Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-02
Praise OF Congressman Tucker.

To Ge Editor Of The Dispatch:
The enclosed clipping from The Nation is
high praise for one of our Virginia con-
gressmen, the Hon. Henry st. George
Tucker. General b. F. Butler compli-
mented most highly the speech Of General
Wheeler. of Alabama. Dir. Hemphill, Of
South Carolina, also added laurels to a
well-established reputation in the speech
which he made opening the debate against
the force bill.
When the fact is appreciated that The
Nation is probably the most intelligent
critic of public men and measures III tins
country, and that il is nothing If not criti,
cal. Mr.. fuckers friends NAV well feel
proud Of the high commentator which 1t
gives him. We all know of the great ability
and reputation of his father as a constltu-
tional lawyer, but il is q most gratifying
surprise TO Virginians that this young man:
serving his first term in Congress, should
have so distinguished himself in that
memorable debate as to have merited this
high praise. From The Nation OF July 18th
quote:
"The strongest speech made against it
in the House came from Mr.. Tucker, OF
Virginia. He maintained with great force
that the power given to the supervisor 10
pass upon the qualifications of voters was
direct violation of the second section OF
the first article of the Constitution, which
SAYS;
composed of members chosen severy sec
ond year by the people of the several
States and the electors in each State shall
have the qualifications requisite for cleo
tors Of the most numerous branch OF the
State Legislature
will pass Cd the qualifications of the State
as we'll as Federal electors, for they are
one and the same He pointed out, also,
that whether Congress has the constltu-
tional right TO interfere with elections in
| this matter or not, 1t was the belief OF the
trainers and their contemporaries that
such powers would never be exercised. He
showed that the construction put. at the
time Of the adoption OF the Constitution
by Massachusetts, South and North Caro-
lima, New Hampshire. New York, Rhode
Island, and Pennsylvania. either OF protest
or declaration. on the provisions that Con-
gress might cby law at any time make or
alter) the State regulations as TOT the tunes,
places. and manner Of holding elections,
was that II would take effect only when, to
use the language Of the Massachusetts
convention, presided over by Hancock, "a
State shall neglect or refuse to make the
regulations therein mentioned, or make
regulations subversive of the right of the
people to free and equal representation
Ia Congress- 1t was. in short. they thought,
| q power only TO be used in case the State
governments refused to hold Federal cleo
lions or converted them into faxxe. 1t
was never supposed that the Fedogal au-
thorities would undertake the police
power Of seeing that the elections we're
fairly conducted by actual inspection and
by the creation OF o sort Of DRUNK cad tri.
bunal for trying the qualifications Of
voters" ~
Twill add that my only interest in call
ing attention to this notice Of Mf@ Tucker
10 from the standpoint Of vixainian. l
do not live in his district and 6now mo-
thing as to his denomination oler than
what Tread IN the press. "a J.G.