The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-12-02

quite desirable. The government does
not own or operate the railroads, and if
should not, | think. own or operate the
telegraph lines. 1t does, however. seem
to be quite practicable for the govern
ment TO contract with the telegraph
companies, as it does with the railroad
companies, to carry, at specified rates,
such communications as the senders may
designate for this method of transpor-
tatlon. | recommend that such legisla-
ton be enacted as will enable the Post
office Department fairly to test, by ex-
pertinent, the advantages Of such use
OF the telegraph.
He Came Out Flat Footed in Favor of
the Federal Election Law.
Ii any Intelligent and loyal company
OF American citizens We're required to
catalogue the essential human condition
OF national life, l do not doubt that
with absolute unanimity they would be-
gin with free and honest elections, and
1t Is gratifying to know that generally
tnere Is growing and more partisan de-
mand for better election laws. But
against this sign of hope and progress
must be set the depressing and nnde-
slraole fact that election laws and meth
oos are sometimes cunningly contrived
TO secure minority control, while
violence completes the short comings of
frauds.
, In my last annual message suggested
that the development of the existing law
,, providing Federal supervision of Con-
gressional elections offered an effective
method of reforming these abuses The
need of such law has manifested itself
IN many parts of the country, and its
!. wholesome restraints and--penalties will
: be useful in all. The constitutionalitv
of such legislation has been affirmed by
/, the Supreme Court Its probable effec-
tlveness is evidenced by he character OF
= = the opposition that is ad i, to it. It
: has been denounced as If IL were a new
exercise OF Federal power, and invasion of
rights Of the State. Nothing could be
q further from the truth. Congress has
g already fixed the time for the election of
y members OF Congress 1t has declared
! that votes for members Of Congress must
q be by written or printed ballot. 1t has
e provided for the appointment by the Cir
le cult courts III certain cases, and upon
III the petition OF certain number of citi-
IT Zens, OF election supervisors and made it
OF their duty to supervise the registration
ld Of votes conducted by the State officers;
% to challenge persons offering to register,
eS to personally respect and scrutinize the
~ registry lists, and affix their names to
e the lists; for the purpose Of Identification
1s and prevention Of frauds to attend at
10 elections and remain with the boxes till
~ the votes are all cast and counted; to
5e attach to the registry lists and election
q returns any statement touching the ac-
curacy and fairness of the registry and
n election, and to take and transmit to the
to Clerk of the House of Representatives
les any evidence of fraudulent practices
ch which may be presented to them The
"a, same law provides for the appointment
he of deputy United States marshals to at
on tend at the polls, support the supervis
IN Ors, in the discharge of their duties, and
se to arrest persons violating the election
is. laws. The provisions of this familiar title
'es of the Revised Statutes have been put
d. into exercise by both the great political
ci- parties, and in the North as we'll as in
ese the South by the filing with the court ol
we the petition required by the law. 1t i:
It'll not, therefore, a question whether WI
ate shall have Federal election law, for VIZ
by now have one and have had for nearly
lat twenty years, but whether we shall hav,
de an effective law. The present law stop
ote just short of effectiveness, for it surren
ers ders to the local authorities all contro
ars over the certifcation which establishe
use the prima facie right to ascertain tn
our basis OF representation. This defec
i've should be cured. Equality O
ave representation and the parity O
ad the electors must be maintained, o.
of everything that is attainable in our sys
les. tenn of government is lost. The qualifi
IN cations of our election must be sought il
ac- the law, not in the opinions, prejudices
ion or fears of any class however powerful
the The path at the election to the ballo
has box must be free from the ambush G
rles spleen and the enticements of fraud; th
tea count so true and open that none sha
,ree gainsay it; such law should be absc
be lutely nonpartisan and important.
our should give the advantage to honest
hat and the contract to the majoritie
, IN Surely there is nothing sectional abor
free this creed, and if it shall happen tbs
lea the penalties of laws intended to enforC
of these rights fall here andnot there, it is ~
,un- because the law is sectional but becau
arge happily crime is local and not universe
t is nor should it be forgotten that ever
ON law, whether relating to elections or
be any other subject-whether enacted
the the State or naton-has force behind
J luS Inc courts, Jno marSnai OF COnotaDl
tufts the posse comitatus, the prison, are {
i'm and always behind the law. One cam
8. be Justly charged with unfriendliness
any section or class who seeks only
leg. restrain violation and Of personal rigf
but No community will find lawlessne
new profitable. No community can affo
oria to have it known that the officers "
hing are charged with the preservation of
,ican public peace and the restraint of I
IN TO criminal classes are themselves the pl
fects duct of fraud and violence. The mag
The trate is then without respect and
neri law without sanction.
sage The floods of lawlessness cannot
rene made to run in one channel. The K
Y re- ing Of United States marshal c.
alarv rying a writ of arrest for an election
yonrt fence is full of prompting and sugg
# Of ton to men who are pursued by C
gard marshal for a crime against life or pr
mend erty But it is said that this legislati
,onv. will revive animosities, and none ht
on a even suggested that when the peace
onr methods of fraud are made impossi