Year: 1879




The Republican papers are very much sx-
ercised just now over the prospect of an
extra session OF Congress, and seem very
anxious to place the responsibility for what
they choose to regard as a certainty upon the
Democrats. 1t requires good deal of inge-
nuity, however, to find any reason for charg-
ing the Democrats with such purpose, and
those assigned are exceedingly tlimsy. They
seem to have generally united upon but two
propositions that in the least furnish any
ground for the charge. These are the
ayowed intention of the Democratic majority
to insert in the army appropriation bill a
clause repeating the test oath required Of
jurors, and clause repeating the law provid-
ing for the appointment of federal supervis-
ors of elections. These they affect to
regard as most monstrous propositions,
designed to overthrow the very fabric Of our
political structure and produce social anarchy
and ruin.


The first proposition alluded to-the repeal
Of the jurors test oath-is a very proper
one. The imputation that the oath contains
is that no man who has in the past partici-
pated in the rebellion is honest enough to
sit upon jury to decide as to the guilt or
innocence of any person charged with crime,
or as to the amount of damages involved in
litigation between two neighbors. The
imputation is simply monstrous, and the
sooner it is expunged from our statute books
the better it will be for the honor of the
nation. It keeps from the jury box in sew
eral of the States of the Union the most
intelligent class of the population, who are
generally the only persons qualified to sit in
Judgment upon cases where the lives or
of the citizen are at stake.


With regard to the repeal of the law au-
thorizing the appointment of federal super
visors of election there may be differences of
opinion on partisan grounds, but ought to
be none whatever on legal or constitutional
grounds. The act was originally passed as
purely partisan measure, with intent to main
tain the ascendancy of the Republican party
at the sacrifice of the individual liberty of
the citizen. There has never been any ex-
cuse for its existence, but admitting that
there was once such necessity, it has long
since passed away. When passed it was un-
constitutional and illegal, and it is so to-day.
The regulation of elections is matter that,
under the constitution and the laws, belongs
exclusively to the several States, and the at
tempt to deprive them of that right is wan
ton usurpation, which ought to be frowned
upon by every lover of liberty. In the future
the power conferred by this law might be
used by the Democrats, as it has been used
by the Republicans, to help their cause, but
the Democrats do not propose to make use
of illegal and despotic means to retain
power. This blot on our statute books also
ought to be erased.


1t is announced on authority that the SEN
ate will not concur with the House in abol-
ishing these two laws, almost the only
remnants of the grossly despotic laws that
found their way upon our statute books sub
sequent to the rebellion, and that they will
force an extra session by that refusal. IF
they choose to do so they must accept the re-
sponsibiity. 1t will not rest with the House,
for the demancs of that body are legal, just
and wise. We care very little whether an
extra session shall be found necessary or not.
1t will involve very little cost, and that cost,
We are sure, will be amply repaid by the
legislation accomplished with both houses in
the absolute control of the Democratic
Dartv