Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1870-03-23

looking customer he is, too.-
Tackled on the end of the pro-
posed Fifteenth Amendment
and forming part of that pre-
cious piece of Radical inven-
ton, is.a second section as fol
lows:
SEC. .. Congress shall have pow,
er to enforce this article by appro-
pirate legislation.
We knew that meant some
thing, but just what we were
unable to imagine, unless it was
that the Radicals intended to
pass a law making it a felony
to deny any plantation negro
the privilege Of voting. How
it granted anything more than
this cannot be imagined. But
it did. 1t covered scheme Of
villainy deeper than any even
before concocted in the history
of the country. 1t covered a
damnable plot to destroy the
States altogether, and cement
the usurped power of a strong
central government. The body
of the amendment took from
the several States the power
exercised since the foundation
of the Government to pass up
on the qualification of voters;
and this section is designed to
take the elections wholly from
State authority and place them
under the control of the gen
eral Government. Look at the
bold and Infamous proposition.
About three weeks ago Mr..
Lawrence, of Ohio, reported
from the Reconstruction Com
nlittee the following Bill, which
was put upon its passage i'm
mediately and passed under the
pressure Of the previous ques-
tion:
,tAn Act to enforce the Fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution"
Be it enacted by the Senate & House
of Representatives Of the United
Of America, in Congress assem-
bled
SECTION /. 1t shall be the duty
Of the Secretary Of the Interior to
appoint, or cause to be appointed,
three Commissioners for each elec-
tien-dlstrict of the several Congress
sional districts of the United States,
to enforce the provisions Of the Fiji
teenth Amendment to the Constitu-
ton. The said Commissioners for
such purpose shall have the sole
right to decide on the qualification
Of all voters who shall offer to vote
for lem bers of Congress or electors
for President and ice-Prcsident,
and the exclusive authority 10 re-
ccive the ballots cast at any such
election.
SEC. 2. 1t shall bo the duty OF
such Commissioners 10 certify the
result Of the election in their dis
tricts respectfully, duly sealed, to the
said Secretary Of the Interior.
SEC. 3. The Secretary of the In.
terror 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 President
and Vice. President, and the persons
who shall receive such certificate OF
election shall hold the Office or exer-
else the authority therein designa-
tod, subject to the sixth section OF
this Act.
Sec. 4. 1t shall be tho duty of the
United States Marshals in their re-
spective districts to sustain the Com
missioners of Election herein provi-
ded for in the performance OF their
duties, and shall detail sufficient
force Of deputies 10 secure order at
tho election herein provided for
and in the event Of the force Of any
such Marshal being inadequate, the
Marshal shall have the right to call
on the nearest commanding officer
Of troops OF the United States to aid
such Marshal to preserve order.
SEC. 5 1t shall be the duty ofthe
Secretary of War to station the
troops Of the United States, imme-
diateIy any election herein provid.
ed for, at convenient points adjacent
to the principal polling-placcs o.
the several Congressional districts
and in the principal cities a com
mauding force of such troops shall
be encamped in the parks or Other
suitable places of such cities, at anC
preceding any election as aforesaid
SEC. 5. All questions in regard tc
the regularity and fairness of thu
election of members Of Congress
shall be referred by the Secretary o
the Interior to the House of Repre-
sentatives, who shall have exclusiv'
} jurisdiction thereof; and in like man
ner all questions relating to the elec
ton of electors for President ant
Vice. President shall be relerre.