The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-15
Auhntond 4ispattfl.
-. FEBRUARY Is, 1871.
The New Enforcement Law.

US NO" 4IA4S&SCA&CAAk a<A w
To-day the House of Representatives, at
Washington, will discuss, and possibly
pass, a bill providing that General GRANT
and other Federal officials shall have entire
control over all elections at which members
of Congress or electors of President and
| Vice-President are to be chosen. The sew
eral States can protect themselves from this
lnsolent interference on the part of the
Federal Government only by providing that
no State, county, or city elections shall take
| place at the same time with the elections
aforesaid. The. Virginia constitution fixes
the time of the Congressional and other
elections in the State, and therefore the
General Assembly cannot itself make
the change necessary for the pro-
lection of the people of Virginia
from Federal control. But the Gene
raj Assembly can begin the work. Ii
can submit the question to the voters rs
the Constitution provides, and before the
next Congressional and Presidential cleo
tons that instrument can be so altered as
to allow our own elections to be held at
time when these usurpers cannot SUPER
wise them. This is an important matter
as important as any which could engage
the attention of the Legislature-and we
trust that it will not be neglected. Ii we
sit down in idleness and allow ourselves TO
be hand. cuffed we shall soon find ourselves
at the mercy of the unprincipled party thae
has already well-nigh ruined the country.
The country members of the General AS
sembly need not suppose that they are not
concerned in this matter. Last year Rich
mond only, of all the places in virginia,
was beset by the minions of the Federal
Government, as the law at that time was
limited in it's operation to places having
more than 20, 900 inhabitants. The new bill
extends the operation of the law to every
county in the State, as we last year predict
ed would be the case. Little by little is the
mode in which our liberties are stolen.
Here follow some Of the features Of the
law as it will soon stand
"The bill comprises eighteen sections,
but it may be briefly summed up as mea-
sure making the Federal election law of
last session more stringent in most every
respect, by imposing penalties of fine and
| IMPRISONMENT regarding the registration Of
voters, extending its operations beyond the
cities whose population exceeds twenty
thousand inhabitants, to every county,
provided two citizens shall apply to the
Judge of the United states Circuit Court IN
whose circuit the town or city may be To-
Gated, that they desire the law to be en-
forced in said place, and requiring said
court to provide for the appointment of
| Federal inspectors and supervisors of cleo
| ton to attend all registration of voters and
elections for Representative or Delegate to
| Congress-, and to remain in session while
| the act is being in force to transact business
under it. Elaborate powers are given to
the inspectors to inspect at all times on the
day of election the way the voting is done,
and the way the registry, tally-books, and
lists are kept, and to personally scrutlnlze,
count, and canvass every ballot, Whatever
may be the endorsement on said ballot, or
| in whatever box it may be placed or found,
and to forward their report to chief super
visor provided by this act for each judicial
district. Provision is made for the United
States marshal and a number of deputies to
protect and assist the inspectors, and to ar
| rest without any warrant any person who
attempts to commit any act prohibited by
this supplemental act. No one is to
| be arrested, however, for any offence not
committed within the presence of the mar
shall or his deputies. ANY State or local
officer who lnterferes is liable to arrest,
d TIh fine and two years Imprisonment.
ANY person who gives false information
about the verification Of vote or areglstry
| list shall be held for misdemeanor. The
18th section gives the marshal power to call
| on the military or naval forces OF the
United States to enable him to en-
force the law. 1t is made the duty
of the commanding officers of these
| United States forces to obey the requisition
for troops and vessels of war without de-
lay. Provision is made for the transfer of
any suit brought by an aggrieyed citizen
against Federal officer from a State court
| to the United States Circuit Court, and to
render the judgment of a State court in
such a case null and void. Sections 5 and
6 of the act OF last session, to amend the
naturalization laws and to punish crime
against the same, are repealed by this bill,
though such repeal is not to affect pending
suits. It will be noticed that this supple
mental measure is more stringent In its de-
tails and fines and penalties than the en-
forcement act or Federal election law of
last session."