Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-27
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 81. 1890
Control of Congressional Elections.

Control of Congressional Elections.
Mr.. Speaker REDS declaration as re-
ported in the DISPATCH of yesterday that
every Republican member of the ma
tional House of Representatives must
know the importance of being in Wash
ington on Monday next, and remaining
there continuously until the end of the
approaching session OF Congress, may
be interpreted as an expression OF his
desire to secure the passage OF the force
bill within the short period between the
LIST of December, 1890, and the 4th of
March, 1891. This utterance OF the
boldest leader Of the Republican party
may or may not argue that Mr.. BLAINE
and the BLAINE leaders have consented
to take part in the work OF securing
control OF tho House Of Representatives
two years hence by fair means or foul,
but does show that REED is still ready TO
lend helping hand to the conspirators
against the pence and welfare OF the
whole country, and especially the south
ern States. BLAINE has no love for REED,
and will "gaDg bis own gait. Several
OF the leading BLAINE papers IN the
North intimated some weeks ago that
they we're willing to join REED in new
crusade against the South but we have
seen no such outgiying since the malig-
nants began TO recover from the stun
ming blow administered to them by the
people on the 18th of this month.
Can the repudiated House Of Repre-
sentatives OF the Senate, which latter
declined at the last session of Congress
to take up the force bill, afford to run
counter to the commands of the voters rs
given at the ballotcbox? All we can say
is that If the history of the Republican
party teaches us anything it is that the
leaders of that body will do anything
that promises TO perpetuate their rule.
Is it certain that Congress has the
right or power to pass a law putting
congressional elections under the control
of Federal officials? We have had
doubts on the subject, though upon q
careless reading the Federal Constitution
seems to grant the power to that body.
But, notwithstanding the words" the
remarkable words" as we might in view
OF all the facts style them-of that in
strument everybody familiar with the
history OF the framing and the ratltica-
ton OF the Constitution must concede
that the fathers Of the republic would
never have either made or ratified
Constitution under which in their opinion
the several States would have been for
hidden to choose their own Senators and
Representatives in their own way. This
question was we'll discussed during the
last session of the House Of Represents
tives by Mr.. TUcKER, of this State, who
Is "a chip Of the old block" when it
comes 10 the discussion of constitutional
questions.
Whatever power Congress has over the
election of representatives in the lower
house it has over the election of United
States senators with single exception.
This exception is that Congress cannot
make OF alter the States regulations as
TO the places of choosing senators. Why
not =? Is the place more important than
the election? This word "places" ought
10 throw some light upon the subject of
the power OF Congress in the premises.
Congress has already provided by law
that the election OF United States senator's
shall be begun on the second Tuesday
after the meeting and organization OF
the Legislature last elected before the
expiration OF the term OF a senator. That
is the "time." The "place" Congress
cannot FIX, The "manner" is all that
Is left 10 Congress besides the "time !"
and the "place." Now, what is the
manner? The Federal statute pro-
vides the "manner is, how the
members of the Legislature shall cast
their votes and how these votes shall be
counted. II would seem, therefore, that the
whole power Of Congress over this matter
has been exhausted so far as the United
States Senate isconcerned. How is it as
10 the elections for members of the House
OF Representatives Well, we know
that Federal law fixes the time" on
The Tuesday after tho first Monday III
November of every even year. There
arc few exceptions as to the time, but
tina. is not important. We know wha
the words "the time" mean. The same
law provides that these elections shall b'
by ballot. This would seem to be al
that is meant by the word "manner.
The "plsce" is all that is left. How car
such a bill Us the force bill be base'
upon the word "place"a The Trainer
of the Constitution as one man would j
they could protest against any sucl
usurpstion of power by Congress,
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The Census Of Staunton.