St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-28
UsURPING OF STATE RIGHTS,
Democratic Congressman De-
nounce the Federal Election

Democratic Congressman De-
nounce the Federal Election
Bill.
WASHINGTON, June 27.-The North
ern Democratic members of the house
of representatives have prepared the
following formal protest against the
national election bill, now under dis
cussion in the house:
"Fhe undersigned. representing in
the congress of the United States con-
stituencieS in states north Of the Ohio
and Potomac rivers. feel it their duty to
their fellow citizens to briefly call their
attention to the extraordinary, danger
GUS and revolutionary measure now
proposed by the leaders of the
party in power for passage
in the house Of representatives.
Under doubtful construction of the
constitution this bill proposes to sub
stantially take from the states and local
authorities control of ali elections at
which members of congress are balloted
for, and hand the same over to United
States judges. appointed to Office for
life, and chief supervisors of elections.
If the power claimed resides in the con-
stitutiOn, which we deny, the republic
has gone through the difficulties of the
formative period, made heroic struggles
against dissolution, triumphed aud sue
cessfully readjusted itself to changed
conditions without the exercise of such
power by the federal government for
100 years and over. Mr.. Jefferson and
the fathers of the republic would have
considered such a proposition as this as
dangerous as an open
Attempt at Capitalization.
"This bill is purely partisan measure
intended primarily to control the cleo
tions for congress and presidential elect
Ors in all the states, and to intimidate.
hound, obStruct and harass by political
prosecutions in unfriendly hands the
adverse majorities in the cities of the
North. To this end 1t gives toethe con-
troll of the chief supervisor of elections,
a body OF federal police spies who are
authorized to make domiciliary visits,
superintend the naturalization of our
foreign-born citizens, place the citizen
under strict scrutiny of these trusty
and nnprincipled federal detectives for
days both preceding and following an
election, and in every way subject him
to the power and control of paid party
mercenarieS of government in a way
that utter variance with Republican in
stitutiops and the great principle
of American freedom-home rule.
To carry on this scheme of imperial
government, millions of dollars will be
taxed from our people, and the judiciary
of the United States prostituted to the
basest partisanship in the management
of elections. And these invasions of
the liberties of our people will be left
for safety to partisan juries in the fed
eral courts composed entirely of the
men of the party in power" The con
stftytiopal objections to the bill are set
forth at length, and the protest con
cludes as follows: '1n view of the
great danger to the rights and liberties
of the people, and to the principle of
local self government involved in this
bill, we respectfully appeal to American
freemen without regard to party to
enter timely protest, by way of public
meeting or otherwise, against this con-
solidation of government, the destruc-
ton of popular rights, aud the very
foundation of
American Liberty,
:, ttar we indulge no mere rhetorical -four