Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-04-09

Dsspetism Establishsd.

,,,s Dsspotism 1stablishsd.
The following bill passed the House o.
Representatives of Cobgress Oh the lOth
Of February, 10 anticipation of the adop
ton Of the 18th Amendment, which hal
since been proclaimed: .'a,,,t y, g..
San act to euforce the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution"
Be it enacted by the Senate and Hous.
lof Representatives of the United States o.
America, in Congress assembled: 81
Section !. It shall be the duty of tht
Secretary of the Interior to appoint, Of
cause to be appointed, three Commission
ers for each election district of the several
Congressional districts of the United
States. to enforce the provisions of the
fifteenth amendment to the Constitution.
The said Commissioners for such purposes
shall have the sole right to decide on the
qualifications of all voters who shall offer
to 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. .sf .. .t-
Sec. 2. 1t shall be the duty of such
Commissioners to certify to the result of
the election in their districts respectively,
duly sealed, to the Secretary of the Int.
rior. .. fs
Sec. 8. The Secretary Of the Interior
shall certify under his hand and seal the
names of the persons who appear to him
by the aforesaid returns to be elected
members of Congress or electors for Presi-
dent and Vice. President, and the persons
who shall receive such certificate Of cleo.
tion shall hold the Office or exercise the
authority therein designated, subject to
the sixth section of this act .. I...
Sec. 4. 1t shall be the duty of the Uni
ted States Marsllals in their respective dis
tricts to sustain the Commissioners of
Election herein provided for in the perfor-
nance Of their duties, and shall detail a
sufficient force Of deputies herein provided
for; and in the event of tho force of any
such Marshal providing inadequate the
Marshal shall have the right to call on the
nearest commanding officer Of troops of the
United States to aid such Marshall to pre-.
serve order. .r. I'D -,
Sec. S. It SHALL be the duty Of the Sec
retary Of War to SO station the troops of
the United States, immediately preceding
any election herein provided for, at conve-
nient points adjacent to the principal poll
ing places of the several Congressional
districts, and in the principal cities q con,-
manding force of such troops shall be en-
camped in the parks or other suitable
places of such citiesr at aud preceding any
election as aforesaid. r..+a g."
Sec. 6. All questions in regard to the
regularity and fairness Of tho election Of
members of Congress shall be referred by
the Secretary Of the Interior to the House
of Representatives, who shall have exclu-
sivc jurisdiction thereof; and in like man.
ner all questions relative to thc election Of
electors for President and Vice President
shall be referred to the President, who
shall appoint committee Of not less than
three suitable persons to examine aud de-
eide ull such questions, and whose decision
shall be final and conclusive. Hesi a.
Sec. I. This act shall go into effect when
Congress shall, by resolution, only declare
that three.fourths of the States have
ratified the proposed Fifteenth Amendment,
and have decreed that theConstitution is
amended accordingly. + raaf
The San Francisco Eraminer in COM
mcnting upon this bill says "The bill it
will be seen utterly ignores the States in
the election Of members of Congress and
Presidential Electors. Unless the Ameri-
can people are towards end slaves they
will welcome these minions of power, when
they attempt to interfere in their cleo
tions, "with bloody hands to hospitable
graves" That man who does not echo
this sentiment, from the bottom Of his
heart, eau claim no kindred blood with the
patriots Of our own Revolution, or the
martyrs of liberty in any age Of the world.
In the language Of the New York Herald,
endorsed by the chief organ Of the Admin
istration. /" We have in these Amend
ments greater revolution in the structure
Of the Government than that which trans
ferred the American people from the crown
of England to their own institutions under
the original Constitution Of the United
States" How has this revolution been
accomplished? Certainly not by the con-
sent of the people, for their consent has
never been asked or given to any such
revolution. It has been carried by usur-
patton, fraud and force, and is without any
binding obligation upon the conscience, OF
claim upon the obedience, Of any law abid.
ing citizen. Like the military rule which
superseded the civil authorities in the
States, whcro neither insurrection MOI
civil war existed, it is simply an arbi-
trary usurpatiou Of power under false
prctence, and it is the right, and it may
become the duty, Of every citizen who
values his liberties to resist it as he would
resist any other lawless invasion Of biz
liberties or his property. If enforced and
submitted to, it takes from the citizens o.
tho States the remaining guarantee Of self
government, and destroys the last bulwark
Of their liberties. Il places the ballot un
der the exclusive control of minions Of
power, with "the sole right to decide on