Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-10-07
The ELECTIONS REPEAL BILL.
synopsis of tho Debate In the National
House of Representatives.


House of Representatives.
On the 9th Mr. Lawson dem. Ga) spoke in
favor OF the pending bill. He said the uncon
stitutionality OF the law sought to be repealed
had always been strongly contended. The gem
tleman from Pennsylvania (Brosius) quoted an
apt expression from Garfield that the ballot
box registers the decrees of the people. Upon
this subject the decree of the people has been
registered against the constitutonality OF
these election laws Mr., Lawson said that un.
der the operation of o system of laws such as
tho one under discussion, IL was easy to see
how in close districts enough people might be
deferred by the mere presence OF the federal
forces, civil or military, at the polls from vot-
ing to change the otherwise norma. result OF
the election.
Mr.. Mallory dem, Fla) interrupted by stat
ing that in his own state two members OF the
legislature had been arrested by federal ON
cials, taken 200 miles away from the capital,
and held there until the senate was organized
by the republicans and the state government
thereby given into the hands of that party.
When that had been accomplished the men
were released, no charge being made against
them
In concluding his remarks Mr.. Lawson read
from the report Of the investigation of the con.
duct Of Lot Wright United States marshal at
Cincinnati, made by a committee OF the house,
to show what might be done under the laws
sought to be repealed, which repeal was de-
manded by the democratic party and the coun-
try.
Mr. Bynum dem, Ind) stated that at re-
cent election in bis own state a man was ar
rested at the command OF q United States in
spector for making an affidavit whereby an
other man was enabled to vote. By the arrest
of this voter said Mr. Bynum, fifty men were
deprived OF the right to cast their ballots
Mr.. Daniels rep, N. " spoke against re-
peal. He said these laws had been signed by
| President Grant and had met the approval Of
| the people from that time until the assembling
| of the convention in 1892 which nominated Mr..
| Cleveland for the presidency. Then for the first
| time the demand made that these laws
should be wiped of the statute books. AS to
| the constitutionality OF the laws Mr.. Dan.
| iels said they affected nothing but the
election OF members of congress- and to that
| end the provision in the constitution by which
their validity has been upheld met the ap-
proval of the people who framed that docu-
| ment and adopted it Mr. Daniels argued that
the operations OF the laws had worked injustice
| TO no one, in support of which he asserted no
| deputy marshal or inspector had been indicted
| and punished for abuse OF his powers under tho
| law.
| On the 2Sth wordy alteration occurred be
| tween Mr.. Fithian dem, Ill.) and Mr.. Morse
| rep, Mass) growing out OF Mr., Morse's tili-
| clustering course the 27tb. Mr.. Morse
| charged Mr.. Fithian with being responsible
for the refusal to permit him TO print in the
| Congressional Record some newspaper extracts
| attacking Commissioner Lochren. Mr.. Fithian
| desired to call the attention of the house to a
| rather dubious proposition made by Mr. Morse
| TO him. who he said, had come to him with
honeyed words and informed him that he was
member OF the committee public
| buildings and grounds, and intimated
that II he (F'ithian) had public building bill
| he tMorse) might be able TO help him II the
| Illinois congressman could see his way clear to
withdraw his objection. Mr.. Morse pronounced
| this statement false, whereupon Mr. Fithian
| said his colleague, Mr.. GoldZier, heard the con
| versation and would substantiate the state
ment Mr. Morse said the construction Mr.
Fithian put upon his proposition was entirely
false Mr.. Fithian then said il the gentleman
(Mr. M denied the statement he was himself
willfully lying Great confusion in the house
followed these remarks, the speaker quellirg
the pending riot by declaring both gentlemen
out of order.
Mr., Black dem, Ill spoke in favor OF the
repeal of the federal elections Law. He said the
law was not enacted for the elevation of tht
ballot box but to intensity the race issue eX
isting in large section OF this country and t
| support the weaker and more ignorant class o
! our people as against the stronger and more
American OF our citizens. They appealed tC
force rather than rea son. The law placed too
much power in the hands of improper men. H'
| (Mr Black would vote for any amount o
money and force. il necessary, to uphold tn
dignity of the government and the rights o
its citizens, but the existing laws did neither.
Boiler showing that from 1877 supervisors o
elections had cost s., $4,000 and deputy mar
shals Sl,l27,0JO The cost of the troops it wa
! impossible 10 detail Their cost represent teC
all the hidden drains to be accounted for. Th
! records showed that at first these Officials
had been massed in democratic states il
the south and in New York. Gradual,
the amount spent in democratic state
decreased and the amount in republican doubt
full states increased In Illinois in 1876, whe
| argF shA pirY NF Iran lit, Ia
allegiance to the republican party, but 81, 10
was spent In 1873, when the state was doubt
ful 1886 supervisors and ., 400 deputy marshal
were employed at a cost of 100000
In reply to = question by Mr.. Cannon (rep
Ill.) Mr.. Black said every man who wore the ii
star of intimidation was an oppressoE
Mr. johnson rep, Ind.) spoke in oppositio
to repeal He said ne wanted to ''stigmatiz
This bill as the climax of all that
audacious and vicious, 1t unblushingly u
sails all that is near and dear 10 tn
American heart 1t is the unfortunat
child of q wretched conspiracy; it is cor
ceived in spirit contrary TO the principle
| of our government. 1t is proposition to bic
out all the laws to protect the purity of tn
ballot and coldblooded proposition TO repei
all the laws making violotions of election law
! | crimes. To be consistent the democrats shoul
repeal all other laws for the punishment
, crime counterfeitng, robbery and murder"
Mr.. johnson charged the democratic part
with being responsible for violation of the SAM
tity OF the ballot box, with corrupting the col
, science of the nation and defying the publ
, will; with forging the Morey Letter in lsS
with forging the returns in Chicago
!, the same year that sent Joe Mackin
the penitentiary with forging returns
1 Ohio and Indiana with frauds innumerab
in New York, with deeds of violence in II
south 1.-The party that has perpetrated a
these wrongs now contemplates this climax
their crimes, but let them enjoy their victor
} without mental or moral reservation, The
have set no limit 10 their excesses. The hot
of retribution will come 1t will take the part
that has prostituted the power given IL fc
great pnblic purposes and hurl it into o
= livion. a
Mr. Breckenridge dem, Ky) followed, al
hurled defiance at Mr., Johnson III the gentl
man is a fair type" he said. "ot the people
his district then they cannot be criticised (,
| sending here man who denounces as infamol
! majority of the people OF this country ha'
q profound pity for man who could make su'