Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-21

place the control OF the elections in the
hands OF Federal authority, had more to
do with influencing TIE popular verdict
than all other causes combined. The
people realized that 10 was serious and
unfortunate condition existing,in which
the hard earned substance Of the great
masses OF the people was leglSlaIed
away from them and into the pockets OF
o. privileged class. but above and beyond
every other consideration, above aad DO
vond every other right 70 be jealousy
guarded and protected was the right OF
the people 20 control their own affairs;
the right OF franchise 10 be exercised
uutrammeled aud without interference.
The verd 60 of the people was a protest
against any infringement upon the doc
trine Of home rule, without which gov
ernmea. Is a mockery and freedom an
idle dream.
Mr. Speaker, the laws which this bill
proposes to repeal are the relics OF tue
the iratricidal strife which separated
our people thirty years ago ana the
heritage OF the reconstruction period
during which States of this Union were
by the rule OF the bayonet reduced TO
mere dependencies. To wipe taese
laws from the statute books IS duty
we owe 20 the best interests and pros
uerity of our country and 70 ourselves,
as well as 10 those who may come after
MS. II the condition ever existed when
such laws were proper or necessary,
tweuty-seven years OF profound peace
I'm the Republic have removed the cir
cumstances and surroundings which
could give excuse for the longer exist
euce OF any such measures; and 1t Is TO
be profoundly regretted that the Repre-
seutat.ves Of the people, regardless OF
party, can not unite in q patriotic pur-
pose 10 repeal these laws, which are
blot upon our civilization and a dis
grace 20 the Republic. Ii is to be re-
GREETED that q great political party Is
found arrayed against the repeal OF the
Federal election law.
Mr. Speaker, 10 is clear that the
patriots who framed the Constitution OF
the country never contemplated that
the language Of the Constitution re!at-
ing 10 the subject and providing that
The times, places and manner OF holding
elections for Senators and Representative
sluu be prescribed in each State oF 'no
legislature thereof; but the Congress may
l- any rir1s bv law mako or alter such reg
ulatious. except as TO the places or choos-
ing senators
should ever be construed 10 vest in Con-
gress the right primarily and originally
o. enact laws prescribing 1.-THE times
places and manner for holding elections
FOR Senators and Representatives, and
the history o, the period, the discus
sf0as TO and actions OF the conventions
of the original thirteen States which
adorted the Constitution demonstrate
cearIy and prove beyond controversy
that IL was never intended that Con-
cress should pass laws prescribing "the
times, places and manner OF bo,dlng
such elections except In the event the
States had refused 20 provide the neces-
sarv machinery for such elections, or
where the States were unable 10 do so
because Of revolution, etc. Every
State has provided such regulations.
But whether such right existed prima'
riIv fp Congress or not, reasonable and
thinking men, regard less of party, must
now conclude that there is no necessity
for the existence of such laws, and that
q policy which would naturally bring
Federal laws aud Federal authority in
conflict with State laws and State au-
thorlty. policy which must breed un-
rest and uueasineSs among the people,
and produce friction, confusion aud
controversy, should no longer be pur-
sued, aud eau not De too strongly con-
dsmned
lis 10 be very much deplored that
the minority Of the committee reporting
This bill have found 10 necessary 10 re-
hash the false statements aud unpatrl-
o,fc utterauces concerning the South
and her people, so long the stock In
trade of Republican politicians. The
minority in their report have said;
Whatever NAV have been the necessity
for the enactment of Federal statutes SUI
peryfsirr the elections in the large North
cru cities, an added necessity has arisen IN
the South, because of State laws and their
CperatiOn Through kukluX violence 10
nearly all of the Southern communities the
Democratic party gradually gained control
OF every branch of the State governments,
The murders and assGsSinatious comnitJeu
have passed into history. Inrougn JLe'e
the State governments We're stiLeu' Juen
laws. bv which usugped power is retained
f- sII of the late Confederate States s. Al
though there are still occasional instances
rfvfoIa1co. this is no longer necessary, De-
cause The laws are so framed that the Dem
c.rats can keep themselves in possession OF
the Governments in every Southern state.
The details of the laws OF the various
States differ, bat the purpose OF all is the
same The predominant design everywhere
is, however, 20 keep from the people tue
choice of their inspectors or judges o. e.ec-
Mr.. Speaker, the State of which am
native aud in part represent Is
one of the Southern States. The gen
tIemau from Maine Mr.. Reed in the
debate OF some DAYS since saw proper 10
refer 20 West Virginia as a State made
outside tue Constitution. l will be par
doued. I trust, IN digresS sufficiently
now 10 state what intended to say then
in answer 20 thediStinguiShed gentleman
but was prevented from SO doing by the
demand fer the previous question. II
may be that West Virginia was ''made
outside the Constitution" but the eX-
PLANTATION OF the fact thar West Virginia
came In.o the Union in an uuc0nstitu-
tional way is found when we remember
that that State was admitted Into the
Union by q Republican Congress during
q period Of war aad for partisan pur-
poses. But whether made outside the
Constitution" or not, West Virginia Is
in the Union, and her Representatives.
are here, the peers Of any other gentle
man upon this floor, and are not 10 be
brow5eaten or Cajoled into silence by
any gentleman from any State. ! take
10 that the chief objection Republican
politicians have Tor my State lies In the
fact that she is Democratic and Is likely
10 remain Sc, and yituperation, abuse,
and misrepresentation will not persuade
nnr nannIe 20 vote the RepubLIcan IIck-