Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-07
SATURDAY. JANUARY Z. 1893.
senator Bate-The Little Force I'm

Senator Bate-Ihe Little Orce Dill
Hon. WILLIAM y. BATE was on Thursday
last nominated by the Democratic caucus
of the Legislature Of Tennessee for re-
election 10 the United States Senate-a
nomination which is equal 10 an election.
Mr.. BATE is an able man. His arguments
on the various questions which come be-
fore the Senate are marked by candor,
fairness, and clearness Of statement HIS
denomination reminds us that he ad-
dressed the Senate, even before the hrst
month OF the current session had expired.
against what we style the little force bull
and IN favor Of the bill "to repeal all
statutes relating TO supervisors OF elections
and special deputies"
There are various important bills pend
ing ia the Senate--aInong them the bill TO
repeal tho SHERMAN silver law; the bill to
suspend immigration the bill 20 establish
national quarantine, and the bill to for
bid dealings in options and futures. but
no one OF them is of such pressing import
nnce as the bill which Mr.. BATE advocated
IN his speech mentioned above. The ex-
istence Of such laws as those authorizing
the appointment of Federal supervisors OF
elections aud deputy marshals in the
severnl States is menace to our free IN
stitutions. They threaten the perpetulty
of our government, and if not repealed
will result in the concentration OF all
power III the hands of the officials of the
Federal Government. The States will be
not simply dwarfed, but shorn OF all their
dignity. Their so-called sovereignty "
will be an object of derision.
Mr. BATE says truly that these laws
were inspired by anlmosites engendered
by a great war and embodied the pur-
poses Of "a political party animated by pas
sion. They were passed as a means OF
perpetuating in time Of peace the rule OF a
marty which ought 10 have been buried
us soon as the war between the States
ended. THE bloody SHIRT, the carpet
bagcer. and the scalawag have played
their part in elections and have gone, let
MS hone, never 10 return" The laws in
question were worthy of the scalawag and
the carpet Dagger, but they ale disgrace
10 tho country which allows them to con-
t;nue in force now that those hateful
characters are no longer IN power and no
longer backed even by the malienants of
the Republican party. CeSSdn'e ra'ione
cessd' PIE q by.
Tho RtUised Statutes Of he United States
contain a chapter headed 1.-The Elective
franchise" Mr.. BATE says he does not be-
levc that either the title Elective Fran
chise" or the laws which bolster II have
apy justification under the Federal Con
stitut.on. For this reason the laws in
question should without delay be repealed.
and new edition of the Rerised Statutes
should be published. Congress ought not
q allow such laws to disgrace that volume.
1t ls q shame that they ever appeared
therein. Mr.. boutwell, himself, the re-
WISER of the edition Of 1873, IS responsible
for tle title The Elective Franchise
. MIR BkTy shows that the provision Of the
Federal Constitution which empowers
Congress TO regulate m the last resort the
elect,on of its own members was intended
70 be used only for the purpose OF the pre-
seryation OF the existence of that body.
twas far from the intention of the fathers
10 confer upon Congress the power OF IN
terfering with the States III the election OF
their congressman. The provision was
designed TO be used only when the States
might for any reason neglect to elect con-
crSssmen.
We repeat. therefore. that no bill before
the Senate is Of more pressing importance
than the bill to repeal all statutes autho-
rizing the appointment of Federal tools to
supervise and control the election of our
congressman. Nothing should prevent the
Democratic House of Representatives from
passing such bill whether the Republi-
can Senate passes the one now before 1t
or not. Put the Senate 10 the test. Let
il. il il dare TO DO so. continue inforce the
statutes in question. The Democrats Will
then be fully justified IN whatever mea-
sures of self-protection they may find 1t
necessary to adopt.