Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-03-01
BAYoNET ELECTIONS.

The Napolconic System for the United
states Of America Grants Game for
the Perpetuation Of his Dynasty Bril-
liant speech of Hon. Charles A. Ed
ridge, of Wisconsin.
The new enforcement act being be.
fore the House of Representatives, Mr..
Eldridge Of Wisconsin said 'il
OF all the Legislation proposed By
this or any other Congress there is
none, in my judgment, moro unwar-
rantable and uniustisnble than that
proposed by this bill tits absolutely
atrocious. II has no warrant in tho
Constitution, and no precedent, unless
il be in the act TO which this is amen
datory, In any previous practice of
tho Government. Aside from that it
stands alone, original as il is hidcous
and revolving. 1t has not the merit
ofone redeeming provision or quality.
IL will bind the several States hand
and foot, and deliver them over to the
Federal Government subiugated and
helpless, the mere tools and slaves of
Congress. This bill law, and the
law acqniesccd in by the people, the
States and all State institutions and
laws, so far as rights and powers are
concerned, are absolutely ovcrthtown
and blotted out. The existence of
the States and all their institutions
can only be in the name; they cannot
act or move except by the permission
and viii Of the federal power. Sir,
this bill is the crowning act of central
ization and consolidation. Stcalthily,
and by somewhat measured step here.
tofore, has been the march Of federal
power upon the rights and jurisdiction
of Statesj but this reaches the point
and accomplishes State destruction by
a single bound, by one grand act. IL
brushes away ut once and finally all
State machinery and local authority,
and substitutes in their place the fed
eral bayonets. IL not only subiugates
and subjects all local ana otaIe onces
and officers TO the federal will, max
ing them the instruments Of its exc
cution, loading them with pains, pen
alties and foricitures for its neglect,
but makes them criminals for obedi
ence TO the laws Of the State whose
officers they arc, and to which they
are bound by their solemn oaths. 1t
creates n host of new offices before un-
known, and fills the land with spies
and informers with large pay and
emoluments for their filthy work. 1t
establishes and ordains multitude of
crimes heretofore not known TO our
law. IL seeks 10 overawe free Ameri
can citizens and control their votes by
the menace Of the sword and the pres
ence at the voting precinct of the SOL
der of the army. II places for ten
days at and before the time Of elections
paid agents, two OF more at each vot
ing place, in the interest of the ma.
jority of Congress, to "scrutinize," man
ago and control the votes of the people
TO secure by fair means or foul tho
continuation in power Of corrupt
and Radical Congress. Mr.. Speaker,
no fairminded man, no disintercsted,
unparalleled man can read the pro
visions of this bill without being con-
vinced that it has its origin in the in-
terest of an INSCRIPTIONS and desper-
ate party. IL bears on its face and in
all its provisions the clcarest evidence
Of its origin and purpose, not to secure,
but 70 prevent pure and fair elections,
not to aid the voter TO express bis own
unbiased judgment, but oawe him
into submission and control him against
his conviction Its very title is false
pretense, if not lie, adopted for the
purpose OF defrauding the people and
cheating them into support of most
Infamous measure;
"An act to enforce the rights Of citi.
zens of the United States TO vote in
the several States Of this Union.'
The falsity of this title viii be per
ccived by reference TO only y few OF
the provisions of the bill Imposing
conditions upon and throwing impcdl.
ments in the way of free suffrage. In
the first place, by the first section OF
the bill, the Federal Government takes
full and absolute possession Of the reg
istry of votes provided for by any Of
the States Of the Union. Ii takes
possession and control of all the State
officers provided by State laws for the
administration of tho registry laws OF
the States. ltadopts the registrations
made by the States in the following
proviso;
"That every registration made under
the laws of any State or Territory,
for any State or other election nj
which such Representative or delegate
in Congress shall be chosen, shall be
deemed 10 be registration within
the meaning Of this act, notwithstand.
ing the same shall also be made for the
purposes Of any State, Territorial OF
municipal election" -i''i
Notwithstanding thisitimposcs pen
altics, and dcnounces as crimes acts oi
such officers in conformity With and
in obedience to the registry laws ol
the States. Ii provides for tho ap
pointment Of supervisors TO guard and
''scrutinize" the registrations and cleo,
tions, whose duties among others, as
provided by the fourth section, are
| thus defined.
"Thcy and each Of thom are hereby
authorized and required to attend al
all times and places fixed for the reg
istration Of voters, who being regis
tered would be entitled 10 vote fol
Representative or delegate in Con
gress, and to challenge any person Of
fering TO register sosI