The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-09
DAVENPORT AND HIS STATUTES
MUST GO.


MUST GO.
When these lines are laid before our
readers they may know whether the
Democrats are to control the country for
the next four years or whether they are
not. But If that party is to come into
power one thing should be kept con-
stanty and always before the mind OF
every Democrat and that is that the
United States Statutes which make Da-
venport and his deputy marshals pos
sible should be repealed. These Statutes
are part of the reconstruction legislation
put on the Statute-book twenty-five years
ago by bitterly partisan Republican
Congress to humiliate the South. It was
never supposed any attempt would be
made 10 use them in the Northern States.
though they had. OF course to be made
applicable to all the States alike, or the
courts would have declared them uncon-
stitutional. They are part and parcel of
that hideous period Of hatred malice and
revenge, and they should be dropped into
Lethe along with every other jnemento
that can possibly recall that blot upon
the good name and fair fame Of the coun-
try.
The outrageous abuse Of these Statutes
(detestable as they are from any point
of view which Davenport attempted to
make Of them, should of Itself determine
any party to repeal them at once. They
have no reference to any election but an
election Of Congressman. They have
and can be made to have no bearing upon
the choice Of Presidential electors. The
election OF these is exclusively a State
affair with which the Congress of the
United States cal have no sort OF concern.
1t so happens that Congressman and Pres
Dental electors are chosen in the same
election, though there is no necessity
be chosen at one election and Congress-
men at another, and II such were the
provision, Davenport would have had no
sort Of excuse for meddling with the cleo
world knows that while his ofIicious med
ding with the electors was nominally in
the interest Of the election OF Congress-
men, 1t was really intended TO affect the
choice of Presidential electors. 1t was an
attempt to do one thing under the pre-
tence Of doing another. 1t was an at
tempt TO reduce the Democratic vote for
electors in New York city and Brooklyn,
in order that the great Republican vote
in the State Of New York outside OF those
cities might produce a majority in the
State for the Harrison electors. This
abuse of the scheme and provisions OF the
acts should be sufficient 10 show that they
are unnecessary legislation OF The IRE
brand order. useful only TO provoke col
lisions between State and United States
officials. and TO stir up bad blood and i'll
feeling in communities.
Another circumstance In the case points
| strongly in the same direction No good
could possibly come from Davenport
nosing around the election precincts with
his salaried heelers. No persons could
vote except those who were registered,
and If his interference could by any pos
sibility have effected any good, the time
for him TO have interfered was during the
registration. If voter was on the regis
tration list there was not one chance in n
thousand that Davenport or his marshals
could interfere with his right to vote.
Being about the polling places they would
simply then have been officiously interfer-
ing with the States officers In their due
and orderly conduct OF the elections with
out possibility OF accomplishing any
good result. This was perfectly obvious
and well known to Davenport. Taking
everything. then. into consideration. 1t is
perfectly plain that his attempts to inter-
fere with the elections were In bad faith.
The Statutes under which he acts should
be repealed