New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-19
IN THE INTEREST or Mr.. CARLfSLE'S
EnECA TION

II is definitely announced that the Southern
Democrats in Congress intend to make a party
ouestion OF the proposed Federal Elections bill
and that it will be fought bitterly and upon
every conceivable ground. Some OF these
grounds have already been communicated TO
tbe country in interviews wish Southern states
men, and foremost among them Is one with
Mr.. Carlisle Mr. CarliSe'S leadership OF his
partv. in Congress at least Is controlling:
Where he goes the party follows. what he
saws the party says over again with ten thou-
sand tongues II is this circumstance that
lends special weight 80 Mr.. CarlislcS decara-
tons concerning the Lodge bill.
Mr.. Carlisle assumes 10 be a high conStltu-
tional authority. II i, in that character that
he usually seeks 70 impress the country, ana III
that character he has undertaken to attack
this bill II would seem aS il a responsive
statesman. who proposes 10 interpret the Con
stitu,ion ought 10 make himself acquainted
with those interpretations Of it which the SUI
prcmc Court. the official. final and authoritative
interpreters, have declared to be the law OF
the land. This Mr. Carlisle appears TO have
neglected. Ills constitutional studies nave
evidently extended into the writings ana
speeches of John c. Calhoun and Jefferson
Davis rather than into the decisions OF the Su-
prcmc Court Upon no other suppo>iton are
these remarks cNplicahlc;
The election Of Representative 10 Congress IS A
s,,e election and fine Congressman (, himself a state
officer He &, commissioned by the state authorizes
and when he resign. Dee resigns Z" them. The Con
.tutn,l toucr II Couerc- over the election If mem
her. ~ The House % Representatives. IS limited 70 the
regulation II the times, place ana manner OF H"p'ns
the elections. n doe NOT extend =" the "'"hi "'''t
a ii. elections iy Federal officers. IT'D" otAic ot
nccrs cannot 10 super rfcd either as 10 '' I'e''''
ton. or reception or counting II the votes or the
ccrt,f,in, ~ the result Thee powers All belong to
ne state. under the Constitution and have always
heretofore been exercised bv them.
Not in one but i'm several decisions have
these views been di~>ipatcd and condemned
hv tho supreme Court. The same tn"nn
which in the famous case of Reese. compelled
Congress 10 withdraw is hand from any A.
,onnt 10 interfere i'm state elections. has also
again and again declared iha' it Is within the
ori.,inol MOWERS Of Congress to assume any and
every control IT. chose 10 assume IN Congress
sionoI elections, "'Ihoy are state elections.
say, Mr. Carlisle 1.-THE Government Of the
United states is no Jess concerned in the trans
action than the state government Is. says me
-upTcfne Court. - ne I congressman = hi'iN''l
= state officer" says Mr. Carlisle. They are
The representatives, Of the entire body OF mo
pcoplc' say, the supreme Court. " The con
.,iiuiional power of Congress- SAY, Mr. Car
isle. j, limited 10 the regulation OF the tines
Mace. and manner of holding The elections.
"Congrc,s has plcnay and paramount lurN-
dic,ion over the whole subject" say, the Nu-
prcmc Court. The state officers cannot be
-upcr,cdcd." says Mr.. Carlisle. congress
NAV provide the officers who shall conduct
them election, for member of Congress- and
make return Of the result" says the supreme
Court These powers all belong to the
states" SAYS Mr.. Carlisle, land have always
been exercised by them" " II j. Only because
the Congress through long habit and long
wear, Of forhcarancc has RETAINED from tho
exercise Of these powers that they are now
doubted" say, the supreme Court.
Let Ms modc-tly suggest 10 Mr. Carll>l" he
fore he c\pound- the Constitution any further
in its application 20 the Lodge bill. that he
read the decisions of the supreme Court IN
cy par,c Siebod. and in the matter OF Jasper
Ynrbrouch. When he has carefully dlgcN'ed
these decisions he will know enough about the
Constitution to select another plan of campaign
AGAINST the Lodge bill than one which depends
an States rght-