Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-27
HOUSE AND SENATE:
Tucker Against the Election Laws-D'-
fence of Cleveland.

nv telegraph 10 the DispatchD
WASHINGTON, u. G., September %
4 bitter partisan debate was anticipated
in the House today. but the attendance
was unusually small on both sides OF
the chamber when the rap of the 6aVei
called the members 10 order at noon.
ON motion Of Mr.. Grosvcnor, Of Ohio.
a ioint resolution was passed authorizing
the commissioners IF the Chattanooga
National Park to use stone and gravel
on the grounds for the purpose Of making
foundations for monuments.
MIR Taibcrt. of South Carolina, asked
consent for the immediate consideration
OF "A resolution requesting the COMMITTEE
ON RankIng and Currency, after the dis
posal of the Federal election repeal bills,
10 report the McIaurin bill Mr.. Warner
Democrau. of New York, objected.
In the second morning hour Ohe first
bciug unproductlve OF results the House,
in accordance with the special order
proceeded to the consideration Of the
Fclcral-clections repeal bill, and Mr.
Tucker opened the debate.
MIR. fuckers ARGUMENT
He argued that the statutes which it
was proposed To repeal were unconsti-
tutional. and that Congress had no right
to confer the power that It had done
upon supervisors OF elections. The right
of suffrage was right preserved to the
states. and granted specifically in the
Constitution. The right OF suffrage
rested in the States Of the Union. He
planted himself on the ground that the
right OF a citizen TO vote was the right
given TO him. not by the Constitution Of
the United States. nor by the Federal
Government. but was a right reserved In
the State and recognized by the Consti-
tuition.
What right. he queried. was worth hav-
ing that was put into the hands OF
another person? lie held that the elective
function and the determining junction
must go hand-in-hand.
MIR. MnHken. Republican, Maine, asked
several questions on this point.
and suggested that the gentleman
from Virginia might be elected
from his state as represents
tive Of his district. but If his right 70 his
seat was challenged the case would be
passed upon by the Federal power.
Mr.. Tucker replied that that was pro-
vided for in the Constitution.
FEDERAL SUPERVISION UNLAWFUL
Mr.. Tucker declared that If the original
right of suffrage was In the state the
Federal government had no right 10 come
in and claim the power or counting and
canyasslng a vote How could the United
states by its supervisors and deputy mar
shals. supervise an election under a Law
which il had not enacted, or scrutlniLt
| the registration IA condition OF suHraBt
| in MANY of the States) when the right oi
suffrage emanated from the state ltseh
and the State alone could determine II!
The right of suffrage and the conditions
| NJ suffrage should be left 10 the States
| The States should be permitted TO contro
tbeir own elections. The object OF legisla
| ton should be 10 prevent conflicts DelWeei
the State and Federal authorities.
The statutes which II was proposed 70
| repeal had been fruitful In engenderinG
| them.
In replv 70 a question by Mr.. Hender'
| son dRenublican) OF Illinois, as tc
| whether there was not necessity toi
| Federal supervisors at the polls, Mr.
/ tucker said that he was not discussing
| the question of necessity he was discuss
ing the question OF power The PROPOSE
| tions contained in the law were the propo
sitions which should not be allowea u
| live until the 10th OF October.
Then Mr.. RAY, (Republican) OF New
| YORK. and Mr.. Tucker got into a consti
| tutiohal controversy as TO mo rights o
the states. the Republican contending tina
the United States ought to have the righ
10 supervise elections In which the inter
ests OF the whole country were involved
and the Democrat holding TO the contrary
| DAVENPORT DONE BROWN.
Then Mr.. Tucker paid his respects q
John /. Davenport. and severely eriticise'
his actions The atrocities OF the Duk
OF Alva, he said. did not exceed the atroci
ties OF this man. The day had come whti
Congress must respond 10 the cry OF tn
nsonle and strike from the statute-book
those obnoxious laws.
Mr.. Ray rose to defend Davenport