Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-30
30, 1884
Electors and Supervisors and Deputy
Marshals.

nrOyl0cs tnat " cacn Slltc sutii tppolHi "
such manner rs the Legislature thereof ma,
direct" the electors Of President and Wee
President TO whichit Il entitled. A Stat
Legislature has perfect right 10 choose th
electors itself, as in South Carolina tn
Legislature chose hers up to 1860; and
the present system Of terrorizIng an
bribery shall continue for 4 few years long
or. The several States will he compelled IL
scli-defence TO commit the duty OF choosing
such electors 10 their respective Legisla
lures.
The act OF Congress providing for thu
spp0ntment OF Federal supervisors Of
elections and deputy marshals, though
passed by a Republican body, recognizes
the fact that Congress has nothing TO dc
with The election OF electors OF President
and Vicc-President OF the United States
The law provides for the appointment Of
such officials 10 supervise congressional
elections. IL says, as 10 supervisors, that
they may be appointed "prior 10 any cleo
ton at which Representative or Delegate
In Congress Is 10 be voted for; and, a. TO
deputy msrshals. tina, they may be APP
pointed "whenever an election at which
Representatives or Delegates in Congress
are TO be chosen is held in any CITY or town
Of twenty thousand inhabitants"
II Is q clear case, therefore. that the SUI
pervisors and deputy marshals have nothing
TO do with the choosing of electors of Pre-
sident and Vice-Presidcnt. Their duties
pertain 10 elections for Representatives in
Congress only.
South Carolina has. we are told, law
which requires the votes for State officers
10 be cast and received in a room other than
that in which the votes for congressman
are received. OF course there must be two
sets OF judges Of elections. But, strange
to say, South Carolina has neglected
10 require the votes cast for presidential
electors 10 be received in another room
than that in which ME votes for congress-
men are received. We predict that before
another presidential election some such
safeguards as these will be thrown around
the voters, or else the election, of President
will degenerate into mere mockery of
elections In general. and our Government
Itself soon become travesty upon free in
stitutions.
Remember that if on next Tuesday there
were no elections for congressman there
would be and could be no such officials
surrounding the ballot-box and threatening
voters. For these reasons there will be
next Tuesday no Federal supervisors or
deputy marshals allowed to overawe the
voters in Ohio. or Maine. or Oregon, or
Vermont, or any other State in which no
congressman are TO be elected.
The Acknowledgement OF the United
States. the tool OF corrupt party, has sent
out instructions TO supervisors and deputy
msrsbals. OF course it is not for him but
for the courts to decide what the law is.
Judge BRYAN, OF the United States District
Court for South Carolina. decided in 1880,
November LIST, few days before the prcsi-
dental election, as follows:
al am compelled TO say that these in
structions should have been given in the
language Of the law. These officials should
not have interpreted the law, but quoted
the law.'
81 will only say that what | now regard
as possible and proper TO be done is that
the law should he literally quoted. That
the authority OF the supervisors and mar
shals In the language OF the law should be
given them. When these officials under
take to interpret the law for themselves, to
break 1t up, 10 define il, to give precise ut
terance, not in the language Of the law, but
in their own language, il seems TO me that
they have gone beyond their authority.
They have done that which may involve
themselves in trouble and bring trouble
uron The people in assuming Il function
that the law did not put upon them"
That is sound doctrine. Look to the
law. not to what Mr.. BREWSTER or anybody
else says as TO the meaning Of the law.
Judge BRYAN further said:
"Tbese officers. may add. act upon
their proper responsibilities. IL upon a
case made they have offended against that
responsibility, have done wrong, they are
criminaly responsible IL the circumstances
point 10 a criminal intent-if they intended
oppression and wrong to the people.
"There Is one point so definitely made
that feel at liberty to declare myself upon
1t. II is my judgment that the marshal has
no right or authority TO appoint special
deputy marshals outside OF cities with
10000 inhabitants and upwards. and that
he has no right In different form and
method TO appoint general deputies for d
special purpose. The law denies that power
TO him expressly"
That's clear enough.
Let us add, as 10 another point, that in
South Carolina Judge BoSD decided, in th'
HoRsEY case, that the deputy marshal ha,
no right to be within the polling precinc
unless he Is summoned there by the super
visors, when fraud or violence is committed
or threatened.
Outside OF cities and towns OF 10000 in
habitants or more there can be no deput,
marshals, and the functions OF the super
visor, in Judge BRYAN's words. Is "slmpl
that OF witness" He has the night TO d
all those things (which would make hin
: proper and efficient witness for the can
didsie for Congress-" Beyond this he ha
ne power or authority. Notice Judg
BRyAS's words "tor The candidate 10
Congress" Neither the supervisors nor I'll
\ deputy marshals have any concern wit
! your vote for electors OF President an
4 vice-Presiden.. These last two sentenc,
are intended for our law makers.
Acknowledgement BREwsrER's instru,
lions are brutal. He has usurped all III
functions OF the courts. Nowhere doc
the law give him any such powers. II
ought TO be lmpeached by the House q
Representatives next winter. II is sham,
full that In free country the ofiice-holdin
class should dare thus 10 attempt to intiml
date the voters.
Let every YIrginisn enter against thes
hlgh.handed. unholy proceedings his sol
emn protest in the shape Of ballot fol
CLEVELAND and HENDRICKS.
------------
Mr.. CLEvELASD's RECORD. Major Ro'
BERT SrILEs's letter Of Yesterday was O
vonA oue II referred 10 Mr.. CtEypr Avn