The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-04
THE FEDERAL ELECTION BILL,

In the passage of this infamous and reck-
less partisan bill the present Radical House
of Representatives have taken up the work
of malignity and venom where II was lett
of when so suddenly interrupted in $50
II will be remembered that the last act of
the Radicals at that time was an effort to
rush through the yillainous Force bill, by
means OF which the writ of habeas corpus
was to be suspended in the South at the Will
of the President, and the sovereign states
of this section of the Union were to be
bound hand and foot and turned over
10 the tender mercies Of Republican Fede-
raj officials. This act was being considered
in the closing hours of the last Radical
Congress, and but for the timely interposl-
lion of the 4th of March. 1876, when that
Congress expired by limitation, it would
probably have become a law, for both
Houses were overwhelmingly Radical, and
Grant himself, then President, engaged an
Office in the Capitol, and personally lobbied
for Its passage. Fortunately, the infamy
was prevented from being consummated by
the death of Congress, and for the succeed
ing fourteen years all such malignant and
revolutionary legislation ceased, because OF
the control during that period Of the House
of Representatives by the Democrats. As
soon, however, as the party Of Southern
hate regained power, one of their first
moves was to take up their sectional pro
gramme where il was then interrupted, and
the result is the passage of the s0-called Ma
tlOnal Election bill.
This measure is, il anything, more odious
than the original force bill. 1t does not in
so many words suspend the writ Of habeas
corpus in the South, but, if it ever becomes
law, it will have exactly the same effect. 1t
will provide for the control of Southern Con-
gressional elections by Federal Oyerseers,
and will empower Federal Circuit Courts to
pack juries which shall be organized TO con-
Wet any citizen whom those Federal over
seers may see fit to present upon any charge
which can be trumped up. In this way the
Radicals hope that the Southern whites may
be placed completely in the power Of South
ern negroes and scalawags and Northern
judicial sectionalists, and that the chaos Of
Reconstruction days may come again.
There are, however, a number Of sources
of consolation for the South despite this eX-
hibition OF partisan maleyolence towards
her. First, the indications at present are
that this bill will not pass the Senate, at
least this session, and before the short SEES
sion begins in December the election for the
next Congress will have been decided.
Next, even If il should finally pass the Sem
ate, IL will not be likely TO stand the test OF
the United States Supreme Court, because
il not only, while claiming TO be "Na-
tional' law, is made to apply only to one
section Of the country, but by virtually
placing elections in the hands of Federal
judges, 1t mixes up in most inextricable
confusion the Legislative and Judiciary de-
partments Of the Government, which, by
the Constitution, are made separate and
distinct from, and entirely independent of,
each other. Still again; 1t may be counted
upon as absolutely certain that if the South,
destitute and prone in the dust before her
political enemies, could successfully with
stand the horrors Of reconstruction, she can
surely now, in the days of her returning
prosperity and power, defeat the most cum
ming Vaccinations Of her enemies. But,
notwithstanding this, any Southern white
man who could deliberately vote TO place
his section, his race and his people in such
position as they are placed by this bill,
should be held up TO everlasting and uni
yersal execration and detestation.