning was withdrawn, and the case sent
to the committee. The democracy had COM
mitted blunder. 1t was barely
saved from the commission of political
crime. Will it dare to throw out
the $500 II. L. Morey votes? Mr.. Morey had
a majority of Al, we believe. The record of
testimony taken in the contest shows that
about 100 illegal votes were cast for his op.
ponent, and that his majority is increased
thrice over. The assumption that certain
votes cast for him by persons who were stu
dents are illegal is in disregard of all pre-
cedents in congress, and is put forward to re
lieve the odium of the dsfranchiscment of a
whole county. The law puts no such bar
sinister on the cause of education.
In every case ever before congress involving
that question votes cast by persons who were
students have been held to be legal and have
been counted. In the Cessna case, cited in
Mr.. Campbells interest, and in every case in
Massachusetts, Illinois, and other states whero
that question is involved or discussed, without
single exception, it is held that the fact that
a person is a student is not test of his right
to vote. This right all courts and congress say
is to be determined by citizenship and
residence, as tho right of any other person is
determined, whatever his occupation may be-
OF the hundreds of students in tho district
not one in ten voted, and only such as were
resident. Whether the democratic house will
override precedent law, and evidence to
crafty the personal ambition of men in tho
dawn of tho approaching presidential cam
paign remains to be seen.