The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-17

be amenable In some form 10 the electors
voting. So long az the electors can hold
tho election authorities responsible they
have watch and guard upon them and
guarantee of conduct governed by law. So
soon as they lose control of those authorities
the authorities do, in respect to the elections.
whatever their interests or natural vicious
ness prompts. This feature Of the Force
bill il the one which we Of the South know
would be used for our ruin and destruction
this feature is the one which converts 1t
into m engine for the destruction Of all in
tegrity in elections.
The bill provides that the United States
Judges shall appoint supervisors Of cleo
tons in their judicial districts, who are
charged with the duty of supervising and
overlooking the elections in cities Of 10000
inhabitants and upwards and in entire
congressional districts exclusive Of such
cities upon application Of 100 voters. or IN
counties or parishes forming part OF
congressional district upon application OF
fifty voters. We know. of course. that
scalawac can always get 100 negroes TO sign
the application for the supervision.
The supervisors are TO attend all registra-
tons, challenge persons. personally inspect
and copy the original registration books
and papers. attend elections and detect and
expose the improper or wrongful msnip-
ulations of the lists. In case Of
failure Of local election officers 10 put
the statutory oath to q challenged
voter and TO pass at once upon his qualifica-
tons. then the supervisors are 70 apply the
test and receive and deposit the vote. They
are also 10 personally inspect ballot-boxes
before elections. keep independent poll-Iists
and inclose rejected votes Endorsed With
the name Of the voter in envelopes. In ad-
dition TO these duties the supervisors are re-
auired 70 make in towns of 10000 people
and upwards thorough house-to-houSe
canvass before election. 20 inform voters
upon inquiry where and in what box to de-
post their ballots and to scrutinize ma
turalizations. Let any one think for him
self Of the friction that would DO caused IN
every community by a set Of strangers
Extensively poking their noses under the
above programme into all the affairs Of the
people IL would be intolerable.
When the election is over these s1pervi-
sors are to canvass and count the votes,
and they are to make returns to board OF
canvassers appointed by the United States
Judge This board is to make return Of
the election 70 Congress and the person re-
turned by this board as elected Is to 60 on
the rolls OF the House Of Representatives
as the Congressman from that districts.
1t is very plain that under this bill the
neighborhoods lose all control over their
own elections. The election is dominated
from its beginning TO its fnality by
strangers appointed by the United States
Courts and the man is made a member Of
Congress whom the strangers choose to de-
clare TO be elected Congress Of course be-
comes at once the creation of these
strangers They can make it what they
please. Instead Of the neighborhood select
ing their representatives they are selected
for them by power emanating from the
Government Of the United States.
The principle of responsibility to the
vicinage is ended and the United States
Government acquires the power to perpetu-
ate itself forever. We know perfectly we'll
that under the operation Of this law the en-
tire delegation in Congress from the South
would be scalawags whom the negroes Sc
lect. and we know perfectly well that a Con-
gress thus constituted would impose upon
us of the South a government whose main
desire would be TO renew the horrors OF the
reconstruction period. Are our fellow Dem
ocrats Of Virginia prepared to bring this
curse on themselves by straying of from
their brethren to Third party movements?