Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-03
THURSDAY. JANUARY 3, 1889.
Legislation Hostile to the South.

Legislation Hostile 70 the South'
In speaking few days ago Of the small
ness OF the majority which the re
publicans will have IN the next
House OF Representatives we congratulated
the southern people that that fact was
guaranty that no legislation hostile to their
interests would DO got through that body.
Nevertheless II B a serious matter TO find
Che leading Republican Journal In the Unitsd
states-the New York Tribune-throwing
out a hint that the Federal Government
ought 10 take charge OF the elections Tor not
only congressman. but electors OF President
and Vice. President OF the United States.
That journsi may not speak for the Repubh'
can party as whole. but 1t does speak Tor
MIR. BLAIYE and that portion OF the RepublH
can party which he represents. We have
kent vlgilsnt watch upon It's editorial
columns ever since the fact became known
that Mr.. HARRISON was elected, and we have
been induced by Its silence upon the ques-
tions we are considering 10 hope thst IL
would favor no undue interference with the
election laws Of the several States.
Bot the Tribune OF Tuesday abandons the
policy OF silence and circumspecton, and
declares iu q manner peculiar to itself Its be-
lief that the Federal Government has, under
the Constitution, the power to regulate SUI
frage in the statesl Think OF that. Not
merely the power TO make "regulatons" to
control the congressional elections In the
States. but the power TO regulate suffrage.
Therefore the Tribune claims for tue Fed
sral Government not merely the power to
regulate congressional elections, but elec>
tons for electors Of President and Vices
President OF the United States. This latter
claim is preposterous in view OF the Sec
ton OF the Constitution which provides in
20 many words that each state shall appoint
its electors IN such manner IS the Legisls
ture thereof may direct. We give the Tri'
bune's own Words
"The great constitutional lawyers who
fnfest Washington will discover many OBJ
ktacles ia the way. no doubt, II any body pro-
poses that the United States should in any
manner regulate the suffrage. Bat II would
seem 10 be expressly IN accordance with the
Constitution 10 enact that person, before
voting for member Of Congress or presi'
Genital electors, shall prove that lie has 'the
qualifications requisite for electors OF the
most numerous branch OF the State Legisla-
ture,' and shall submit that proof to an Off
Ger created and acting under United States
law, The constitutional requirement car
lies with 1t tho power and the duty TO pro-
vide that IL shall not be disregarded, eilher
by the neglect Of any state Legislature or
by the neglect or misconduct OF any State
official"
"I.ogie IL logic. that's all say" The Tri.
bune reads into the Constitution provision
which Is not to be found ia that instrument
aud upon that provision bases It's logical ar
cument iha, "the constitutional require
ment carries with IL" the power TO see that
nobody violates II In voting for President
But the fact is that The words quoted by the
Tribune from the Constitution expressly APP
ply solely to elections for members OF The
House Of Representatives and do not apply
10 elections for electors OF President. Arti-
Gle H., section ., paragraph l, reads as fol-
lows:
.sThe House Of Representatives shall De
composed OF members chosen every second
wear by ibe people Of the several states, and
Nf''f''
the qualifications requisite for electors OF the
most numerous branch OF the State Legisla-
ture."
Not the least reference is here made TO
presidential electors, as OF course there could
not be in a constitution which elsewhere pro-
yides, "A we have Just stated, that the Iegs'
lat,ires Of the several States shall have sole
charge OF elections for electors Of President
and Vice.PTesdent.
But the Tribune's logic would have APP
peared 10 better advantage il that paper had
argued, IS 1t could just as reasonably have
done. that inasmuch as the Federal Coust'
tuition provides that electors OF President
shall be chosen as the state laws provide, It
is the duty Of Congress 10 see that they are
not chosen In violation Of those laws Why
notY II the argument is sound In the one
case It is sound In the other. What says our
New York contemporary 2