The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-03-18
ApPROpRIATE LEGISLATION.

APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION.
And now we are confronted with a
sample of the appropriate legislation
referred to in the 18th Amendment.
When Congress attached to the 18th
and 18th Amendments those unpre-
tentious words-''Congress shall have
power to enforce this article by appro-
pirate Legislation" it was laying the
foundation, broad and deep, for un-
restrained and systematic tyranny.
No people. can esteem the liberties
of themselves to highly, or be too cha
~ in the delegation of power; no peo-
pie have ever been SO prodigal in be-
slowing it as the people of the United
States have been in the adoption Of
thecomprehensive addendum to the last
Amendments. Even before the fif-
teenth amendment has been proclaim
ed by the President. the House of Rep
resentatiyes, in the exercise of the au-
thority it confers, have passed this
bill:
''Aa Act TO enforce tie FgteeHtk Amendment to the
Coasfitution.'
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
fentafives of the United States of America, in
Congress assembled:
Section |. 1t tthail be the duty of the Secretary
Of the Interior to appoint or cause to be appoint
ed, three Commissioners for each election district
of the several Congressional districts of the Uni
ted States, to enforce fhc provisions Of the Fit-
teenth Amendment to the Constitution The said
Commissioners for snch purpose shall have the sole
right to decide the qualifications of all voters
who shall offer to yote for mc,nhers of Congress
or electors for President or Vice President. aud
the exclusive authority to receive tho ballots cast
at any such election.
See. 2. It shall be the duty of such corn,nis-
foners to certify the result of the election in their
districts respectively duly sealed, to thc said Sec
retary of the Interior.
Sec. }. The Secretary of the Interior shall GER
tiy under his hand and seal the na...es Of theper
IONS who appear to him by the aforesaid returns
te be elected members Of Congress or electors for
PRESIDENT and Vice President, and the porsons
who shall receive such certificate of election shall
hold the Office exercise the authority therein
designated subject to the sixth section of tbi.
See. T. 1t shall be the duty of the United States
narsbals IN their respective districts to sustain
the Commissioners of Election herein provided fer
IN the performance of their dutes and shall detail
suthcient forco of deputies to secure order q. Tn.
election herein provided for; and IN the ovcnt nj
the force Of any such Marshal proving insdecuat.
the Marshal shall have the right to call on the
nearest commanding officer Of troops Of the Uni
ted States to aid such Marshal to preserve order
Bee. D. 1t shall be the duty Of the Secretary OF
war to 50 station the troop. Of the United statss
Immediately preceding any election herein provi-
ded for, at convsnent points adjacent to tie prin
siPal polling places of the several Coarre.siop.,
districts, and in the principal cities com mnndin,
fsres Of such troops shall be encampcd in the
parks or other suitable places of such cities, At
aad preceding any election as Aforesaid.
sso- O. All questions in regard to the regularity
and fairness Of the election of members of Con-
grsss shall be roferred by the Secretary of the In
terror to the House of Representatives, who shall
have exclusive Jurisdiction thereof, and in like
manner all questions relative to the election OF
electors for President and Vice President shall be
Tefcrrce to the President, who shall appoint a
COMMITTEES of not less than three suitable persons
10 examine into and decide all such questions, aud
whose decision shall be final and conclusive.
Sec. 7. This act shall go into effect when Con-
grsss shall, by resolution, only declare that three
fourths Of tho States have ratified the proposed
Fiftesnth Amendment, and have deereed that Tho
Constitution il amended accordingly.
The first section of this bill. re.
moves the election for Electors and
Congressman wholly from State con-
troll. This is not step toward CEN
tralization. It Is centralization, and
in one of its most revolving shapes
The elections in nearly half hundred
States. representing nearly fifty mil
lions of people, are placed under the
control of the Secretary of the Interi-
or, an appointee Of the President. This
man is to appoint commissioners, who
have exclusive authority" to receive
ballots cast at an election. The com
missioners are responsible only to the
Secretary, to whom they are to GER
tify the result of the election. The
Secretary. who is responsible only to
the President. certifes in turn to his
superior. Under tlie arrangement, the
forms OF State government are abol-
ished in their most essential part.
There is no longer any local control
over questions of local importance.
Under this bill. the representation
Of States in Congress will cease and
representation for States be estab-
1ished. The Der artment of the Inter
5or is at present of comparatively in