Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-09-18
Federal Interference in Elections.

1t is said that the dominant party propo-
ses at the next session of Congressto ar
range for the election of Representatives to
he held in the several States entirely under
the supervision of Federal officials. When
the Constitution of the United States was
under discussion some delegates expressed
a fear that the States might cease to elect
members of Congress for the purpose of
abrogating the Federal authority. 1t will
be remembered, as we have often stated,
that the founders of the Republic did not
apprehend any danger to popular liberty
from governmental oppression. Their only
fear was that the government itself might
suffer at the hands of the populace. They
failed, therefore, to provide single safe
guard in the original instrument for popu-
lar rights, but directed their best thoughts
toward provisions for the safety of the gov
eminent. They ordained that ''The times,
places and manner of holding elections for
Senators and Representatives shall be pre-
scribed in each State by the legislature
thereof" Then the suggestion came that
these Legislatures might adopt such regula-
tions as would virtually put an end to
representation in Congress, and the trainers
of the instrument added the words "but
| the Congress may at any time by law make
or alter such regulations, except as to the
place of choosing Senators"
We do not think that there was any de-
| sign or intention to place these elections
under the supervision Of Federal officers
| The object, as then explained, was to give
to Congress the power to change the time
and manner of eleoting its members pro-
vided for in any State, if the regulations
thus adopted aimed at the defeat of the
system. In 1871 Congress authorized the
| judges of the United States Circuit Court
on the application of any two citizens in
any place having over 20, 600 inhabitants,
to appoint for every polling place therein
two supervisors of election who were to
attend the registration of voters and the de-
posting and counting of the ballots, at a1y
| time when members of Congress were to be
chosen.
This Federal interference has been
thought by able jurists to be within the
provisions OF the Constitution, although
that is subject of very grave doubt. But
for many years it has been carried out in
New York and Brooklyn, and is the means
by which many good citizens have suffered
the most intolerable iudignities as they
came to the polls There was never any
occasion for it, The State laws provide for
inspectors and supervisors of all political
parties and the outside interference was a
scandal and an outrage, and was designed
for party effect. After well-kpown citizens
had duly registered, they were stopped at
the ballotboxes by one of these Federal ap-
pointees, who was perfectly protected from
the natagal consequences of his imperti-
nence, and were oatechised with a series of
questions designed to be personally often
sige. This was done, not with strangers,
whose right to vote the Supervisor might
have honestly disputed in spite of the
registry, but With those known to him and
to all around the polls, and living in many
cases in ample dSellings within sight of the
| polling place. The appointment of these
unnecessary end supernumerary officials
made q draft on the treasury in favor of
some young politicians of both parties, but
did nothing in any way to protect the
purity of the ballot-box, or to secure a
faireT canvass Of the votes.
The plan row proposed is to go still
| further and to place the entire charge of
the election of members Of Congress in the
hands of Federal officers, appointed in the
interest of the dominant party. This pro-
| posal may be put out to feel the popular
pulse and to see how far it would be re-
oeived by the people without serious oppo-
sition. For cur part we protest most earn
estly against any further advance in the
centralizing policy which has been favored
by so many at Washington. The people
are quite competent to elect their own rep
resentatives to Congress without any as.
slstance from the Federal Administration
These eucroachments on the rights of the
States, and in defiance of the principle of
home rule, are Of evil import, and others
will follow in rapid succession if they are
not denour ced by thinking and patriotic
men.-Nes0 York journal Of Commerce.