Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-09
WEDNESDAY. APRIL 9, 1879
A Prop That Wll FAIL

There is no reason 10 suppose that the
Republicans in Congress can be persuaded
OF intimidated into allowing the several
States 10 hold their congressional eiec-
tions TO suit themselves. A gentleman OF
this CITY remarked yesterday that ma
tional election-law was logical result OF
the war between the States-one OF It's
natural consequences II the United
States Government has rightfully the
powers which it exercised between 1851
and the day when the last OF the
"rebel" States WAS reconstructed
and its representatives, in Congress
admitted 20 their seats in that body,
then there is no limit 10 the power
of Congress over congressional cleo
tions. Mr.. HlLsTEAD's paper. speaking OF
the Federal Constitution, boasts that " Mr..
LINCOLN, in order to preserve the nation.
ripped that venerable instrument down
the back and across the middle IN his first
call for troops" and declares that the
people would regard it as good sign II the
Constitution. instead OF being worshipped
like q Chinese joss, should be stretched
occasionally by tho Senate in the interest
of the people till they could hear 1t crack"
The HoAR bill will make it crack.
The Charleston Ne,rs and Courier quotes
the constitutional provision that each
House fof Congress- shall be the judge OF
the elections, returns. and qualifications
of its own members. and the United
States statute providing that before the
first meeting of each Congress the Clerk
of the next preceding House OF Repre-
sentatives shall make roll of the repre-
sentatives-elect and place thereon the
names of those persons. and OF such per-
sons only whose credentials show that they
were regularly elected in accordance with
the laws of their States respectively or the
laws of the United States" and draws the
following conclusion:
at appears TO US that there IS law
enough in the Constitution and statutes 70
render the McCOmas bill or any other bill
70 regulate the gorrymandering OF CON
gressional districts null and VOID. 1t is
certain that the FIfty-frst Congress can
not be the Judge of the elections, returns.
and publications of the members of the
Fiftv-second Congress. and that the Clerk
of the House of Representatives must
place on the roll of representatiyes-eiect
the names Of such persons only as have the
certificates of the States from which they
have been elected. These certificates can
be issued by no other authority than the
proper officers of the respective States"
Our Charleston contemporary, it is evil
dent. had not seen the IloAR bill at the
time the above paragraph was penned.
That bill removes the prop upon which the
Ne,cs and Courier relied TO secure the seat
inc of the lawfully-elected members of the
House of Representatives. 1t provides. as
we showed yesterday, that the Federal
supervisors shall certify the result of the
congressional elections to the State Board
OF Canvassers. and that the State Board
shall certify the election of the candidates
receiving 1.-THE highest number of
votes" How are the State Boards
Of Canvassers TO ascertain who has
received the highest number OF
votes? OF course they must be gov
erned by the certificates Of the Federal or
Republican supervisors. And in order TO
render assurance doubly sure--in order to
make il certain beyond o doubt that the
Republicans shall thus secure control of
the House of Representatives-the HoAR
bill provides that the Clerk of the last pre-
ceding House shall make up the roll of the
members-elect from the certificates afore-
said. OF course the Clerk Will see TO 1t that
the House shall be SO constituted as to make
his own reelection sure. II is true the law
as il stands now, and as it has stood for
years. requires the Clerk to make up roll
Of the members-elect; but heretofore the
language of the law has been that he
should place on his roll the names of such
persons only as "were regularly elected IN
accordance with the laws of their States
respectively or the laws Of the United
States" Heretofore, therefore, the State
authorities certified the elections to the
Clerk of the House. Under the HoAR bill,
Federal supervisors will furnish the certi-
fcates which will justify the Clerk in pro-
vidinp for his own reelection.