Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-03-16

An ACT TO tsroRcr MORO svrrRAuF IT
rus POINT orrmEnAyoNEr- WHITTIER
Ann We pRirrINol
The following is published in the
Now York papers as the text OF the
hill to enforce the amendments TO the
Constitution, which was recently pass
cd in the lower House OF Congress
AN Act to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment to
the Constitution
De Il enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatiycs Of the United States Of America, IN
Congress assembled
SECTION !. II shall 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 United
States 10 enforce the provisions Of the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution. The said Com
missioners FOR such purpose shall have the sole
right to decide on the qualifications of MI voters
who shall offer 10 vote for members Of Congress or
ELECTORS for President and Vice President, and the
exclusive authority to receive the ballots cast at
any such election
Sac. 2 It shall bc tho duty of Commissioners
to certify the result Of the election in their dis
trcis respectively, duly scaled, to the said secrc-
tary Of the Interior.
SIC. O. The Secretary Of the Interior shall Ger
tify under his hand and seal the NAMES Of the per-
sons who appear to him by the aforesaid returns
to be elected members Of Congress or electors for
President and Vice President, and the persons who
shall receive such certificate Of election shall hold
the Office or exercise the authority therein desgna-
ted, subject 10 the sixth section Of this act.
Sgc. (. II shall be the duty Of the United States
Marshals in their respective districts to sustain the
Commissioners Of Election herein provided for in
the performance Of their Duties and shall detail
sufficient force Of deputies to secure order at the
elections herein provided for and in the event Of
the force Of any such Marshal proving inadequate,
the Marshal shall have the right to call on the
nearest commanding officer Of troops Of the United
States to aid such Marshal 10 preserve order
sEc 5. II shall be the duty Of the Secretary Of
War to 80 station the troops Of the United States,
Immediately preceding any election herein pro-
vided for, at convenient points adjacent to the
principal polling places Of the several Oongression
al districts aud IN the principal cities a command
ing force Of such troops shall be encamped in the
parks or other suitable places Of such cities, at and
preceding any election as aforesaid.
Sac. G, All questions in regard to the regulari-
ty and fairness of the election Of members OF Con-
gress shall be referred TO the Secretary Of the In
terror to the House Of Representatives, who shall
have exclusive jurisdiction thereof; aud in like
manner all questions relating 70 the election Of
electors for President and Vice President shall be
referred to the President who shall appoint com
mittee Of not less than three suitable persons to
examine and decide all such questions, and whose
decisions shall be final and conclusive.
sEc T. This subject shall 10 into effect when
Congress shall, by resolution, only declare that
three -fou,hs Of the States have ratified the pro
posed Fifteenth Amendment, and have declared
that the Consultation is amended accordingly.
A moro ingenious plan to rob the
Treasury and TO perpctuate power in
the hands of the Radicals through all
time, could not we'll be invented
Under its provisions, the Secretary OF
the Interior will have to appoint three
Federal officers for the borough Of Mif.
fRtoicn, GftyJour in this county, and
about SIR thousand IN the State, 10
decide on the right Of the people 10 Uote
in the near fic0 thousand rofing places
in Pennsylvania ! The poll books are
to be held by these appointees of the
Government-no man unless he be a
Radical or Negro, will have right
10 see them. and even these can only
do so by sufferance. They are sent
to Washington, ard are there TO be
opened and counted by Radical clerks
in the Interior Department, and the
result, which, MS sure as frauds can
make it, will be Radical victory,
will bo proclaimed.
The United States Marshals have
the authority TO surround the polls
with a special police, to enforce the
decision OF the Judges as to the right
Of Democrats TO vote, and it is made
the duty Of the Secretary of War 10
station troops, Immediately before u
Presidential or Congressional election,
at "points adjacent to the principal
voting places of tho several Congress.
sional Districts, and in the principal
cities" To overawe, TO shoot down, oi
to dispense any crowd Of refractory
Democrats, who may claim fair play
in tho election Of President or Of
members of Congress
IL this bill passes into a law, the
people will be prepared for Sixteenth
Amendment TO the Federal Constitu.
ton, which il is said will be "Non6
but Radicals and Negroes shall be al.
lowed to vote, and none but Negroe.
and Radicals shall bo allowed to hold
Office"
lie who, ten years ago, would have
dared TO breathe even the wish o
such a stride as this bill proposes, TO
wards a consolidated despotism in the
United States, would have been deem
ed lunatic. Now, VIC doubt not
party pressure will make men support
it, who ten years since, would have
shouldercd musket to prevent it,
execution. Infamy is not a sufficient
| ly strong term with which to brand it
But what ought the people dol-
MGiintoDH Register.