Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-02-21
MORE DESPERATION,

Congress is working itself up again, after
brief respite, to the Thad. Stevens pitch
All Ofhis legislation 'Ourside the Constitution
might be, in spirit, epitomiled in the bill
which has probably ere this been forced
through the House, If not both houses. and
been submitted to the President with no fear
OF a.veto.
On Monday week, by party vote of Ill to
q This new enforcement bill, E.r placing the
election for Congress and the Presidency
throughout the country in the hands Of the mil.
itary. was made the special order for wednes.
day 18th, and the vote to be then taken at four
O'Clock, four hours Uuly being thus allowed
for debate.
The following are the condensed provisinOs
Of the bill:
The bill compri,es eighteen sections, but it
may be briefly summed Wp as u iueasur. mak>
ing the federal eiGciIUn law vi last se,sIuu more
stringent III SllTUs. every TcslecI, 10y Imposing
penalties Ot hue aud Imprisonment regarding
the registration Ut voters, extending It's uuer.
alton to all cities WhUse population exceeds
twenty thousand Inhabitants, provided Two CIT.
lEeus shall apply to the judge Of tie United
SIuIes CITcuu Court III whose circuit the town
or city Is located, that they desire the law u be
enforced III said place aud requiring said court
to provide Tor Ihs appointment Of federal Iu.
spectOrs at elections To attend all registration
Of voters aud elections for Representative or
Delegate 10 Congress. aud to remain ia gessiuu
while the act Is being enforced IU transact bus.
mess under It.. Elaborate powers are giveu to
the Inspectors To INSPECT at all times ON the
day ct election the way the voting is duue
nhd the way The registry tally books aud lists
are Kept, aud To personally scrutIuiZu, count
aud CANVASS every ballot. VIVA ever may be the
endorsement "u HaId LalIUt, or ia whatever box
u MY be placed or found. aud to forward
their report To n chef supervisor provided by
this act Tor each juudIcuaI district. Provision
Is made for the L. :. marshal aud n number
OF deputies To Protect aud assist the InS Cturs
aud to arrest without any warrrut any per.
s us VINO attempt to commit any act pTUhIbit-
ed 10y this supplemental act. No Que is to
be arrested, pUwever, for any Uffeuse not cum.
united within the presence Of the marshal or
his deputies. Any State OF local Office who
Interieres is liable to arrest, with punishment
not exceeding u thousand dollars tiue aud two
years Imprisonment. AEy person who gives
iaIsG information about The VeriicHIiun of a
vote or registry list shall be held Tor mis-,
demeanur. The 18th section gives the mar.
shat power TO call on the military or naval
forces Of the United States to enable him To
enforce the lsw. 1t is made the duty of the
commanding UficerH OF the Cuited States
forces TO obey tho requisiriun for IrOnps aud
vessels OF war without delay. Provision is
made Tor the transfer Of any suit brought by
an SsGrlevcd citizen against Federal officer
trOm'a State court TO the Unired States Circuit
Court, and to render the judgement Of Stute
Rtln in nah 4
. and "i 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 ufect pending suits.
1t will be noticed that this ruppIimcnta meas
ure is more Iri"rent in its details md Cues
aud penalties than the enforcement uc, or
tedcra! election law Of last session.