The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-01-19
Federal Troops at Elections,

Inc gravity OF the offence committed
by the President against free .ins,itu
tons, At the late elections, does no, seem
10 be appreciated as il ought to be by
the people Of the country at large, whom
il ought to Gil with jealous concern
for the safety Of popular elections, il
not Of liberty itself Nothing Of a
grayer or more alarming character has
transpired 10 the history Of this govern
ment from its foundation NTH now, and
we feel gratifed to find that it has
awakened the attention and called forth
the denunciatious Of three, at leas., OF
the Governors of the States. These
are the Governorsof New York, Della.
ware and Penn ylvspia. That the two
first named, who are Democrats, should
have uttered their indignant and earn
est protests against so fragrant an ont.
rage, was to have beea expected; but
that Governor Geary, Of Pennsylvania,
who Is Republican, Of the straightest
sect, and President of the National
Union League Of America, should have
done so, IS worthy Of special note, aud
an evidence that Grants usurnations
are insnir;nc alarm n he mind os ,ho
consi,3erate tb;nL;,y man oe NJ. own
marty. Governor Ce,rv deserves cre,,
credit for the stand he has Tins talen
against this innovat;on II the manner
Of holding elections The neonle ,,e
tired Of mili,.rv Government ana, ,;rsa
.lso &c 10 na,;ev AZ ~. a,,;,;.,.,;o.
which seeks % make tho n,;l;,,rv ~. !.
ricr 10 the civil nowsr ,na ,Lsv In
not hesitate to endorse these ,Iovsr,ors
4, NE ;s.,a .;,h q. p..;, m,
,.,,.. .h.,,,a ~, 80 ~.
..a,.u.
NJ 80, 3 ,..s,.c,
..,.na.;. i.
,,,o 49, ,.,,au....,. ~,
are ala ~, a;s.a,;'a., ;,, !,
s,,t ~ n. a,as,;ons i oa.,; e.,
S,,t.s Ia nro,osas :, .. -,
"e P'oP"Hea 70 RECONSTRUCT
those .Sfufes o0diH : and thar 10 thar
enq, ne Is about TO submit special
oass,g. On ,bas,,,;.,o, - f,. ,r
'"sss'5s W 'he suoJert 10 congress- IL
this be true IL l. only anofhnr nroof or
4, P'0o. "
the TACT that "usufned powers grow like
a~.i.,aIn
a'as.nenes' having sought, uneon
stitutonally and in .deroga;ion Of III.
rtSh's OF the States, TO coatr0lthe State
,l..,.s , "A,
e'ee''ons, unuer Tue pre'ence that Con
gress had lodgej that nowor IN IL.
"''
hands, he proposes to take step further
;at.t 49,.
anu se' asiue ehe eiectlons altogether.
beeause The rasults NO 10, &, 1891
- 'so'u-
ance with his wishes. Ii is certainly
f.:,.h 49,. .1s4.t l,,,
h'S" sin'e .hat NC shouiu DC REFUSED.
We snlia;n some oxtr.o,s e.o,, -.
''''' Wv
Geary's message, and also from the
x,,. TO- N
messaSe " Wv HUMAN, OF New 0rk
IN which NO inv,te snee;.l a,tan,;.
a''e"'iou
Coyernor Gearv ssvs.-Tha .,,,,,...
United States troops "a elections si,ian, ~ =,
consent OF the local aud State rovernments
has recently received considerable at,en,i',n
and reprehcnsion. It's regarded q an inter-
ference with the sovereign rig hts Of The S,a,s.
which was not Contemplated by the foand. =
OF the general government, and. II per.i.f.d Ia
nsnsf lead 10 resalfs di,asfroas 10 psarr oaJ
moug The practice Is one 50 aerions l., Il.
character, aud so injurious In is tendenc;ss
rs to merit prompt consideration. and dsris;vs
action, not only by the Gene, al Assembly In,
bv Congress One OF the comnI,ints ~ ~
coionists against the British KIM was N. a,e
preston growing out Of the assuinntior ~ ~.
power They said. .sIIe has kant sm,r,r - 4.
times OF peace, standing armies. wirLos, ~.
consent Of our Leussiature.' :, and wh., l.
especially pertinent, 10 the case Ia point ..Hs
has Affected to render the military indenendsns
OF. aud superior to. the civil novsr . tn
alleged authority for the use of troops. nj am
state elections, Is derived from the ten,h ~.
tion Of al act Of Congress, approved Nav ri
1870, entitled g An CT 10 enforce The rich, ~
citizens OF the United states to wore ;s ,bs
several States Of the Union, and for other mr.
poses" which authorizes United STATES ma
shais to call to their assistance. nsucb nort,n,
Of the land and naval forces Of The Un;,ed
States, or OF the militia, as NAV be necessarv
to the performance OF The duty with which ,he,y
are charged and 10 insure n faithful oLsar.
ance Of he Fifteenth Amendment 10 tbe Cor
Situation Of the United States.', But IL mus,
be a forced construction Of this law that Mil
justify the psesence Of armed natiopsI forces
ss nd wSss when iss no necessity
calculated % provoke collision. With 4 good a
President, the exercise OF the power referred
70 mient nave no injurious results, but In the
hands o. Dad man, governed By personal
ainoiu9n, y mignt prove exceedingly calami-
tons. internationally good President might
e snan y g smp'ey i.wrongiely etad ore