Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-31
The Deputy Marshais,

The Deputy Marshais.
We taad yesterday that We did not sap
pose Judge HvoHxs could control Marshal
IluoHss In the matter Of appointing deputy
arshsis. In his reply 10 Messs. IIorE.
GiSsSAS. and LEwEuES. whose telegram
VIC published yesterday, Judge IiuouEs
says:
"Thc election laws Of Congress give me
the appointment Of supervisors. In my
appointments ] have IN every case given
one supervisor TO each party. These laws
give the United states marshal the appoint
mont OF deputy marshals for elections III
cities They studiously give me no con-
tro, over him In his appointment OF dcp,
uty marshals in connection WIFI Federa,
elections. and he himself Is not appointed
or removed by me. therefore cannot or.
der him. but | earnestly request him In his
sppo,ntment Of deputy marshais In Nor
folk 10 give representations on his force TO
both parties; certainly so u the State au-
thoritie, in their appointment OF election
officers have given effective representation
to each party.
"Show this TO the marshal.
"R. w. IuGnEs."
The law required Judge HUGHES to ap-
point one Democratic and one Republican
supervisor for each voting-place; and
therefore he had no choice in the matter.
tut he does not content himself with say
ing that he bad complied with tie law. He
goes on to say that the marshal ought to
comply with the spirit Of the law. II was
surely the result Of an oversight upon the
part Of the Democrats in Congress that the
law does not require half the deputy mar
shals to be Democrats.
These deputy marshals are public Off
GERS. or ought to be public officers. and
not Republican officers. Their duty Is to
aid IN securing free ballot and a fair
count not to try 10 control the ballot in the
interest OF the Republican pirly, nor to
prevent fair count by unintimidated and
unbribed election officers.
Being public officers. these deputy mar
shals are officials whose names ought TO be
recorded in the marshaPs Office; and this
record. being public record. ought to be
open to the inspection Of the public. Mar
sinai HUGHES has no right 10 hide this ic
cord from the scrutinizing gaze Of the pub.
lie eye.
The law under which the deputy mar
shals are appointed provides that before the
marshal shall appoint them he must by two
citizens be thereto requested Sin writing
Where is this written application re-
corded? Who has charge OF it! Why is It
not open 20 public inspection! Have the
voters no rights which the minions of pow
er are bound 10 respectl
Again Section 2Os7 OF the ReuiSed
Statutes Of ne tinted States requires
"all United States marsbals and commits
siOners" TO "forward to the chief super
visor" sat records" pertaining to the
duties they shall have performed under the
law, and AL OathS Of office by them admin
istered to any supervisor OF election or spc-
cisl deputy marshal, in order that the same
may be properly preserved and fled"
Where are these Oaths to-day? The
deputy marshals have been appointed
and sworn in here in Richmond.
Where is the record Of the factss
How are they to apply for pay in
the absence OF record OF their appoint
ment! BE sure there is such record. 1t
is public record, and the public have
right to inspect II. Thank Heaven, the
House of Representatives has power to call
to account all these marshals, and to refuse
to appropriate any money to be used in
paying enemies Of the republic who con-
spire to stile the voice of the people.
Yes, the Democratic stronghold OF Rich
mOnd is to be besieged next Tuesday by
deputy marshals. Norfolk and Petersburg
are also TO be besieged. But the outrage
will result to the advantage OF the Demo-
cratic party. The appointment OF these
deputy marsbsls will call out the voters Of
the whole Commonwealth. The people
will not allow their servants TO stand at the
polls and overawe the voters. They willro-
buke these faithless officials by rolling up
for CLEVELAND and HENDRICKS a much
larger majority than would have been given
10 them In the absence OF outrage and
wrong on the part OF the Republican office.
holders.