The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-03
Contested Elections.

Some Of our contemporaries Oh Tue pioss
have expressed the opinion that the House
Of Representatives ought not to pay the
exneuses OF unsuccessful contestants for
seats in that body. One OF these papers
saws that either the contestant or the sitting
member ought to know enough OF the
strength OF his case at the outset to DC
aware Of the risk he assumes In accepting
the certificate OF election or In contestlng
the rich: OF the candidate returned. But
this Is assuming too much. The House OF
Representatives does otalways seat the man
who has the best title TO the seat. Inc
present House has turned out white man
and seated negro. Some ten years ago
the Republicans had entire possession OF
both houses OF Congress, as well as OF the
Executive Department Of the Government.
AT that timc--the days OF scalawags ana
carret-bagcers--the custom was TO seat tue
Republican in every instance. The Demo-
Gratis had no rights which the Republicans
were bound TO respect. Contests bad IN
deed become uncommon, or, rather, were
no longer made by Democrats, but by Re-
publicans ouly. Trad. STEVENS, not deny
ing ,ihat the Republican claimants were
villains. attempted to Justify his votes IN
favor OF those claimants by int'matIng that
the Democratic were no better than tpe
Republican claimants, and declaring IT TO
De his purpose 10 vote for his Gown ras-
CAL"
III candidates for Congress are not 10 DE
encouraged TO make contests In cases wheie
they have only 4 colorado title to the se't'
there will be but few contests. The most
unscrupulous party will surely control the
House OF Representatives II certificate CT
election is to be the final test OF the merits
OF a claim to seat in Congress, OF even
the action of a partisan House OF Repre-
sentatyes itself. The members well Know
that they do not decide all the contests
Alright. They quiet their consciences some
times by paying the wronged claimant a
good round sum out OF the public trea-
sury.
1t costs thousands OF dollars to contest
an election to seat in the House OF Rep
resentatiyes. Unless, therefore, the House
nays the cost of such contests, none but
rich men, the very richest Of men, viii be
either able or willing to run for Congress
in districts in which the election officers
are unscrupulous.
Many partisan trick is unearthed IN
the process Of trying TO unseat congress
man. II produces a storm WHICH is calcu-
lated TO purify the political atmosphere.
II prevents numerous wrongs which would
otherwise be perpctrated. 1t is protec-
ton OF the ballot-boX. 1t is an educating
process. II familiarizes election officers
with their duties, and enlightens whole
communities in resrect of certain OF their
rights, privileges, and duties, as well as of
certain forbidden things. The money paid
out to persons who perform these services
for the State is money well expended.
But we would not be understood as de-
string to encourage the contesting OF cleo
tons on frivolous pretexts. The House
should Judge each case upon its own
merits. We only contend that nobody
should be prevented from claiming seat
in Congress to which he was honestly
elected by the dread Of the expense attend
ing such a contest. Wego farther, and say
that If the contestant really believed he
had good case, he ought to be reimbursed
all of his necessary expenses.