Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-03-28
VETO OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY
MILITARY DESP0TlSM BILL.

Dlh lnto Nho iNuihp w ''oAuiu", INST
1t was taken up At once, and the Bill
passed over the Veto by ia yeas TO
25 naysin in the House, and 80 yeas to |
nays in the Senate:
This bill provides for the elections
in the ten States brought under the
operation of the original act to which
il is supplementary. Its details are
principally directed TO the elections
for the formation OF the State consti-
tutions. But by the sixth section OF
the bill all elections in these States oc-
curing while the original act remains
in force are brought within its pur-
view. Referring TO the details, il will
be found that, first Of all, there is TO
be registration Of the voters. No
one whose name has not been admit
ted on the list is TO be allowed TO vote
at any of these elections. To ascer
tain who is entitled TO registration. re
ference is made necessary by the ex-
press language of the supplement- to
the original act of the pending bill
The fifth section TO the original act
provides as to voters, that they shall
be male citizens of the STATE, twenty
one years old and upward, of whatev-
er race, color, or previous condition,
who has been a resident of said State
for one year; this is the general quail
fication, followed, however, by many
exceptions. No one can be register
cd according TO the original act who
may be disfranchised for participa-
tion in the rebellion, a provision which
left undetermined the question as TO
what amounted to disiranchisement,
and whether without judicial SEN
tenee the act itself produces that ef-
feet. This supplemental bill super
adds an oath to be taken by every
person, before his name can be admit
ted upon the registration, that be has
not been disfranehiscd for pariicapa-
ton in any rebellion or civil war
against the United States 1t thus
imposes upon every person the neces-
sity and responsibility of deciding for
himself, under the peril Of punishment
by a military commission, if be makes
a mistake, what works disiranchise-
ment by participation in rebellion,
and what amounts 10 such participa-
ten. Almost every man, the negro as
well as the white, above twenty-one
years Of aye, who was resident in
these ten States during the rebellion,
voluntarily or involuntarily, at some
time and in some way did participate
in resistance to the lawful authority
Of the general government. The
question with the citizen TO whom this
oath is TO be proposed must be a fear
ful one, for while the bill does not de-
clare that perjury may be assigned
for such false swearing, nor fix any
penalty for the offcnse, we must not
FORGET that martial law prevails, that
every person is answerable 10 militia
ry commission without previous pre-
sentiment by a grand jury for any
charge made against him, and that
the supreme authority Of the military
commander determines the question
as to what is an oflense, and what il
to be the measure punishment. The
fourth section Of the bill provides that
the commanding general Of each dis
trict shall appoint as many boards Of
registration as may be necessary, con
sisting Of three loyal officers or per
sons The only qualification stated
for these officers is, that they must be
loyal They may be persons in the
military service or civilians, residents
Of the State or strangers, yet these
persons arc 10 exercise most impor-
tant duties, and are vested with I'M
limited discretion They are TO de-
eide what names shall be placed upon
the register, and from their decision
there is to be no appeal. They are
to supcrintend .he elections, and 10
decide all questions which may arise.
They are 20 have the custody Of the
ballots, and to make return Of the per-
sons elected, whatever frauds or er.
rors they may commit must pass with
out redress. All that is left for the
commanding general is TO receive the
returns ofthc election, open the same
and ascertain who are chosen accord
I ing 10 the returns Of the officers who
conducted suck elections. BY such
means, and with this sort Of agency
are the conventions of delegates TO be
constituted.
As the delegates are to speak for
the people, common justice would
seem 10 enquire that they should have
authority from the people themselves.
! No convention so constituted will in
any sense represent the wishes Of the
inhabitants Of these States for under
the all-embracing exceptions Of these
laws. By construction which the IN
certainty Of the clause as to disfran.
chisement leaves open to the board OF
officers, the great body Of the people
may be excluded from the polls, and
from all opportunity Of expressing
their own wishes, or voting for the
delegates who will faithfully reflect
their sentiments do not deem il
necessary further to investigate the
details OF this bill. No consideration
could induce me to give my approval
to such an election law for any pur
+ pose, and especially for the great pur
pose of framing the constitution o.
a State. If ever the American citi
, zen should be left to the free excrcis,
OF his own Judgment, it is when he Il
engaged in the work Of forming thu
! fundamental law under which he i
TO live. That work is his work, an,
it cannot properly be taken out Of hi
! hands All this legislation proceed