The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-07

Since the adjournment OF the Les's-
lature the Federal Government has
assumed to interfere directly, by Its offl-
GERS and armed forces, with elections in
this State. The pretext was fear that
the right of suffrage would In some way
be denied to the class OF persons upon
whom it had been conferred by the fiI-
tenth Amendment to the Constitution
OF the United States. 1t was a mere
pretext, for our State Legislature, at It's
last session, promptly altered our election
laws to conform with that amendment
SO soon as it was declared adopted.
Moreover, this class of voters had exer-
cised their new right freely and without
the least molestation at our State cleo
ton which took place in May last.
Congress nevertheless enacted law for
the ostensible purpose of super
visipg the election of Con-
gressmen only. and the President was
to employ the army and navy
to enforce certain Of lis provisions.
Under cover of this act the President
and other United States officials claimed
the right to supervise the entire cleo
ton, not only tor Representatives IN
Congress, but for State and local 9th
GERS. In the city Of New York special
preparations were made 10 enforce this
claim. A large number OF United
States Deputy Marshals and super
visors were appointed, many Of whom
were men OF well-known disreputable
character, and some Of whom had been
convicted criminals; a class Of danger
GUS men never before chosen by any
ruling authority, in any community, as
conservators of the peace. They were
instructed, under advice of the Attorney
General of the United States, to submit
to no interference, from any quarter,
under State or municipal authority. Or
ders were issued which authorized them,
in the discretion Of each one Of them, TO
arrest at the polls citizens claiming the
right to vote, as well as inspectors who
were charged by Law with the custody
of the ballot boxes. These arrests were
to be effected without process OF law
issued upon formal complaints. The
peaceful conduct OF the election and tie
good order OF the city were thus made
to depend upon the discretion Of these
hastily selected, inexperienced and un-
disciplined men. some Of them habltua-
ted to felonious violations of the law,
and all OF them unused TO the exercise
Of delicate and important trusts OF
power; all having been appointed in
one political interest, and having a
common party purpose 10 subserye.
The police and civil authorities of the
State, whose duty it to preserve order,
were ignored, under Instructions from
Washington, as completely as if the
people of the State were in re-
bellion against the Government
of the United States 1t was bold
attempt on the part of the Federal gov
eminent to assume absolute control of
the State and local elections, in order
to accomplish partisan ends; and Off
Gals, both judicial and executive. SEEM
cd determined 10 prosecute it without
any regard 10 the rights, either Of the
local officers or OF the people. The law
OF Congress, under which he was acting
required the Federal judge to appoint
one-h half of the whole number Of Super
visors from each political party; yet he
deliberately refused to appoint any OF
the political organization which he well
knew represented the great majority Of
voters in the city. Every popular right
was ostentatiousIy denied as if the pur-
pose was to irritate and excite the pee =
pie. and 10 provoke tumult, which
might result in breaking up the cleo
ton aud deprivins the city OF its vote.
The President we'll knew that the
people intended no forcihle resistance
to the law. Their determination was
to meet il, simply and exclusively. 10y
the force Of puhlic opinion. !, must
have been apparent 20 every mind tina,
the interest OF the great majority in the
city was to have quiet and orderly
election. 1t could be the interest only
of the minority to promote an outbreak.
The President knew also that il dIsor-
der, Of any degree. should ensue, the
whole civil and police power Of the
State, sustained by its national guard Ia
military organization Of our own citi-
zcns, composed Of men of all classes
and all political parties, and maintained
by the State to do service, as occasion
may demand, for the State, or the
United States, and which has
never yet failed in It's duty to either,
was both ready and able to
preserve order, and 10 protect all officers
of the law in the ex cution of judicial
process, and the discharge OF official
duty. Notwithstanding all this. by the
Presidents orders, United States troops
were brought from distant posts and
quariered in the city of New York, and
ships of war were anchored in its hsr-
Dor. 1t was certainly not unreasonable
to expect that the first drop Of citizens
blood shed in the city OF New York, by
Federal troops, in time Of peace, might
lead to terrible results, involving great
loss of life and incalculable destruction
of property. Therefore, as chief magis-
trate Of this State, charged with the duty
of enforcing its laws and preserving
order within its boundaries, / used ev-
cry exertion and made every prepare
ton and provision in my power TO pre-
serve order and protect the people IN
their rights, their lives, and property.
At the last moment, that is 10 say, the
afternoon Immediately before the cleo
ton, the officers of the United States,
fortunately and wisely, abandoned
the extreme ground they had taken, and
entered into stipulation with the local
authorities of New York city, in my
presence, which resulted in preventing