Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-12-05


rin0lv contrived to secure minority control,
while violence completes tue shortcomings
Of fraud ..u.
the Development Of the existing law proyid,
iny y Federal suparvisiod 0f Congressional
elections offered an effective method OK re-
forming these abuses. The need OF such Y
law has manifested itself il many parts OF
the country. and its wholesome restraints
aud nsnalties will be useful in all. The COZ
stit,itionality Of Mch legislation has
been affirmed by the Supreno ColrI
its f,robdble efectivGisss Is evidencei
by the character Of the opposition
that is made to it, 1t has bsen denouncsd
as il it were a new exercise u releIa le
States. Nothing could be further from the
truth. Congress has already fixed the time
for the election Of members of CCigres5. 1t
has declared that votes for members or CoD~
gress must be by written or printed ballot;
It has provided for the 9ppoiutment by the
circuit courts in certain caS3S, sut upon tho
petition of certain number Of clti1sfsy OF
election supervisors, and made 1t their duty
to supervise the registration OF voters con-
ducted by the State officers; 70 c1auenge
parsons Offering TO register. 10 personally in
affix their NAMES 10 the lists for tde purpose
of Identification aud the prevention OF
frauds TO attend at elections AMI rsmairi
with the boxes till the votes are all cast and
counted: 10 attach to the registry lists aud
election returns any statement touching
the accuracy and fairness CT the registry
and election. aud to take AMI trarso'it
to the Clerk Of the House OF Rep
resentatives any evidence OF fraudulent
practices which may be presented to them.
The same law provides for the appointment
OF Deputy United State; Marshlls to attend
the polls. support the Supervisors in the dis
charge Of their duties, and t1 arrest persons
violating the election laws The provisions
Of this familiar title OF the Revised Statutes
have been put into exercise by both the great
political paroles. an1 in the North as we'll
in the South, by the filing with the court Of
the petitions required by the law.
1t is not, therefore a question whether we
shall have a Federal election law, for We now
have one, AMI have had for nearly twenty
years but whether we SHALL have an effective
law. The present law stops just short OF
effectiveness, for it surfsn1srs to the local
authorities all control over the c9rtifcatiol
which establishes the Driml facie rigat t) a
seat IN the Hous5 Of Representatives.
This defect should be cureL Equality
OF representation an | The parity Of ths elec-
tors must bs m lintlius1 o. everything thai
is valulble in our sys.em Of g)vsrhnl1t i
lost The dualiic ltiOl OF al el9ct). mus.
b. sought in the law, not in tIe opinions,
preiu lices o. fears OF any class, however
powerful Tbs path OF the elect)r to the
ballot box must bo free from the ambush OF
fear AMI the entics nents offraul: ths count
50 trl9 aul open thai noa9 snail gain
say It. Suci law shOll1 be- ab-
ia a if1naFflgI. II
should give the advantage to honesty and
the control to majorities Surely there IS
nothing sectional about this creei, and II IL
SHALL happen that the penalties OF laws in
ten lei ID enforce thess rights fall here AMI
nostlere. i. is not because the law Is sectional
but because. happily. crime is local and not
universal. Nor should it be forgotten that
every law wlstler relating to elections or to
any other subject, whether enlctd by the
STATE or by tn, nation, has force beiiniit;
the courts, the marshal or constl5le, th9
Dose cOmitatus, the prison, ar5 all All
always bahin1 the law.
Ons cannot be justly cAlrgel with IN
triendiness 70 any se;tio1 or class wlD
seeks only ID restrain violations o. law and
u personal right. NJ CO nn1nity Will h1t
lawlossaass profitable. NJ comnluity can
afford t. have il known that the offers
who are charged with the pres9rga-
ton of the public peace AMI the re-
straint OF the criminal classes ara them
selves the product Of fraud or vio-
ence. The magistrate is then without re-
s0ect AMI the Law without sanction. Th1
fools Of lawlsssness clnn)t be legsel AMI
ma ie 10 run in one chalnel. The killing Of
Unitel States Marshal clrryiny a writ OF
arrest for an election of)n5o is full OK
prompting AMI suggestion to msn who are
pursued by a city marshal for crime 5ains0
life o. property.
But It is said that this legislation will r..
vivs racs anim)sties, ani sone have even
suggested that when the peaceful methods
Of fraui are mlde impossible they may be
suDpantel by intimidation an1 violence. II
the proposed law gives ID any qullifo
eector by hairs weight, moro than his
equal influence or detracts by 50 much
from any other quaidsl elsctOr, it is
fatally impeache1. Bus if the law is ellal
aud the auinosities it is to evoke grow
out Of the fact that sone electors hly
been accustomed 70 exercise the franchise
for Others. as well as for thsnielyes,
thess animosites on yht not to BE-
confessed without shane AMI cannot
be given any weight in tn ds;li.
sion without dishonor. No ciolce IS le,t
to me but to inforce with vigor all laws in
tended to secure 20 the citizen his colstitu-
tlOnal rights, anu 20 reco nusIh III ~ .i'
inadauacies OF such laws be promptly
remediei. II to promote with zeal ant
ready interest every project for the develop
ment OF its material interests its rivers,
harbors, mines and factories. ami the intel
ligence, peace and security under the law OF
its communities and its homes, is not ac-
cepted as sufficient evidence of frienliness
TO any State or section, 1 cannot add conniy-
ance at election practices that not only dis
turb local results but rob the electors of
other States and sections of their most prlca
less political rights.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, Dec l, lSJJ.