Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-03
The Difference Between Federal
Law and State LAWS.

look 81 oil the facts nor READ Wnet tnc
fathers of the republic said upon this sub
ject, nor reflect upon the evil tendencies
of any measure that threatens TO hasten
The day when our form Of government
shall be converted into huge CONSOLE
dated central iron wheel crushing the
States under its weight and trampling the
people into the mire and mud of arbitrary,
ungoverned, uncomfortable, and irresisti-
Die powers.
But what would result il Congress
should pass law placing all congressional
elections under the control of sectional
officials? Is there anybody who doubts
that under the operation of such law the
House of Representatives would be Re-
publican body, controlled by Republi-
cans, passing laws in the interest of the
Rspublicn party, and having no regard
for the rights of Democrats nor for the
principles upon which our Government is
founded? But that is not all 1t is just as
certain as anything In the future can be that
the United States Senate would fall victim
10 the same conspirators within few years
after the House of Representatives should
have been changed from q body represent
ing the people into staI-chamber clique,
doing the viii of the malignant leaders of
party that has no right even TO be in ex-
istence. At present the Senate is States
rights survival" II is the one States
rights feature of our Government which is
left to us. II speaks eioquently as TO what
the fathers of the republic considered the
most important feature of tho General
Government. Its voice is heard in the
Electoral Colleges Of the several States,
and in the congressional summing up of
their votes for President and Vice-Presi-
dent OF the United States. Mr.. JKFFEB-
sos's "fre-bell at night" should arouse
every patriot in the land whenever this
last of the rights of the States shall be
taken away--this sole place in which their
dignity and equality are still recognized
has been known to the world for
hundred years. The very fact
that If the House of Representatives may
be seized by party under cover of the
constitutional provision empowering Con-
gress TO make or alter State laws touching
the times, places, and manner of electing
the members of the lower branch of that
rights Senate be robbed of all its dig
nifty and the elections of its members be
supervised by JOHNNY DAvENroRTs, should
convince everybody that there is some
thing wrong In the claim of the HoARs,
HAwLEYs, and SHERMASs that tho force
bill is q constitutional measure. A bill
cannot be constitutional which would de-
stroy the Senate and change our form of
government.
Again: Man cannot be trusted with I'M
limited, irresponsible power.
"For. an, mankind is unco weak
And little 10 be trusted.
III self the wavering balance shake
Ills rarely right adjusted"
The courts of justice ought to be free from
partisan proceedings and partisan preju-
dices. Especially ought the United States
courts TO be so. seeing that their judges
hold office during life or good behavior.
And yet il was found necessary few years
ago to pass law requiring Federal jurors
10 be summoned belonging to both the
great political parties. In thelight thrown
upon the subject bv that law how can any,
body contend that the Federal officials
who may be appointed under the force
bill would be or could be anything else
than mere tools Of the men in Congress
who enacted that bill into law2
State laws neutralize the wrongs CON-
mitted In the several States in the effort to
perpetuate party rule by resort to gerry
Wandering and other methods Of accom-
plishing that result. II Ohio gerrymanders
and legislstes otherwise in the interest of
the Democratic party. this wrong is Offset
or neutralized by Illinois or New York.
which gerrymanders and legisiates in
the interest of the Republican par
ty. To say this is not to compliment
these States in very high terms.
Il is at any rate TO tell the truth,
II ID notorious that New York, State
Democratic by twenty to thirty thousand
majority, has for many years been 80 dis
tricted for the election of congressman as
TO insure majority or the delegation in
the House of Representatives to the Re
publican party. and 80 districted for the
election of members of the State Legisla-
ture as TO insure Republican majority in
this body. In the latter case two United
States senators are also secured to the Re-
publican party. How is il that the people Of
New York submit so quietly to these
wrongsp Why do we hear so few protests
against such outrsgesS What makes these
wrongs tolerablel Nothing but the fact
that the intelligent people Of New York
and Of all tho States know. or at least be-
heve, that some Republican States are
gsrrymandered and districted in the inter-
est Of the Democratic party. The wronged
In the Democratic States console them
selves with the reflection that they speak
by the mouths of their Democratic friends
In other States; and the wronged in the
Republican States do likewise.
But suppose that we have q national law
on the subject. What thenf What II Con-
gren gerrymanders the whole Union and
legislstes nationally In the interest Of the
Republican partys Then We shsll have 9
despotic government, indeed. Then the
<1oice Of the people will be stihed every
here, and the power Of the Republican
NY b perpetuAtsd indefinitely. Then
= wrong will become intoleysble. Then
ouble VIII come. Then, In . word, our
oysrnmsst viii hare undergone suoh
= change IN its form and fes&ures
that The men Who made II would
mot recognise it as their work II
thsy could seeik In awora when thai orco
4 BIN shAli have done il woFk, We shall have
( > Goyesnmsnt o. Republican party on ono
s 6fde and The peoples or Democratic party