Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-06-17
The Enforcement Bill.

The Enforcement Bill.
Nothing which Congress has done has
SO alarmed the people of the North as the
passage of the bill to enforce the Fifteenth
Amendment. It is without doubt the most
violent and dangerous step yet taken by
that body to secure continued ascondancY'
The 1Eetr0DO7itnn Record denOunces it as
the boldest and most deapotic act the
Radicals in Congress have as yet dared to
perpetrate, and regards 1t as the establish
ment of consolidated despotism, having
its central power at Washington. "Ihls, !"
continues the Record, " is to be effected
bv direct interference in our State cleo
TONS substitution Of the Federal for the
State Courts in the trial OF alleged cases OF
fraud, the supersedure OF State by Federal
officials, and the employment of the Fed
eraI land and naval forces for the lntlmlda-
ton of citizens at State and other elections.
Through such infamous Legislation the
Radical leaders hope to perpctuate their
power, and If necessary, to reduce the
North TO the condition Of the South, where
the rule of the bayonet is supreme, and
the civil is subordinate to The military au-
thority"
The Detroit, Michigan, Free Press IS
equally as emphatic in It's dennnciation. -
1t regards this bill as the most Infamous
enactment that has yet found favor at the
hands of the present dOubly Infamous
Congress, 1t is n law, says that paper,
which aims to subject tie ballot to the
bayonet, not only in the South but IN all
parts of the Union. Under It's provisions
the President can send n military force
into any State IN the Union with n view to
controlling the political action of the PEG
pie. 70 thus makes him Il military despot.
Under the pretext Of aiding in the eXecu,
tion Of judicial process lie can put fifty
thousand troops into the State Of New
York, or any other State on election day.
In monarchical England an armed soldier
is not permitted within a mile and half
of the election poll, because it might in
dictate q desire to intefere with the free
dom and right of the elector. In republI-
can America at an election poll the Presi-
dent, the United States Marshal, or his
deputies, can place file of soldiers around
every ballot box, and only let such pass
through and vote rs their COM
mander may desire. If we are TO have
free elections hereafter, it will be wholly
on account of the forbearanco of those in
power to exercise the authority placed in
their hands by this Infamous bill. The
thirteenth section Of the act provides that
it shall be lawful for the President to en-
ploy such portion of the land and naval
forces of the United States, or of the mi
litia, as he may deem necessary in enforc-
ing the provisions of the act. There is no
limitation. The tenth section provides
that marshals or deputy marshals shall
have power to summon to their aid all by
ISLANDERS or posse COnitat',s of the county,
or such portion of the land and naval
orces OF the United States, or OF militia,
as may be necessary to the performance
of the duty with which they are charged.
Then, again, there is no limit to the pow
er conferred, and the freedom of election
is placed wholly at the mercy Of a marshal
or his deputy.
This is only one of the many unjnstifi-
able provisions embraced IN this " bill of
denominations" which is the handiwork of
party starting on. with tho motto of
"free men and free speech " inscribed up
on it's banners. IL is very properly de-
nounced as the bayonet bill, and ought to
consign to eternal infamy every partisan
slave who voted for its passage.
In New York something more serious
than mere protests of papers and speakers
is threatened. An extra session of the
Legislature is spoken of and open resist
ance to this iniquity inaugurated. The
New York Standard says:
ssThe election law passed by Congress by which
Il ia intended to secure purity III eeclons has
thoroughly aroused the Democracy, and the
leaders again talk Of resistance to Federal auth
ority, It is even said that q special session OF
the Legislature is intended to initiate war meas
ures,' and that delegation left this city yester
day to ask the Governor to convene that body
The result has not yet TRANSFERRED, pnt 1t ls moi
impossible that Governor Hoffman may accede
TO the request. Stringent legislation III opposl
ton to the recent action OF Congress Is 70 Dt
enacted. and the old principle OF State rl8hts &c
be revived. The bills to be passed are not ye
mstpgeda but these arc reported to form part o