Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-02-11
Military Interference In Elections.

1t is most gratifying omen Of the i'm.
mediate restoration Of civil authority %
long usurped BY military power, that the
, interference Of the Federal military iu late
State elections is denounced by many
leading Republicans. Governor Palmer,
Of Illinois, and Governor Geary, Of Penn
sylvania, take occasion to protest against
this military interference, in their annual
messages. The latter, who is the head of
the Loyal League Of the United States
the secret power which directs and controls
the Republican party-administers the fol-
lowing scathing rebukc to the President
for the unwarrantable exercise of power
which, in the hands of a bad man, gov.
erned by personal ambition, might be ex.
cccdingly calamitous":
The employment of United States troops at
elections, without the consent of the local and
State government has recently received con-
! siderable attention and apprehension. 1t is
regarded as an interference with the sovereign
iiRutS VI tuC StaIcS, WulCu WIS HOb COntcu.
plated by the founders of the General Govern
ment, and, if persisted in, must lead to results
disastrous to peace and harmony. The prac-
tice is one so serious in its character, and so
injurious in its tendencies, as to merit prompt
consideration and decisive action, not only by
the General Assembly but by Congress. One
Of the complaints Of the colonists against the
British King was the oppression growing out
of the assumption Of this power. They said
" He has kept among us in time of peace,
standing armies without the consent Of our
Legislature" and, what is especially pertinent
TO the case in point, i" lie has affected to
render the military independent of, and supe-
rior to the civil power The alleged authority
for the use of troops at our State elections is
derived from the tenth section of an act of Con-
gross, approved May 81, 1870, entitled I" An
act to enforce the right Of citizens of the Uni.
ted States to vote in the several States of the
Union, and for other purposes" which au.
thorze United States Marshals to call to their
assistance " such portion of the land and naval
forces of the United States or the militia, as
may be necessary TO the performance Of the
duty with which they are charged and to insure
faithful observance Of the Fifteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution of the United States"
Eut it must be forced construction of this
law that will justify the presence of armed
national forces at our places of election when
no necessity exists therefor, and where their
presence is calculated to provoke collision.
With a good President, the exercise of the
power referred to might have no injurious re-
suits, but in the hands of bad man, governed
by personal ambition, it might prove exceed
ingly calumitous. Unconsciously good Pres-
dent might be induced to employ it wrongful.
ly a bad one would be certain to use it for
his own advancement. Under any circum.
stances, in my opinion, it is unsafe and antag-
onistic to the principles that should govern our
Republican institutions. At the last October
election U. S. troops were stationed in Phila.
delphia for the avowed purpose of enforcing
the election laws. This was done without the
consent or even knowledge of the civil author
tiles of either city or State, and without any
expressed desire on the part OF the citizens
and as far as can be ascertaiued, without any
existing necessity. From a conscientious con-
viction Of its Importance have called your at
tention to this subject. A neglect to have
done SO might have been construed rs an en-
dorsement of q measure that meets my unqual.
lifted disapproval. The civil authorities of
Pennsylvania have always been, and are still,
competent to protect its citizens in the exer-
else Of their elective franchise, and the proper
and only time for United States forces to inter-
vene will oe when the power of the Common
wealth is exhausted and their aid is lawfully
required.