The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-29
characterized as an Attempt to Trans
fer Federal Rights to States in
the Interest of Fraud.
MR.. BRECKENRIDGE AROUSED
Speech by General Black in Favor
of Abolishing the Laws.
Acrimonious COlloquy Between Mr..
Morse and Mr.. Fithian. i'll Which
the Lie Was Passed.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.

Special 10 the indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON. Sept. 2a-No speech vet
delivered in the House upon the bill to re-
peal the federal election laws has attracted
half the attention As that of Representative
Henry u. Johnson. OF the Sixth district of
Indiana. this afternoon. Mr.. johnson always
speaks without notes. and he is full of that
spirit of earnestDess which carries convic-
tioD. Nearly every Republican member in
the city was in his seat. and listened to the
speech throughout.
Mr.. Johnson's Characterization of the
measure was strong In It's denunciation.
He declared that the bill was the climax of
AL that is offensive. unjust and audacious
In Iegislation; it was the unfortunate child
of q wretched conspiracy. This govern
ment. he said. is neither an aristocracy nor
amonarchy; it Is q mighty republic. where
all men are created free and equal; q re-
public in which the people are sovereigns.
The parent government is presumed to
maintain this national autonomy. But
there are States which. have departed
from this high ideal government.
and which would destroy the
sovereignty of the Republic. He
called attention to the necessity of q
pure ballot. especially in the selection of
those representatives who hsve charge of
the affairs of the Republic. The ~violator of
election laws is always aggressive and de-
fiant. and if his tendencies are to divert
the course of the Republic he should be
punished by the latter's laws. Tbs purity
of the federal government should never be-
left with the States. The proposition un-
der discussion Is not to strengthen or per-
feet election laws. but to sweep them all
away and leave nothing. lt Is not pro-
posed TO add new election legislation. hut
repeal all there Is upon the statute books.
The pending measure, Mr.. Johnson said,
Is q cold blooded proposition TO repeal all
there IS which makes IL a crime to viO-
late tho sacredness of federal elections.
Would 10 not be better To repeal all of the
laws TO detect and punish counterfeitlng,
riiling the mails and d~efrauding the gov-
of customs and revenuesf What
Is this proposition but O retreat In the face
of criminalsi" he asked. There are but
few States In tie Union. Dir. johnson de-
clared. which are able 10 enforce their
election laws. and yet It Is now pro-
posed TO reject the powerful supDie-
mental aid OF the federal government.
IL is notice that this Nation has
neither desire nor power to preserve the
sanctity of its ballots. The laws which il
Is proposed to wipe away were not aimed
81 any one section of country. but designed
49, ACt
relate not to State. county or municipal
affairs. only for the selection of officers of
the federal government.
Mr.. Johnson then took up the functions
of G Congressman. aud showed that be was
not the representative of u State or dis
trict. but the country. He may come from
q special district. but he legislates for the
empire. With q sweep of the tongue he
tore away the claim of the South. that this
law was Unconstitutional. and incidentally
he referred TO the assistance gwen the
South by the Northern Democrats. in this
effort TO repeal che election laws. as being
Of the same kind of encoursgement that
was given the South In 1861 by men North,
who rad not the courage TO tight, VINO had
not the courage of thoss in the South, who
went to the front and fought for their
principles. The Democrats had not framed
the bill before the House. and struggled so
long TO secure consideration, TO wipe away
laws whlok were unconstitutional. as had
been claimed. or TO nullify measures which
were Ineffective Tor any reason. This bill
was brought forth because the election
laws were constitutional. were In
some measure effective, and they were un-
desirable to those who would pollute the
ballot In federal elections. He answered
the nnconstitutlonal rgume by showing
that Congress had passed laws fixing the
first Tuesday after the first Monday in No
vember as the day when Congressmen
should be elected. and no one questioned
the constitutiOnality of that act. Con-
Rress had fixed uniform laws for the cleo
tion of Copgressmen In districts of con-
tiguous territory instead OF States at large.
and no question Was ever raised rs Co con-
stitutionnlIty. He pointed ont how the
present election laws restrained. If they
did not punish. fraud. and how helpless the
government would be in the selection of IT'S
own representatives if the hill now before
the House became II law. He finished his
speech with an arraignment of frauds IN
Northern States. which brought home TO
every one the practIcability OF the design
of the laws songht TO DO wiped away IN the
intere sc of fraud.