Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-16
TUESDAY. DECEMBER 16. 1890.
Rapistration-Other Matters.


In the United States Senate recently
Mr.. MORGAN, Of Alabama, asked Mr..
EvARrs whether so much Of the proposed
Federal law to regulate congressional
elections as referred to registration
would apply in States having no regis
tration-laws. There are many such
States. OF course Mr.. EvARrs re-
Piled that the Federal law as to regis
tration would have no law to operate
upon. and would DO dead letter in all
such States. One result. therefore, OF
congressional interference with the State
Observation-Disclosures would be the repeal OF
all these laws. The States, or at least
many OF them, could not well dispense
with their registration-laws. Neverthe-
less, many of them would rather
do 80 than TO allow Congress
to substitute a national registration-law
for laws OF their own eractment-laws
so framed as to suit the several States.
In fact, the "force bill" now before
Congress-as the people have doter-
mined to style the national elections
bill-has not one single redeeming fea-
tnre. II is O partisan measure rather
than a measure intended to purify
congressional elections. 1t lis a scheme
TO perpetuete Republican rule rather
than a proposition to assist the two par
ties to elect the men OF their choice to
Congress-whether these men be Demo
Gratis or Republicans 1t is a bill to
keep the hands OF such men as JoHS
l. DAVENPORT in the United States
Treasury. 1t is a bill to promote sec
tional discord. 1t is q bill to dwarf the
several States and make the great Iron
Wheel Of the Federal Government crush
out the last vestige of State'srights. 1t
is bill to destroy the fair fabric OF free
government erected by our fathers, and
place in its stead a magnificent con-
solidated central despotism. 1t is, IN
word, bill that has nothing to recon-
mend it TO public favor and every
thing to render it odious in the opinion
OF all true patriots.
That feature of the Federal Constitu-
ton which provides that each house OF
Congress shall be the judge of the cleo
tions, qualifications, and returns of its
own members would become a dead let
ter IN the presence of an act OF Congress
such as that which the Republicans IN
Congress pretend to be considering so
deliberately. There would remain no
life in that feature OF the Constitution
after the tools of the Republican party
the spies and informers-had been en-
powered by law &c Issue certificates OF
election to all the Republicans claiming
TO be elected to Congress throughout
tho United States.
Mr.. DANIEL, OF this State, has dis
cussed almost all the questions involved
in the proposed national election-law.
He has quoted the best OF authorities on
many points. He has given the words
OF that great Federalist, ALEXANDER
HAMILTON. Other senators have as
sisted in the good work. If there is a
single point not yet cleared up it is the
meaning OF the word "manner, as used
In section OF Article /. Of the Constitu-
ton.
One OF the points Mr.. DANIEL presses
ia that the Senate and the House OF
Representatives are on precisely the
same footing so far as Federal super
vision is concerned Except that Con
gress is prohibited from changing the
place of electing senators), and that con
sequently the proposed Objectionable
bill proceeds upon tho assumption tina
Congress has tho right to determine wh'
NAV be the lawmakers OF the State
This is not O new point ; bat it is on
which has not been dwelt upon sutii
ciently. Surely, even Mr.. HoAR, o
Massachusetts, and Mr.. SHERMAN, c
Ohio, would hesitate long time befor
agreeing to allow gang of Federal OIL
cials 10 elect the Legislatures OF their r.
spective States.
But enough. We began to write onl
o paragraph on the subject OF reeistr'
tion-laws, but found the subject too IL
teresting to be dismissed so CURLY.