Year: 1874

Desperate 20 Control the Coming BIec.
| Washington Telegram to the Louisville Courier.
| Journal


As the close of the session approaches.
\ every day develops some fresh deviltry on
the part of the Radical leaders in Congress.
During the last ten days of the session it
is in thepJWerOf an unscrupulouS majority,
which by the dishonest expulsion Of Dem
OcratS exceeds twO-thirdS, TO suspend the
rules and pass any bill without allowing
one word Of debate or any opportunity for
amendment, or even a preliminary exami-
nation by committee. The latest trick
of this kind was the attempt Wednesday 10
pass in this rapid mode bill eoncOcted By
Messrs. Whitley, of Georgia, and White, of
Ala, both Radicals, which purports TO pre-
serve the ballots and papers connected with
the elections held for Representatives in
Congress. The title is a naked fraud, and
was probably so intended by the parties en-
cheering the bill. Practically il was in
tended TO sweep away the last ves.ige Of
State authority or fairness in the conduct OF
elections, and to furnish ready pretexts for
setting aside the Congressional elections of
next autumn. This Oill like the Conklin
and Carpenter conspiracy against the free
dom Of the press, has been kept back till
the time had passed when measures could
be debated and Serutinized by ConqeS.
To-day it was sprung upon the House by
Mr.. Tremaine, of New York.


The bill Furnishes with fine and impris-
onment in the penitent:ary the giving or
furnishing to any voter or voters. ON the day
Of an election of a member of Congress,
any liquors, vinOus, fenmented or alcoholic.
no matter how small the quantity, or how
innocent the intention and proceeding.


The possession Of any weapon, no matter
for what purpose, on the occasion of any
such election, is held to be presumptive
evidence of the intent to intimidate voters,
and such intimidation is also punished with
fine and the penitentiary. The same sec
ton Furnishes with both penalties the threat
10 use weapon on the day of an election,
and no exception is made even in the case
Of selfdefense.


Section eight gives power to the United
States Circuit Court Judges 70 establish
numerous voting places, the idea being to
make it easy for negroes TO travel from one
voting precinct to another.


Other sections provide for an indefinite
multiplication of Federal supervisors and
assistant maIshals at every precinct, and all
the machinery Of terrorism and control, on
which these partisaIs rely TO defeat the
popular will.


As the State and Congressional elections
are held in most States on the same day,
this act would Oblige the States to submit
to Federal control and supervision of their
State and county elections, or to incur the
heavy expense of separate day for their
elections and the trouble of change in
their respective constitutions.


The Democracy of the House quickly
rallied to oppose this statute, which they
regard as one of the most dangerous and
iniquitOus proposed at this session. A few
Republicans, not willing to give up the
forms of free government, Joined them, and
a hundred votes were cast in the majority.
The yeas were 14S, and so the scheme
failed for want of two-thirds vote. Had
it passed the House, Messrs. COnkling and
Carpenter would prObabably have passed it
through the Senate in short order.