The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-27
NOW FOR DAVENP0RT'SD DOOM
MINNIE ON THE ELECTIONS REPEAL
MIL BEGUN IN THE HOUSE.


,,onni Lines-Mr. Brosius Opens for the
x.publieans Great Contest Coming.
v,suIyaroN. Sept. 2o.-There was small
audience in the galleries and few members
anon tho floor OF tho House to-day when
,,ounr Mr. Tucker OF Virginia opened the two
reeks' debate on tho bill providing for tho
repcal OF the Federal Election laws. The
drcary weather no doubt had much to do with
tho lack Of interest dis played. and it Is thought
that by the timo the debate Is we'll under way
a bitter and exciting partisan contest Will be
DEVELOPED aud the interest and attention OF
the country thoroughly aroused to its impor-
tance. The bill. under the order adopted by
the House. will be discussed until Oct. and
voted upon on Oct. 10.
Mr.. Tucker Is not an orator OF sufficient
ability to attract wide attention. but lie has
given long and careful study to the subject OF
the Federal Election laws. and their effect
upon elections. and Is very sincere in assert
ing that they are q disgrace. Mr. Tucker is
typical yirginian. as the son Of John Randolph
Tucker and the descendant OF long line OF
distinguished fuckers should be. He is af-
;ectonately known by his friends in the
House as Tommy Tucker" but his name
ia Henry St. George. He is 40 years old. tall.
thin, and why. with raven black hair and
bright. snappy black eyes. little black NOUS
tache, and q somewhat swarthy complexion.
He Is q lawyer at Staunton and never held
office until elected to membership in the Fifty
first Congress. He Is very earnest talker.
but not at all eloquent.
Mr. fuckers speech to-day. in addition to
being detailed explanation of the several
clauses OF the bill, was denunciation OF the
outrages that tho present election laws inflicts
upon the South and plea for the recognition
OF the extreme doctrine OF States rights. He
did not confine his remarks entirely to the
condition OF things in the South. but found
time to pay his respects to election customs in
the North. with particular reference to Daven-
portism in the city Of New York. and gave
some valuable information as to the powers
exercised at elections during the past SCORE Of
years by John /. Davenport and the amount OF
money drawn from the public treasury by that
official for his Interference in elections.
Before Mr.. Tucker concluded his speech his
gallery audience had increased to respectable
numbers, and at least q quorum Of the House
also appeared upon the floor Many Demo-
Gratis and Republicans paid close attention to
tho speaker and made notes for future use: It
the he speech e, neither MI Reed nor MI, Wilson,
the respective leaders Of the Repu blican and
Psrs Mr. TssPer
and ask ed him some pointed questions which
he replied to quite successfully The course
be- similar to that observed when the Silver biil
members will speak hrst. and. as the contest
the big guns will appear and the speech max
ing will gradually work up to climax.
DETAILS OF THE DAY IN THE HOUSE.
The attendance was unusually small on both
7ides OF the chamber when the rap OF the gavel
called the members to order at noon. There
were some routine matters disposed of. and
Sess law lie and arHsd tad aaF' the sy Ms
Constitutional and that co sst had had
conferred upon supervisors of election. The
the States and granted specifically in the Con-
Sttution: The. right Of suffrage rested in the
tho ground that the right OF a citizen to vote
ton Of the United States nor by the Federal
State and recognized by the, Constitution.
what right. he asked, was worth having that
Ssa thu the esdss Of snG de-
tesmining function must go hand in hand.
Mr. Mtlhken tRep. Me. asked several ques-
Tucker might be elected from his state as a
representative OF his district, but IL his right
to his seat was challenged the case would he
PASSED upon by n Federal power.
Mr. Tucker replied that that was provided
Tor IN the Constitution; aud he hoped that the
Eeltleman would stand by tho Constitution.
Mr. NilIIken-I have always done that. and
20 have my ancestors
Mr. |ucker-Then you are right
Mr. tucker continued with his constitutional
argument against the law and declared that II
tLe original right OF suffrage was in the State.
The Federal government had no right to come
yasslng the vote. How could the United States
" us Supervisors and deputy marshals super.
m Ian Tt,t ,lN bad
enacted, or scrutinize the registration 10 con-
, .Itlon q suffrage in many OF the Statesl when
issi ght Z Is ura;e from the state
Ihs right, Of suffrage and the conditions OF
suffrage should be left to the States. The
SSn elections. The object OF legislation should
SSsto prevent conflicts between tho State and
ssaeral authorities The statutes, which IT
shgenderinE them.
I'm reply to question by Mr.. Henderson
sM!ty for Federal supervisors at the polls. Mr..
a ruekfr said that he was not discussing the
S SSsstCn q necessity; he was discussing the
~ ths law were propositions which should not
% I allowed to live until the 10Th Of October
got Into a constitutional controversy as to the
iiIghts Of the States, the Republican contend
,Hs ttat tho United states ought to have the
Nght 70 supervise elections In which the inter-
sssts OF the whole country were involved. and
'he DEMOCRAT held the contrary.
Nn,oh iI u'ker palu NIB Tebpectb 10 Jonn /.
RRaaVenport and severely criticised mis- action.
me atrocities Of the Duke OF Alva he said. did
hoS exceed the atrocities of this man. The day
. sau come when land now wasl Congress must
ssspond 10 the cry OF the people and strike
HSEn me statute books these obnoxious laws.
i s.I, to 5. S Coxs report euoaistle Of that
AM I n, Ray believed that In 1877 Davenport was
an angel Of light. he could recon ellie that char
s So. with the character he had now. ex-
S Sa Under the principle that the laws
%ere so poor that they should be erased
sbnnn,dthe statute books. Either Davenport
1 aSa be abolished as a corrupt man. or the
,aws we're 50 corrupt that they should be re-
tosIeu; They were an evidence OF past era
Il, X our history. We belonged to q generation
the t MaS looking no longer to the past but to
s Ala ,ut urr. We wanted to strike from tho
m nsaStn hooKs every trace Of reconstruction
nmnetaSurea; tic belonged to a party that was
tbss,aI sectional party. He belonged to u party
nsM,u Ii not believe in anything sectional. The
fstPPuDIlcans had violated the pledges OF the
dsniesits :. mad oyerridden the Constitution. had
H. hi rod ne right OF habeas corpus had shown
ia people that they were not worthy OF con-
'Sn vIIcG' ana the people had elected q Demo-
IiT,,G resident and Democratic Congress.
tiUUwlBg TO the illness OF Mr.. Deliver. Mr. Bro
tids hnsh. Ia opened the debate on tho other
VIII lie congratulate the gentleman from
emhSimth pn his able speech. and he desired to