The Daily telegraph. (Monroe, La.) 1870-1886, 1871-01-07
SOUND DEMOCRATIc DOCTRINE.

SOUND DEMOCRATIC DOCTRINE,
Gov. Geary's views upon the en-.
ployment of Federal troops, at elec-
tions, are thus forcibly expressed in his
recent annual message :a5t .t,s4 .e,"
The employment of United States
troops at election, without the consent
Of the local and state governments, has
recently received considerable attention
and apprehension, and Is fegafded al IN
interference with the sovereign rights
Of the States, which was not cOntem-
plated by the founders of the general
Government, and If persisted in, must
lead to results disastrous to peace and
harmony.
The practice is 50 serious in ats char
acter, and SO injurious in Mstendcn-
cies, 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 Op-
preston growing out Of the assumption
Of this power. They said: ssf4e mas
kept among us in times of peace, stand
ing armies, without the consent of our
Legislatures, and what, is especially
pertinent to the case in point, he has
effected to render the military indepen-
dent and superior 10 the civil p0wer!'
It must be forced construction of
law that will justify the presence of
armed national forces at our places of
election when no necessity exists there
for and when the presence is calculated
to provoke collision. # -
With good President the exercise
Of the power referred to might have no
injurious results, but in the hands of a
bad man, governed by personal ambi-
ton, it might prove exceedingly calam-
itOus. UncOnsciOusly good President
might be induced to employ it wrong
fully; bad one would be almost certain
to use it for his own advancement I'M
der any circumstances. In my opinion
it is unsafe and antagonistic to the priv
ileges that should govern our republic
can institutions. -
AT the last October election, United
States troops were stationed at Phila-
delphia for the avowed purpose of en-
forcing the election laws. This was
done without the consent or even the
knowledge of the civil authorities of
either the city or the State, and with
out any expressed desire on the part of
the citizens, and as far as can be ascer-
tanned, without existing necessity from
conscientious conviction of it's impor-
lance. I have called your attention to
this subject, as neglect to have done
so, might have been construed as an en-
dorsement of a measure that meets my
unqualified disapproval.
The civil authorities of Pennsylvania
have always been and are still compe-
tent to protect its citizens In the exer-
else of their elective franchise and the
proper and only time for United States
military forces to interfere will be
when the power of the commonwealth
is exhausted and their aid Is lawfully
required. . ,.........
The Tribune comments thus upon the
Governors views: '@ 'r.'" '
"The remarkable passage in the mes
sage Of GOV. Geary, Of Pennsylvania,
on the subject of the employment Of
troops at elections IS mainly remarka-
BILE for its resemblance to the kindred
utterances of Gov, Hoffman. That the
presence Of troops is desirable in Phil
delphia was perhaps subject for con-
sultation between the Governor and
the President hardly for discussion in
this message" t...