The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-03-17
The Bayouet Election Lava Repubh
~ can View Of it.

- can View Of it.
The Chicago Tribune in an abl
editorial article, annoanccs that
regards the law for the regulation
of elections by Federal bayonets a.
"of doubtful constitutionality, and
as party measure, great mistake
After summarizing the provisions O
the Act, the Tribune says,
This Act rests upon the assumption
that Congress and tie United mar
shals and their deputies are more
competent to protect the 'politica
liberties of the people than the people
themselves. We have an election in
this city every four years, at which
Presidential electors, Governor and
State officers, twenty-five members
of the General Assembly, twenty
Aldermen, and other officers, State
and municipal, to the aggregate mum
bcr of fifty, are to be chosen.
At the same election we have to
choose one member of Congress.
Under the-pretense of regulating the
election Of this one momoer Of Con,
crest, this Act interposcs the power
Of the United States marshals to take
possession Of the registration books
and of the ballot-boxcs, with power
to exclude any other persons; with
power absolute power to arrest any
voter or any other person .objectiug
to their proceeding, and with power
to arrest tho inspectors of election
appointed under the State, law and
imprison them, and to disregard any
and every State or municipal law or
judicial process which might restrain
them. .a.- ...., - e
Though, .nominally, this is to be
done with respect to the election
Of the member of Congress, it must
affect equally tho election Of oil the
other officers, State and local, 3 voted
for. at the same time. Has Congress
the right, or having the technical
power! ought. it thus to attempt Ito
take the management, control and
Of elections for State and
local officers out Of the hands of the
people Of the State, and from under
the laws Of the State? .,.-..-o~.e
x < X
But the effect of this Legislation
upon the public mind lis .odious. 1t
partakes Of thespirit of the scdition.
law enacted under the first Adams,
and intended to perpetuate the power
Of the sold Fed eraf party q1s has "a
reactionary effect. and though the
law may not be restricted by violence,
the popular feeling inclines against
that party which adopts it, Under
this law Federal troops may be en-
ploped to aid the marshals in enforc-
ing their absolute control at Ethe;
polls, and thousands of jealous and,
earnest Republicans, lib all parts of
the country, will hesitate to denounce
snch unnecessary and wanton inter
ference with the freedom of elections.
Five voters in each precinct thus
against such political Or
ganizatiod of the Government in a
single election ta:~i '.n...' i.
- But suppose there should be q
change in, the asccndaRcy-of parties,
and that the United States marshals,
and their deputies, and the inspectors
of elections, and the military com
and the entire machinery:
of this bill, should be placed in the
hands of a Democratic administration,
what then2 How would these al BIZ
trary and extraordinary powers be
exercised in those dictricts whero
colored persons vote? How would
it then be in New York city? How
would it be in Chicago? Imagine the
entire election in this city, the regis
tration, and the polls, and the ballot
boxes, and the counting of the votes,
to two 'invincible Demo
crafts" with power to arrest any per-
son questioning their proceedings,
and having authority to order the
Federal soldiers to clear the precincts
of the "uaygurs" or other Republican
voters ? DO the Republicans of Chi
cago or any other part Of the West
or South want to surrender their
right to hold their elections under
State laws and local officers to ire
sponsiblo deputy marshals, clothed
with the most arbitrary and extraor-
dinary powers2 Yet that is tho law
which Congress has just enacted, and
which, upon a change Of administra-
ton would confer these immense
powers upon the Democratic party.
We protest againrt this law. capable
rs it is Of, being abused to- such, a
monstrous extent, and we think that
inwhatever ligkt it may be regarded,
its enactment will prove q grave
mistake.
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