The Republican journal., 1871-04-20
The Force Bill
From the n. Y Evening Post. Republican paper

dow OasSpd fine Force bill of Mr. Shplla-
haTopr. with amendments. which avoid
some OF the most obvious errors in the
first crude measures proposed, but retain
the essential features even Of MI Buffers
original plan.
4 great part of the bill, rs it HOW
stands. is harmless; but this part of it IS
not new. and adds nothing whatever 10
the present power Of the Executive and
courts Of the United States. Those parts
Of it which are new are directly at va
rance with the Constitution, and with the
fundamental theory OF our government.
Congress has no right to say that no
persons shall resist the officers and courts
OF the nation. or interfere with their
duties; and to punish persons who at
tempt or conspire to do So But this bill
| goes further. and declares that if any two
or more persons ''shall c0nspre together
| for the purpose. either directly or Indirect
| " OF deprivng any person. or any class
OF persons, Of the equal protection Of the
laws, or of equal privileges or inmuujties
| under the laws, or to iniure amy person in
| his person or his property for lawfully en-
| forcing the right of any person OF class
of persons to the equal protection Of the
/ laws" they OF any OF them shall be pun
| ishcd by the courts ci the United States 2s
| for Il high crime, and may be lined $4,000
and imprisoned slX years or less.
| This legislation Is not only unconstItu-
tional, but it is impolitic, and so vague in
its form that, by The traditions Of the law,
| il might hc pronounced ''Void for uncer-
| tainty.'
| 1t is unconstitutional because II assumes
national jurisdiction over municipal police
matters, which are not delegated toy the
Constitution to Congress. If two per
! sors ''consplre" TO commit any crime
against persons or property, this biIl, by
| the natural construction OF its terms, takes
them from the State, authorities, and
brings lhem before 'he uniteo states
tribunals As ponce courts. II, ~ erec'S new w
seas OF ,)o9llcG; WIN Il 'ufis"lcIloh W'lIGl
collil'cls ~ an pot.l's M.'n }i''tt - NY
oti,e courts. a'i'. ~ w wv" "iN'',''' l1'''
"i'eiy ol'lereiil 'cii"i t"",eN' lor 'ne
e..'''c ''''''' vi = III '''' SUM -
| lhpi ~
~ - IN lr'ii!l0, prVt'''No IL 'lloi"' ~ w
Poli"'"y 20, l'l'lc'i'I.c ah""Na"cG "u' "I'-
pcoa5lol ~ W rN'lIiSe'' "'i'e' 'l'' i'I'I''
oi iaw to""iu9 tile very INC" VINO
ouSnl " 10 oollI , ~ ''t' 2ci'Vl'',
s"I VI ''li'oii1 ''l'' "'io NUS We Vle'it''
| with torhn1r1npp and Kindness / =
"l.. .o' ,',I'. .,'n
GNr1 ~ ~ o','a''lru ',,"''Sm', 'l. lAI''l
ohoc' 'iis 'o'' guy w. iiiV'ii''l9 =. =
0'a'e '1eSl?l''lolc "iio nlilte III P'pl''S'I,2
oI Supporting y 'li' "illcl o,'u ~ tol'-
S'fut'' ~ H,,' n.S'l'E 'l'o ei"''l PRIV
OF i'iiiii'tliit'cS ~ any PttH"" 'i t''NS
may DC Uf1!9tt '' "'''t p'l'it m u,
i i va@nn Il, M h;rhnet Inrrno II
oonfnrn1s M dislmctiGns hat,yrrn thn
,n.;sIict;nns If thn n1tinr,I anJ M S,atr
tr;hnnais Wbnnnvnr '. nm o' . J.; I;aiJn
''''.:'I '},.' ,'' T., ''',,''
~ PO'''9'i'ileiit ~ wv" .'''''' ''''' =, wv
se's y. w. N"il'''''i '9.'''
= tii''' II T l'"iliSile" ~ htl'nrl ~ ~
document py o"e may pe Piea,t ~ 'Ar oi
an Indictment ny ,ae o'let' now lar inns
ACT Wo''i" eNteno me l''f'S"lf'loh "i lhr
national courts depends entirely upon the
Interpretation me federal courts may
choose TO give 70 II; hlt ~ Is pam thai
they must either accept none Of thc pow
ers It grant or else must overthrow ana
!, supplant the State courts entirely IN the
| JN1nt tItn at