South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-10-14

In his letter accepting renomina>
ton for Congress, Speaker Crisp
gave the following enumeration Of
the provisions of the Force bill pass-
cd by the Republican House OF Re-
representatives. in 1880:
Tho Republican party is pledg-
ed to the enactment OF q Federal
Election law. have before me. as
l write, tho bill passed by the last
Republican house on that subject.
This bill may be fairly considered
rs an authoritative expression Of
/ the kind and character Of law which
Republican success at the next cleo
tion viii inhict upon Us.
Il cannot, within the proper
scope OF such letter as this. emu
inerate oil its remarkable provis-
ions.
cit gives TO tho Judges OF tho
United STATES Circuit Courts the
power of appointing election ofii-
GERS Of the States. 1t gives TO tho
election officers so appointed tho
power to designate an unlimited
number OF deputy marshals, who.
may be employed for q number OF
days prior to each election, at So
per day. A thousand or moro
might be appointed in each Con-
gressional district in Georgia.
eft authorizes the use of ire ar
mics of the United States to pre-
serve the reace OF the polls.
cit gives the Judges OF the Uni
ted States Courts the power OF APP
pointing q canyassing or returning
board for each State, who shall cer7
tify whom tho people have elected
to Congress.
oft requires the Clerk of the
House OF Representatives. to place on
the roll of mems ers elect the names
of the persons holding such csrtiiis
Gates, so that they may participate
as members in the organization Of
the Honse.
eft authorizes officers of the
United States to supervise and con-
troll the registration Of voters.
'It authorizes such officers to
make y house o-house canvass. to
ascertain the legality of any regis
tered voter, 80
1t provides for the pay ment Of all J
those officers out Of the FEDERAL
treasury, and authorizes the ena-
ployment of many of them for az
| much as eight days before an cleo
ton.
"And, finally, it makes perma-
nent appropriation Of your money
for the execution of the law.
This enumeration OF the pro-
visions of the bill, meager though
it is, must make it plain to all men
that il it were enacted into law, the
people would lose all voice in the
selection or control OF the officers
who manage and certify the result
Of their election.
"a Judge Of toe Circuit Court OF
the United States, who is himself
appointed by the President and
holds his Office for life, appoints the
election officer. All these judges,
save two, are Repu b!icen in poll
tics. If election officers abuse or
betray their trust, they are not re-
sponsible to the people. The source
OF their power aud authority is the
Judge who appointed them. Ii a.
Republican Judge, to advance the
interests of his party, abuses his
trust, he would not-shoald This
bill become law-be responsible TO
the people. Our Constitution in-
tended that he shou'd DC. ard 10
that end lodged IL the peoples re-
personalities in Congress- the power
Of impeachment, but this law re
moves that responsibility by per-
hitting the appointee Of the Judge
to determine who Is your duly cleo
ted Representative. IL q partisan
Judge appoints partisan election
officers, who falsely certify that BE
whom you have defeated ut tho polla
is your duly elected Representative.
what remedy have you? The par.
tisan election officers are alone re-
sponsible TO the partisan judge, and
the partisan Judge can only De Inn.
peached by Representatives in Con
g7ess who hold their Offices by yiFtue
Of certificate from the partisan
election officers. Tbs is mocke
cry Of responsibility"