The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-30
PURGING THE BOOKS.
THE FEDERAL COURTS VERSUS
THE STATE.
r,,.rx,.v with Mr.. A. B. Guigon-fe cue
raj Courts Have no Right Z" INTERFERE
IN Farce Illegal Votes on the states


rhero has been considerable talk ana
,awsnancr comment recently about Tue
effort OF Judge Waddill and others " r.
suode Judge Bond. Of the tnited Sla.''
Court IA come TO Richmond and take pro-
ceeJin0s in reference TO the recent regi-''s-
tion and the approaching eicciion, "'' 49,,
ing 10 give the readers OF the iiMtS -
insight into the matter, one OF us p,., !,
,nnrooched Mr.. Alex. II. Cuigon. VINO y
one of the best posted lawyers IN the cii. Oh
STATE and Federal election laws,at tnc Tow
hatau club rooms last night and asAeu nun
.Nr. 0uigon. what is your opinion OF 'le
probability Of such course anu 'S
legality
GENERAL LAW.
.srhe fifeenth amendment TO the 'on.u-
tuition of the United states replied VT
Guigon. rs he lighted fresh cigafe,,''
..nroyides that the right OF citizens Oh 'hc
United STATES 10 vote shall not be denied OF
abridged by the United states OF pi 'n'
| state on account Of race. color or prelivu'
condition Of ser,itudc.' The United Stales
statutes which give force 10 TINS alheiiu"e"'
contain only three provisions m substance
First. that any citizen Of the nited states
shall have the right 10 vote IN any election
without distinction Of race. color. or pre-
yious condition OF seryitude, ana When
under the laws of state any act i required
To be- done ~ 4 prerequisite or puailhc",ivn
to voting every person without regard 'o
race. color. &C.. shall have equal oppofiu-
nitv 10 perform that prerequisite.
SUITS FOR DAMAGES.
..The statutes also provide for suits for
damages i'm Federal courts against any per-
son violating this provision. and also pro
,ides for suits in Federal courts 10 oplaih
pOssos-ion of any Office for which the voting
NAV have been had. where the only qucs-
ton i'm dispute involved the denial oi the
right 10 vote for the reasons above stated.
These provisions apply 10 0U elections.
but. a. will De observed. are materially
qualified and restricted. and authorize Only
the bring ing Of civil suits.
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS.
"In elections for representatives i'm Con-
cress or i'm registrations for such elections
the statutes give the nited states Circuit
Court very full supervision and control
by authorizing the appointment of
supervisors and special deputy mar
shals. whose duty II Is TO care
fully note whether the proceedings
are legal and proper. and IN accordance
with the United states and state 'onstitu-
lions and laws. and giving them full au-
thoritv To arrest persons guilty of illegal
conduct az such elections or registrations.
40 JURISDICTION.
at j. very plain that the Federal courts
have no criminal jurisdiction whatever ~
any state election or registration which b.
not for a representative IN Congress their
sole powers being. i'm certain specified
cases. 10 entertain civil suits for damages
or for the possession Of the office voted for.
The approaching election il
FOR STATE OFFICERS ONLY.
and the United states Circuit Court has alb
,0utely no criminal jurisdiction whatever.
and ann very sure that neither Judge Bond
nor judge Hughes (Who. i'm the formers alb
scnce. would set forhim) would contemplate
for moment any such unwarranted usur-
patton of jurisdiction.
20 give Federal courts in inst such i'm
stances is the instenti0n of >herman's bill
pendin. i'm Congress.
las understand the law. Judge Witt i'm
Richmond and our own state judges
throughout the commonwealth will have ca
elusive Jurisdictions of all disputes which
may arise in the approaching election or
touching the registration just closed, and
will do fun Justice TO all suitors that come
before thcm regardless of race or color.
"Of course am giving You these points
of hand and without looking the question
mp. but they are law. and you can count on
them"
NOINII Slice OR n.LrGArirn.
-All action which has been taken -o far
fO purge the books of Illegal VOTERS have
been strictly i'm accordance with LEGAL pro-
visions. ! presumeT
OF course they have. There Is no ground
whatever for cOnfe-ting anything that ha,
been done ON the ground Of either injustice
or Illegally.