Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-04
History Of Our Law.

The Republicans or Mahoneites were
the originators OF tho charge that the
Anderson Met ormick law, or. as 1t was
at first. the Mccormick law. was framed
and passed with the intention 10 render
cheating at elections practicable and non
punishable. But the history of the evo-
luton OF that law shows clearly that no
such purpose could have governed the
Legislature. AS the question Of amend
ing that law Will soon have to be de-
cided, the members of the present Legs
lature may possibly like TO have their
recollections refreshed. We deem 1t an
act OF simple Justice to the gentlemen
charged with passing law to promote
cheating at elections 10 recall the facts
OF its passage.
The law was passed at the regular ses-
sion OF 1854 over the Governors veto.
At the same time the other election laws
were repealed In tho summer OF 1884
the Court OF Appeals declared the law
unconstitutional. null. and void That
left us without any election law, with
the presidential canvass OF 1884 full upon
U.S. The Governor refused to convene
the Legislature in extra session. so the
requisite number OF members united In
q call and the Legislature assembled
in August, 1854 The matter Of the cleo
ton laws was referred to the Committee
for Courts Of Justice OF the House. OF
which Mr.. Barton. OF Frederick, was
chairman.
A cry had come up from the Republi-
cans that the law was intended as
means Of cheating them out Of their votes.
We were In the midst of a hotly-contested
canvass, In which the vote Of Virginia,
II generally believed 10 have been OBJ
talned by fraud. might have involved the
whole country In trouble and have pre-
cipitated a crisis like that Of the Tilden-
Hayes contest.
Under such circumstances II was
thought wiser not TO pass the law AT
that time. because the Democratic Legis-
lature was determined to avoid even the
appearance Of unfairness.
So the Barton committee unanimously
made a report in which 1t was said that
whilst the committee regarded the Nc
Cormick bill as fair and just in all re-
spects. yet as 1t was otherwise regarded
by some persons and might be misrepre-
scented or misunderstood II passed In the
midst OF a heated canvass. tho committee
advised against its passage then. and
recommended the re-enactment OF the
old election laws.
This report was approved by the House.
and the old election laws were re-enacted
and the elections Of 1854 were held under
them.
After the election Of 1884 the Lesisln-
turo reassembled and passed the McCor-
mick law with the Anderson amendment.
How can anybody charge fraud upon
the Democratic party In connection with
that lawf How can the present Legisla-
ture repeal or materially change that law
without endorsing that charge?
The following was sent to US by cor
respondent:
The Legislature met wednesday, August
IL 1854. and on the second day OF the ses-
sion Mr.. Smith. OF Fauquier. offered
resolution inquiring about election laws.
The Mccormick bill was repealed by
House bill %, passed by both branches.
August 18th; House bill % revived the old
law In amended form. and Senate bill 1os.
amended In the House and passed over
Cameron's Veto provided for electoral
boards. This did not go into enect until
November 10Th. after the election.