The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-20

FEDERAL ELECTION LAW.
That the present Republican Congress
will do all it dare to perpetuaie itself
N power 70 fact which will not admit
OF discussion. II is. in short an axiom
Ba, that the Republican party how
ever revolutionary It's inclininSs, VIII
attempt to throttle the free voters OF
this Federal republic OF ours by the
massage of a Federal election iaw Is
matter Of decided doubt.
In the first place, the Republican III =
icrity in each House Of Congress Is very
small. aud the Democratic minority ~
each is so large that it can prevent mis-
chieyops legislation at any time, WIT u
aresort to filibusiering tactics IS seen to
b. necessary to preserve the people s
hberties. IN the next place, while there
may be in Congress many malignants.
whose narrow mental vision Is com
plelely obscured by the one idea OF hu'
initiating and degrading the South
to the lowest point possible, there
are vet a large number, even. OF those
who adhere to the Republican party,
who will be unwilling to giyetbeir con-
sent 10 any ultra radical measures.
Then. vet again, there are those who,
while willing 10 do anything which
may al, ct The South. will hesitate long
before they pass a law which VIII apply
as strongly to one section as to another.
and which. while abridging the liber-
iiss Of the South, will tend also to
tie euslaying Of the North.
For these reasons there is no!
mpch likelihood Of the present
Republican Congress passing any
general Federal election law, but
should that body bs able and
ash enough to push through any such
revolutionary measure. there Is still left
one more hope for the American patriot.
and that is in the Supreme Court Of
tie United States. That such law
would be declared unconstitutional
scarcely admits Of doubt. True, Presi-
dent Harrison, in his late message to
Congress. took the ground that the
United States Constitution gives 10
Congress control of Congressional
elections; but though be IS Pres
ident OF the United States, and
Is probably about as good law
yer as lie Is q statesman. he Will
have some difficulty in es ablishing his
position. All that the Constitution says
ON the subject is in section 4, article ::
The times. places and manner Of hold
ing elections for Senators and Rspresen-
tatiyes shall be Prescribed in each State
by the Legislature thereof: but the
Congress may. at any lime, by law.
make or alter such regulation, except
as to the PAGES of choosing senators.
By strained construction of our or
ganic law this section may perhaps be
interpreted 10 mean that Congress can
control Congressional elections, but
The plain Intention Of the trainers of
TIE Constitution is manifest. They
clearly intended that the States should
permanently control the election of their
respective Senators and Representatives
anu that Congress was only to interfere
60 regulate the times. places and
manner of the elections whenever such
interference Was absolutely necessary.
That the F.theIs of the Republic ever
INTENDED Congress TO interfere with the
election of purely Safe ofiicers-and
such IN mbers OF Congress undoubtedly
ar,-ao man Of intelligence will rex
his reputation by asserting.
This. however, is subject which is
OF two much importance TO be disposed
OF in the limits Of an ordinary editorial
article. The gist Of the whole question
ll,sin the statemert already made. VIZ:
that no matter how greatly Republican
secIionallsts in Congress may desire
Southern humiliation apd modification.
they will hesitate long before
they will adopt measures to that end,
which will tend TO emtarrass and in
volve their own States. Any Federal
election law which may be passed must
apply as s.r.ngently to Maize as to
Tcx3s.