The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-27


city to obstruct the peaceabe execution Of the
new election laws of Congress, the President
has resolved to place within convenient reach
of the United States civil officers appointed to
superintend our approaching election in this
city strong force of the army and marine
corps, for the protection and assistance OF
said civil officers, il necessary, in the enforce
ment of the laws. General Terry-the recon-
struction Terry of Georgia--it is supposed,
will be placed In the immediate command Of
this force, subject to the requistion Of the
United States Marshal 1t is further reported
that the President has arranged to bring all
the regular troops in Philadelphia, Newport,
Boston and Carlisle barracks to New York in
a very few hours, if he sees any necessity for
il; and again. that he has ordered all the
| available troops in the forts east of the Mis-
sissippi to rendezvous in the forts OF New
York or in this city by election day. Mean
time, Attorney General Akermans presence in
| New York ia for the purpose Of legal advice
and instruction to the civil officers concerned
| in the execution of the laws, SO that mistakes
in their application may, as far as possible, be
avoided
In this connection the charge delivered on
Tuesday last by Judge Benedict to the Grand
Jury in the United States Court, over which
he presides, shows that all the needful judicial
machinery is arranged for the arrest, trial and
condemnation of parties guilty Of frauds in
our coming election, including pcrjurers in
registration, repeaters, ballot suffers, false
counters and unlawful INSTRUCTORS in any way
of honest voters in the exercise of their legal
rights. The civil, the judicial and the military
authorities of the United States, in short,
under the laws OF Congress in the premises,
win be on hand or held in readiness for the
enforcement Of these laws on election day.
There is considerable excitement in the city on
the subject, and considerable denunciation,
too, Of these proceedings as the outcroppings
of a central military despotism. Such pro-
ccedings, we are told, are inconsistent with re-
publican government, and that the Georgia re-
construction system of the bayonet applied to
New York is monstrous outrage upon popular
rights, State rights and municipal rights, and
in gross violation OF the national constitution.
in this business is acting in obedience to his
oath Of Office, which binds him to take care
that the laws are faithfully executed In the
second place these laws of Congress are clearly
constitutional, as we have shown heretofore
chapter and verse, and as any one may see by
turning to the constitution OF the United States.
For instance, Congress has the express power
'sto establish uniform rule of naturalization"
and the power to enforce it. II has the ex-
press power TO regulate elections embracing
the election of members of Congress, aud the |
express power to enforce the fifteenth amend
ment in enforcing the right Of colored citizens
to vote. In the enforcement Of these laws,
moreover, thus covered by the constitution,
the President is empowered, when 10 his judg-
ment it may be deemed necessary, to employ
the army and the navy of the United States.
But the question next recurs, is there any
apparent necessity for this mastering of troops
by the President with which to oyerawe our
pesceable citizens on election day? No. The
trouble does not lie with our peaceable citi-
zens. But General Grant unquestionably is
apprehensive of distractions to the United
States deputy marshals, inspectors, &C., in
this coming election, which may require the
Intervention Of detachment Of troops, here
and Decentralization from disorderly and
riotous combinations, identified with the
detestable and dangerous practices Of false
swearing, repeating, ballot stufing, &c. 1t is
notorious fact that in this city, for several
years past, these pernicious practices have
brought our political elections in this city too
much into public contempt. Next the course
of opposition pursued by certain party jour-
nails to these new election laws Of Congress
has been In favor of resistance, instead Of sub
| mission; and then, to say the least of it, our
municipal authorities have neglected, so far,
| to recommend submission to these laws. With
all these facts before him General Grant has,
Materially enough, come to the conclusion
| that the laws which certain parties defy and
| denounce in advance of the election will be
| defied and resisted in the election, unless the
officers directly charged with the execution Of
these laws are backed by reserved force Of
the United States army
Here, then, is a satisfactory vindication Of
General Grants preparations for the employ
ment Of troops, if necessary, in this coming
election, in behalf Of law and order. The
great matter involved is the purity of the
ballot box, which involves everything Of any
value in popular government. 1t will be re-
membered that during the war, in the Presi-
Dental election of 1864. General Butler was
sent here with posse of troops in reserve for
the maintenance Of order in the election, if
called for but that his military Intervention
was not called for, and that that election was
the most quiet and orderly ever known in this
CITY The annrehension of riotous nroceed-