Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-11
TUESDAY MARCH II. 1890
Elect,ons-National and State.

pages entitled NATIONAL interest III O'"'O
and Congressional Elections"
MIR. BfsHoP writes wcll--even convincing
ly--that is, his arguments could not wei
fail 70 convince persons not blinded by
prejudices engondered by the war between
the States. His language is somewhat am
biguous when he says that the view that
the choice of presidential electors IN any
State. and the election of a representative
in Congress in any district, are matters OF
concern to the whole country. is much IN
sisted on Of late, and Is self-eyidently
correct" We agree that the choice
of presidential electors in any State
is q matter of national concern; but
we do not by any means concede-and we
trust Mr.. BISHOP does not concede-that
the national Government has the night TO
interfere in anv manner or TO any extent
with the State laws regulating the choice
of such electors The Federal Constitution
IN unmistakable language declares that
with the State elections for President and
Vice-President of the United States the
national Government has nothing to do
The words Of that instrument are: Each
State shall appoint in such manner as the
Legislature thereof may direct number
OF electors equal TO the whole num-
Der of senators and representatives to
which the State may be entitled in the Con-
gress." In South Carolina up to 1860 the
Legislature met quadrennially on the day
of the presidential election and itself chose
the electors. Every State Legislature stu
possesses that power and If It were neces-
sarv TO the retention of that power in the
hands Of these Legislatures every State
Legislature would probably hereafter fol-
low the example set by South Carolina III
ante bellum days.
However, we can all agree that all State
elections concern more or less the nation
at large. as Mr.. Bishop conclusively argues;
but as Congress is the representative OF the
same people whom the State Legislatures
taken all together represent we ought not
TO assume that Congress is more likely to
do Justice in the matter of regulating cleo
tions than the States are. On the contrary,
a wrong perpetrated by Congress affects all
the States, whereas wrong perpetrated 10y
a State Legislature affects only single
State. For instance, it must be evident to
every thinking man that in providing for
the election of the members Of the House
OF Representatives Congress would be
much more likely to district the several
States in q wrong and unjustifable manner
than would the several States for in the
latter case q Democratic gerymander IN
one State would be offset or neutralized
by q Republican gerrymander in another
State. and the final outcome would be
reasonably fair redistricting. But sup
pose the present Congress were to re-
district all the States: what would be the
result? We venture to say it would be
the most fragrant wrong of the kind which
had ever been committed upon
civilized people. So whilst admitting that
In commercial sense oil the people
of the United States are concerned in the
congressional elections in Nirginia-and
even in our local elections-we deny that
for any reason it would be wise or even
iustifiable for Congress to attempt to regu-
late congressional elections to any greater
extent than that body has already exer-
cised the power to regulate these cleo
tons.
Mr.. BISHOP tells the truth as to the misera-
DIG CaIDtl-DuEEtlb hud cNeARhobo Nhp
ruled the South with high hand
in reconstruction days. He terms them
characterless Adventures who accom-
plished their base ends through abuse
of the confidence" of the negroes.
They robbed the landowners. "Depreda-
tions of all kinds went UNPUBLISHED"
Mr.. BISHOP does not indulge in threats :;
but his words ought TO serve as warning
70 the northern people. Here is matter
in which they are concerned-deeply coz
cerned. Up TO 1877 the South was going
TO ruin. Her white people assumed the
reins of government then; and the North
reaped the fruits-fruits traceable to
and owing to the rule OF the whites.
Tho expectation of southern cotton has
brought millions Of gold TO this country
annually and has been the decisive factor
in keeping the balance OF trade on the side
of the United States. The publication of
Mr.. BIsHoP's letter is fully justified by the
following extracts from it. Read them,
We northern men Of business instincts, and
profit by them. We quote:
1.-THE cotton-mills of New England have
been kept supplied with cheap raw ma
southern producers, above the cost OF pro-
duction, have gone into the hands OF
northern manufacturers, merchants, and
farmers. Southern prosperity has opened
the way for the profitable investment
of hundreds of millions OF northern
capital in southern railroads, and the
net earnings Of those roads are adding
very largely to the resources of northern
banks The southern demand for iron
and steel rails, and for railroad equip
ments, has contributed immensely to the
enrichment of northern mlne-owners and
manufacturers and has caused the en-
ployment of multitudeS of northern labor
ers. who In the absence of that demand
would have been compelled TO remain idle.
Northern ship yards have been kept busy
In constructing vessels for our rapidly in-
creasing coasting trade, and for the nayi-
cation Of southern rivers. The southern
consumption 8SsS Of dra imported merchandise nrN
Of northern Importers, and has
helped IN no uncomfortable mea-
sure to swell the sums which have
been flowing into the national Treasury
from the custom-houses Of the North.
The northern manufacturers of reapers
and mowers, and Of all other agricultural
implements, have reason TO bless the day
when the property holders Of the South
obtained possession of their State govern
ments. The wagon-makers and furniture
makers OF Ohio and Indiana find their best
market in the southern States, and long
trains of cars loaded with the products Of
Northwestern farms. fouring-mills, and
slaughter houses are constantly moving
70 southern localities. The southern pros
perity. which is indissolubly coupled with
the political predominanee Of that class
which now constitutes the southern De-
mocracy. 10 sending forth its quckening
and enriching influence TO every nook aud
corner OF the northern States"
Will the northern people be 80 foolish as
TO throw away all the advantages which
they derive from white rule IN the South |?
Some people think 30; for to pass sec
tionai elsction-law would DO 10 restore the
unspeAkable wrongs Of reconstruction
days. give the balance of trade to other
countries, stop the 6ow Of northern capt.
~ V the South. and the aow Of NORTH