Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-07-19

Wnlle IN none was there the slightest
approach to any organized party
antagonism. Ii is worthy of note in
this connection that all these twenty
five Representatives, were of onep0lit-
ical faith-the adherents of the same
political party-all Democrats. It is
another significant fact that all these
districts in which this unanimity ex-
lists are south of Mason and Dixon's
line, while only one district in the
North was carried without opposi-
ton, the Third district of Pennsyl-
vania, lately represented by Hon.
Samuel j. Randall Who believes
elections are fair or free in twenty
Eve districts? can name you TWEEN
ty-fve members of the last House
who had back of them a vote of
1.O63, $50, while these Southern
members represented a vote of only
95.245.
will insert here series of tables
showing how the Republican and
opposition vote in these twenty-five
districts has been gradually but eff
fectively wiped out. In 1880 the OPP
position vote to the Democratic par
ty was 165, $50; in 1882, 1OO,4S9,
in 1884, S7,749, and in 1886 only
407 votes.
Mr.. BURROWS. Great reforma-
tion, as my friend suggests, i'm That
section of the country. Where has
this opposition vote gone? Take
the Republican vote alone. In 1880
it was in round numbers 141 900 in
those districts; in 1882 it was 61.-
600; in 1884 it was 50, 900, and in
1886 it was just % votes. What
has become of this Republican vote {?
Has it gone to the Democratic par
ty? No; for while in 1880 the Dem
Ocratic vote was BOG, 900, in 1886 it
was only o. 900.
Several Democratic MEMBERS
What became of the Democratic
vote?
Mr.. BURROWS. The Republican
vote certainly did not go TO the
Democrats.
Mr.. OATES. Where did the Dem
ocratic vote go to?
Mr.. BURROWS. They did not
vote; no occasion to vote. Laugh
ter on the Democratic side What
Is the necessity of voting in the dis
trict where there is no opposition ?
There were nine of these districts
where there was no opposition,
where it was perfectly unanimous.
In the other districts there were on
ly two where a single vote was cast.
IL in one and IL in the other, and
that was ali; and yet you tell us it
was all quiet and peaccable. No
doubt of that. So is a cemetery qui-
ct. Laughter on the Republican
side. Gentlemen, hope the histo-
rian will not he compelled TO declare
of you as Tacitus wrote of the Ro-
mans:
TO harass. to dcspon. aud to butcher. you
style government: you make solitude aud call
IL peace:
But they say this measure is un-
constitutional, That is the standing
Democratic objection. So was the
old supervisors law, passed twenty
years ago, pronounced unconstitu-
tional. remember distinguished
Senator from Indiana TSenator
VooRHEEs] when that measure was
under discussion, registered an oath
before high heaven, as we have
heard Oaths registered in this de-
bate, that he would resist the mea-
sure until he was carried to his grave
| before he would permit il to pass.
| Nevertheless, he lives, the measure
passed, and the Supreme Court have
repeatedly declared it constitution
al. So this measure will be pro-
nounced constitutional This
Bill does no more than to place over
the whole Congressional district the
same machinery now in use in cities
of &c, 1000 inhabitants. If constitu-
tional when applied to cities of 90
600, it is constitutional for an entire
| Congressional district.
| The proposed changes are few.
The supervisors can swear voter
who is challenged for delay. Three
supervisors of opposite political
parties are to be appointed instead
of two. If the poll is not opened of
1 ter one hour the supervisors may
open it and receive the Compression
al vote. The position of the boxes
shall not be changed during the yot
ing. The boxes shall be in open view
and accessible to the voter; the box
shall not be removed from the poll
ing place until the vote is counted
and some other changes which de
not involve any principle which tn,
Supreme Court has not already pass
ed upon. =
This measure further declares it t.
be crime, in connection with .elec
tions, to commit perjury, make falls,
certificate or return, practice am
fraud connected Herewith, stuffinI
the ballot-box, steal ballots from {
4 box, to bride voter, to offer t.
bride, to hire a voter not to vote, t,
bride, or offer to bride an election oi
ficer. to bride any registration offi
GER, to intimidate voter, to chang
ballot-boxes, to count falsely to hin
der voters from voting, to max
false registration, to make false nat
uralization, to hinder registration
to vote more than once at the sam
election, to hinder or interfere witt
an election officer, to wilfully exclud
the vote of q lawful voter. or do an