The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1890-07-17
VOL. VII.


The more carefully it is considered, |
the more clear becomes the spirit, pur.
pose and scope OF the Federal Force
Bill, says the Memphis Avalanche.
1t taims at the complete abrogation OF
all OF the political rights and functions
OF the independent States of the Un-
ion, and the investment in the Fed
eral government of arbitrary and alb.
solute power. Casually examined, its
usurpation OF the rights and iunc.
tions o! the States and of the people
appear to be confined to the assump
ton oi absolute control by the cen
tral government of the election of
members to Congress and OF Presiden.
gial electors. On its face that is the
primary and ultimate objection of the
bill But its operation, if it shall be
ppassed by the Senate, approved by the
President and enforced as law, will
mot by any means be limited to these
two ends. On the contrary, it will
reach and as completely control the
election OF the State Legislatures, Gov
ernors and all other State officers, as
it will that OF Presidential electors and
CongresSmen. United States Sena-
tors are as distinctly members of Con-
gress as are members Of the Lower
House. Senators being elected by
State Legislatures, and in some con.
tingencies appointed by Governors, it
is shown that the Federal Supervi-
sors have the some plenary power to
control the election of members OF
Legislatures and executive officers in
order to control the elections or ap.
pointment Of Senators. To enforce
these arbitrary powers the Supervi-
sors are invested with unconditional
command of the army, the. navy, the
uN"oui y, uhO ESuVIul COuIIb anu I'M
limited forces OF marshals and deputy
marshals. The election officers are
specifically required by the bill to
certify the election OF any Republican
candidate for Congress, without the
slightest regard to the number of
votes cast for him or for the opposing
candidate, even should the vote ac.
tually cast 800 for the one and
$4,000 for the other. On this certif.
cate the clerk of the House Of Rep
resentaivos is required, under heavy
penalties lorrefusal or failure, to place
the name SO returned on the roll of
the House. The only color of right
conceded by the bill to the person thus
ostraclsed is the futile privilege OF in
stituting nominal contest for the
seat thus given to his opponent. Al
though the bill is so grossly and pal.
pably in conflict with the Federal
Constitution and all of the recognized
principles OF civil government, some
oil lis supporters and defenders stuiti-
iy themselves and insult the intelli-
gence OF the country by alleging that
1t is constructively if not positively
warranted by Section 4 OF Article OF
the Constitution OF the United States.
That section reads:
The times, places and manner OF
holding elections for Senators and
Representatives shall be prescribed in
each State by the Legislature thereof
but the Congress may at any time by
law make or alter such regulations
except as to the places of choosing
Senators.
1t is obvious to any one of ordinary
intelligence, and has been judicously
held, that the sole purpose of this sec
tion was to meet the possibl.
contingency OF some State refusing
or neglecting to make legal provision
Tor the election OF members to Con
gress. This constitution has beer
uniformly recognized and acted upol
by the Federal and all State govern
ments throughout the history of tn
country, except during the phenom
enal period of reconstruction" whel
lhe Southern States were subjugatet
to military and carpet bag" rule, Blu
even il the section quoted could b
construed as giving the Federal gov
ernment technical constitution au
thority to assume control OF Congres
sional elections in all or any of th
States, it would give no warrant fo
the revolutionary autocratic purpos
o the Force Bill 1t would still b,
as it Ia, an unnecessary, indefensbl
violation Of the fundamental prime
pies Of constitutional government
subyersive Of independence OF til
States and destructive OF the libertit
OF the people OF the whole oountr,
But should it become law it woul
never be enforced The people hay
the natural and legal right and til
physical power to resist and nullify
And they will do it, The sooner I'll
political managers understand tn
the better IL will be for them and fl
.the country.
inspiration of Imagination,