Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-04
A National Electlon-Law-Agaln.

Mr.. Juctice STORY, whose repution is not
less now than it was in his lifetime, made
in reference to the control of congression-
al elections by Congress or by national
law declaration which now might almost
be set down as q fulfilled prediction. An
Ohio man is the author of the bill recently
introduced into the House of Representa-
tiyes to perpetuate the existing congress
sional districts in all the States-or rather
the districts as they stood at the time of
the last congressional elections-until after
new reapportionment OF representation
shall have been made by Congress. This
bill has called forth from leading lawyer
in Ohio-and the Cleveland Plain Dealer
publishes it--an opinion or communication
on the subject, in which he quotes Mr..
Justice STORY "a follows:
"All the States will under common cir
rumstances have local interest and local
pride III preventing any interference by
Congress.
1T is not too much, therefore, to pre-
sumo that it will not be resOrted to by
Congress until there has been some extra
ordinary abuse or danger IN leaving IT to
the discretion of the States respectively"
And next we will quote the prediction
we have mentioned. Read it. and see if the
great jurist did not draw true picture Of
the Republican party He said:
THE truth is that Congress could neceT
resort 10 measure Of Q,is sort for purposes
Of oppression, or party triumph until that
body had erased 10 represent tie triA Of TIE
fs1ies and 1ts people and il, under such cir
cumstances, the members could stIll hold
Office: il ,couh be because general and pre-
n,ediable corruption, or indifference perrGded
he whole community. No republican con-
stitution could pretend TO afford any
remedy for such state of things"
The Republican party ought to have died
long ago. II is out of place now. 1t is one
of the cankers of long internecine war.
II lives in the past. or rather upon the bit
ter feelings and animosities and prejudices
which, originating in time of war, have
not yet been wholly eradicated from the
minds of the northern people. They who
are in the wrong are always the last to for
give and forget. Congress in its present
condition has ceased to represent the will
of the States and the people," Notice
that the will of the SAFES was not beneath
the consideration of Justice STORY; but it
Congress. Is il not as true as preaching
"tbat general and irremediable cor
ruption" pervades the whole Republican
community "?--we mean in the northern
States where the Republicans have 50 long
had sway.
What is the remody2 "No republican
constitution could pretend to afford any
remedy Tor such state of things" No.
indeed. Tho Constitution has few friends
amongst the Republican leaders. As we
said yesterday, Lopox and his gang and the
CANDLES, SHERmANs, &C., &C., will never
have any scruples as TO the constitutional
power Of Congress to pass a national cleo
tion-law TO suit their own purposes. The
Constitution restraints no such MEXICAN
not in fact afford any remedy for such a
state of things."
We ought to add that Justice STORY ad-
mitted that there might be circumstances
which would justify Congress in providing
for the election of congressman. He men
tons Rhode Islands Withdrawing her dele
gates from the confederation; combina-
ton Of few States ito destroy the ma
tional government" the neglect of State
to provide for election Of representatives;
danger Of dissolution Of the Government
from refractory States, &c. He mentions
other things; but all Of them 60 to show
that he held that Congress ought not TO
oct unless compelled TO act.