Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-13

The Senate did not seem to be greatly
interested on Monday in the speech OF
MIR. Allen, of Nebraska. who took the
Moor and for two hours or more en-
deavored to convince the senator's that
Mr. Kolb was the lawful Governor OF
Alabama. IL the contention were as TO
the right OF MIR. Allen or any other sena-
tor 10 his seat the decision Of the Sem
ate would be Anal. but the dispute az
TO whether Turney or Evans was elected
Governor OF Tennessee last November, or
kolb or Oates was elected Governor OF
Alabama. presents a much more difficult
question for consideration and solution.
The Federal Constitution provides that
'the United States shall guarantee TO
every State In this Union n republican
form Of government" What IL "A republi-
can form OF government within the In
tendment of the Constitution? Take
notice that the duty of guaranteeing 10
each State n republican form Of govern
ment IL not entrusted to the executive
department OF the government, nor TO the
judicial department. nor to the legislative
btDti intent. nut W the lHtttu
that is 10 say. to all the departments of
the government Take the two cases
Of Alabama and Tennessee. Is II for Con-
gress to decide whether those States have
or have no. republican form of govern
ment? How is that question TO be brought
before Congress? Mr.. Allen, OF Ne
braska, who as We have said.
spoke for several hours in the Senate
on Monday last undertook TO show by
reading dispositions that there were cleo
ton frauds pcrpetrated in Alabama last
fall. But suppose he could prove beyond
"A doubt that such was the fact. how
would Congress proceed to rectify the
wrong? 1t might be dangerous to handle
such edged tools as Mr.. Evans and MIR.
kolb are supposed to be ready and will
ing to employ in their attempt 10 bag
the governorships Of the two States we
have mentioned. for. az the Arabian
adage has it according to Bulwer),
chickens will come home TO roost," and
such work as Evans and kOlh have en-
gagged in cannot be stopped upon few
hours notice. The charge is made against
Virginia. also. by some persons that there
were frauds perpetrated In her elections
OF last fan for congressman. Indeed. II the
work is once begun by Congress or any
department Of the government. OF over
hauling the returns OF the elections in the
several States 10 learn whether fraud has
been committed or not, or whether every
State has republican form OF govern
ment or not, we do not see that there
can be any limit put TO these investiga-
tons For. as We have said. whilst there
is not a doubt as to the right Of each
house OF Congress 10 judge Of the elec-
lions, qualifications, and returns Of ITS
own members. the clause of the Constitu-
ton which provides for guaranteeing
republican form Of government 10 every
State applies as well to one department of
the government as another. and in fact,
70 each and all OF the departments. In
this article we have taken IL for granted
that If Evans fails to secure in Tennes-
see the Office he is seeking 10 obtain. he
will appeal 10 Congress 20 give II TO him.
and to give IL 20 him under that clause OF
the Federal Constitution which makes II
the duty Of the United States 70 guaran-
tee to each Of the several States Ie-
publican form Of government.