Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-02-05
For the SPECTATOR.
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

EDlTOh GPECTATOR:-l ask the use OF
your columns to lay before the people of
Augusta some thoughts on the subject of
Primary Elections. The time seems favor
able for the calm and deliberate cousidera-
ton Of this important subject We have
just entered on a new year, when most men
naturally look forward and lay their plans
for the future. No partisan questions now
agitate the public mind. No elections are
near at hand There is nothing, there
fore, to prevent the people from consider
ing the subject dispassionately and impair
tally
with these preliminary remarks, l will
proceed to state some of the reasons why I
am infiexibly opposed to the system of Pri-
mary Elections as contrary to the true
principles of our government and mischiev-
GUS in it's results.
| Our free institutions rest on the funda-
mental principle that all political power re-
sides in and belongs to the people. But
as that power cannot be exercised directly
by the people, they are obliged to select, in
the mode prescribed by law, agents or rep
resentatives to act for them and on their
behalf But this election does not divest
the people of their power, OF transfer it to
their agents or representatives. The power
is still inherent in the people. All acts done
/
the people, done through their agents or
representatives. Agents or representatives
are mere trustees or servants of the people,
and their acts derive all their force and va
lidity from the fact that the people have
chosen and deputed them to act for and in
their behalf.
| 1t follows from these general PROPOSE
lions, that the agent or representative has
no proprietary right or individual owner
ship of the powers delegated to him. He
holds them merely as trustee for the peo-
pie, and is bound to exercise them for the
benefit of and in accordance with the wishes
of the people. If he perverts them for the
promotion of his own interests or for the
qualification his own wishes, he is guilty of
a violation of his trust.
l The mode by which the people delegate
their power to the various classes of public
servants is carefully prescribed in the more
important cases by the Constitution; in
those of less consequence, by law. This
mode is generally by popular elections.
1t will readily be seen, therefore, that
this process, by which the people indicate
their choice of the agents to whom they are
willing to entrust the guardianship of their
rights and the representation of their inter-
ests, is one of great delicacy and import
ance.
Elections are the means by which the
motive-power of all free governmental
Lie OPINIONS put into connection with,
and gives impetus to, the whole machinery
of government! They are the means by
which the people execute and deliver to
their agents the power-of-attorney, by
which they are authorized to act for the
people!
To ensure the fair execution of this i'm
portant delegation Of power, it is manifest
that great pains should be taken to afford
to every voter full and fair opportunity to
express his preference.
The laws of Virginia have, therefore,
sought by every precaution which human
ingenuity could suggest, TO prevent fraud,
bribery, intimidation, or abuse of any kind,
at elections.
1t provides for fair registration of all
persons entitled to vote; indicates the par
ticular places at which voters shall cast their
ballots; specifies the days on which cleo
lions shall be held, and the hours within
which votes shall be received; provides for
the appointment of sworn judges of cleo
ton and sworn clerks to record the votes;
makes it a penal offence to bride voters, Or
to obstruct or hinder them by violence, in
timidation, or other unlawful means, from
voting for the men of their choice and for
bids, under heavy penalties, the keeping
open any barrOom, saloon, OF other place at
which Intoxicating liquors are sold, on the
day of election.
The law further provides, not only that
there shall be a free ballot, but that there
shall be fair count and full return Of all
the ballots cast
Under these stringent regulations, and
others Of similar character, which 1 may
have omitted to mention, it is almost i'm
possible to prevent a full and fair express
sion of the will of the voters at any regular
and lawful election.
But, within the last few years, it has be-
come common practice in some of the
counties and cities of Virginia, as prelimi-
nary to the regular and lawful election, to
hold what are called primary Elections
), The ostensible object of these primary
Elections" is to concentrate the party vote
and avoid division among candidates of the
same political faith.
The purpose, as avowed, is not to elect
representatives, but merely to decide which
of the candidates shall be voted for at the
electiOn!
On superficial view of the subject, this
seems to be a laudable purpose, and the
method adopted to accomplish it is appa.
rently fair. But, upon closer scrutiny, l
am persuaded it will be found that the
practical working of the system is unfair
and mischievous and tends to defeat the
will and restrict the rights of the people.
I Let us look at it for moment. 1t can
not be denied that in all counties and cities
in which the party holding a "Primary
Election" has decided majority, the re-
suit of the vote at the ''Primary" is prac-
tically equivalent to lawful election. In
other words, the "Primary Election"
To- La SO
tected by none of the safeguards which
the law throws around lawful elections, is
substituted in place of the regular election!
What is the consequence of this substi-
tuition? Is it not plain that the various Off
GERS, who are required by law to be chosen
at specified times and places, under the SUI
pervision of responsible officers appointed
by law, and under safeguards against fraud
and abuse carefully provided by law, are,
in effect, elected at other times and places,
not under the control of any of the sworn
officers chosen to supervise and conduct
them, and subject to none of the penalties
against fraud and abuses of every kind,
which our election laws have prescribed to
ensure a'free ballot and fair count!
At "Primary Election candidates, or
many voters as they may please. They, or
their friends, may, with impunity and at
pleasure, intimidate or hinder voters from
casting their ballots; or they may open, or
cause to be opened, at or near the voting
places, free bars or saloons, and thus mis-
lead as many voters as they can by the in
siduous and seductive influence of whisky
Voters may vote as ''early and often" as
they choose, provided they take care not to
be found out in their crookedness!
Judges may make false counts or false
returns, and clerks may make false records
at pleasure. In word, the whole affair
may be fraud and swindle from begin
ming to end, and the law provides no pun
ishment and affords no redress, because the
, whole proceeding is unknown to the law!
After this tragic farce has been acted,
, the majority of the people themselves have
no remedy, for there is a pledge exacted
from all who participate in the Primary"
that they will vote tor the men who then
receive the largest number Of votes. The
people, therefore, are, as it were, bound
hand and foot by the result of the "Pri-