Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-03-03
THE LATEST INIQUITY!

THE LATEST INIQUITY!
PASSAGE OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY ENFORCE
MENT AcT--EARNEsT OPPOSITION OF sENA-
TOR JOHNSTON.
The bill to amend the ''act 10 enforce the
United States Senate at half-past one o'clock
Saturday morning, the majority having re-
fused to adjourn until the question was dis
posed of. Pending the consideration Of the
bill
Mr.. JOHNSTON moved to strike out
the eighth section of the bill which author
ICES the appointment of special marshals in
any town Of 900 inhabitants or upward
at Federal elections, and invests these Off
cors with plenary powers of arrest at FEEDER
al elections.
Mr.. JOHNSTON said this was the most
extraordinary provision that had ever been
put in any bill The special marshal could
be picked up in any alley and appointed by
thp United States marshal He may be ig-
norant, illlterate, perhaps not able to read,
owing nothing Of the laws of the country,
yet he is to be authorized to arrest, without
warrant, any man who, in his opinion, has
not committed an offence, but has the inten-
ton to do SO. And he can do this even be-
fore the man registers or votes. That u.s.
these special marshals are to look into any
mans bosom and Judge what he is going to
do, and then arrest him before he attempts
to dot. And further, these deputy mar
shals are to have the power, without process
of law, to arrest man who has committed
any offence against the laws of the United
States. Is not this going too far in inter
fering with the rights of the citizens? Have
the trainers Of the bill properly considered
this
What happened in this city of Richmond
at the last election? The officer who was
conducting the election was arrested by
United States officer and carried off, against
his earnest protest, and the election was sus-
pended for two hours, thus depriving many
people of their right to vote. Upon the
case being heard by the United States COM
missioner, he decided that the election eff
Ger was not guilty of the charge which had
been made against him, aod he was dis
charged. The whole thing was plot to
stop the election and defeat the will of the
people. Under this section this same thing
could be done in the city Of New York, Or
ia any other city, and an election thus be
arrested, The Senate could scarcely mean
to put such power as this IN the hands of
irresponsible officers.
The motion Of Mr.. Johnston was then
disagreed to-ayes 8, noes 32
Mr.. JOHNSTON then moved to strike
out the 10th section of the bill.
Mr.. TRUMBULL spoke in favor of the
motion. 1t was then rejected-.yeas Is,
nays 80; Messrs. Ross, Tipten and Trum-
bull voting in the affirmative with the Dem
ocrats
Mr.. JOHNSTON then moved to strike
out portion of the tenth section. providing
penalty Of fine and imprisonment for refusal
or neglect to assist any supervisor of cleo
ton or deputy marshal.
Mr.. CASoERLY said this was most
extraordinary aud harsh provision. A cit
iZen was at the mercy of any brothel keeper
or pimp Of such an establishment whe might
be acting as deputy marshal, and that
plenty OF these characters have so acted in
New York we have the authority of a lead
ing journal Of that city
The motion was rejected II, nays
81.
Mr.. JOHNSTON moved an amendment
10 the eight section, to provide that no Off
Ger Of election without whose presence the
election cannot be conducted shall be arrest
ed while the election is in progress. He
said the object OF the amendment was to
prevent an election from being stopped,
which, under the bill as it now stands,
could be done
Mr.. HOWARD said the effect of this
amendment would be to ratify all State cleo
ton laws, even if they invalidatcd this
bill
Mr.. JOHNSTON said there was 10 force
in the objection made by the Senator from
Michigan Mr. HowARD] 1t was idle, for
this very bill itself recognizes the State law,
and processes to seek the means of properly
executing It. It should not be the object of
Congress to obstruct elections, to pass law
to keep people from registering Or from vo-
ting, Or from carrying on an election. And
it is all these things which this bill places it
in the power Of deputy marshal to dc. Is
it right to deprive a whole community Of
their rights because Of the alleged fault of
one man ? and yet this is the case; regis.
tration officer may be arrested, and registra-
ton is stopped; an election officer may be
arrested, and voting is stopped.
Mr.. CASSERLY called for the reading
Of the amendment.
Mr.. CONKLING asked OF the chair how
many times the amendment had been read,
and
The CHAIR replied five times.
The amendment was then rejected-yeas
s, nays 80.
The bill was finally passed-yeas 80,
nays 10.
Mr.. VICKERS moved to amend the title,
SO as to read: can act to prevent the free
and intelligent voters Of the United States
from exercising the right of suffrage" Re-
jected.
The Senate then, at 1 IS A. NJ, adjourn
ed.
In Richm ond the Enquirer and the Wing
amuse themselves with inuendoes against
one another, aud make graceful illusions to
the expenses attendant upon lobbying, and
the improved moGes Of Influencing legisla-
tive bodies. Meanwhile tbs s'Rucktail
"war," an it is called, goes on. Modern
Progress has proved triumphant in the
House, Prohibition and Exclusion still en-