Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-02-24
The New Bayonet Election Law.

The New Bayonet Election Law.
We have already spoken of the perversion
of all sound principle involved in the provi-
sions Of the new bill designed to.supplement
the legislation of last session placing all cleo
tons for Representatives in Congress under
the cohtrol of United States Marshals and
their deputies. The bill, which bears the de-
ceptive title Of can act to enforce the rights Of
citizens to vote in the several States of the
Union" and which contains nineteen long.
cumbrous and complicated sections, is the
most alarming strike in the direction of abso-
lutte Capitalization and the complete subjuga-
ton of all State rights aud State laws beneath
the foot of Federal power, which has been at
tempted in the history of the country. What
heretofore has only been sought to be accom-
plished by gradual approaches and stealthy
and measured steps, this bill proposes to ef-
feet at a single bound. By the FIRST section
of the new bill the Federal Government takes
full and absolute possession of the registry of
voters provided for by the laws Of any State,
and control of all State officers If registration
Any violation Of the State law becomes there.
fore, crime against the United States, to be
taken cognizance of in the Federal Courts
Not relying, however, upon the faithful per-
Torrance Of their duties by the State registers,
inspectors and judges Of election, the bill next
provides for the appointment by the United
States Circuit Judges of two Federal supervi-
sors of elections in every election district in
cities and towns having 10000 inhabitants.
By the fourth section of the act, these SUPER
visors are to attend at all times and places
fixed for the registration of voters, and per-
sonally inspect and scrutinize the registry.-
By the fifth section, they are to attend at all
times aud places for holding elections for Re
representatives. in Congress, and for counting
the votes cast, and to remain with the ballot
box until the last vote is counted. By the
sixth section these supervisors, on the days of
registration and Of election, are authorized to
take, occupy aud remain in such position or
positions at the place Of registration or of cleo
ton as they may see 6t, before or behind the
ballot boxes, as their judgement may dictate,
and when the polls shall be closed they may
place themselves in such position with refer
ence to the ballot boxes as they may choose
for the purpose of canvassing the votes. All
this they may do practically to the entire ex-
clusion of the State officers, registers, judges
and inspectors. And the penalty for any in
reference with the supervisors, or Of refusing
to aid them when called upon, is inprison-
ment for not less than one year, fine Of from
ST. 900 to $4,000, or both.
Nor is this the half of the machinery of in
timidatioD and oppression provided for by thu
bill under the pretext Of enforcing the right
citizens to vote. By the 9th section every
Marshall of the United States is empowered
and it is made his duty, upon the application,
of two citizens, to appoint Especial deputies
to assist in the eufofcement Of the law
These are to attend, not as heretofore, on cleo,
ton days only, bat at all the times and place.
specified for the attendance Of the supervisor
that is, through the whole period of regis.
tratioB, of voting, and of counting the votes
They may arrest, with or without process,
any person who shall commit or attempt t.
commit any OF the things prohibited by the
act, or by the act of last session, or ''who shal
Commit any offense against any law Of thu
United States" and if these deputy marshal.
should themselves violate the laws-i they
should be drunk or disorderly and interfere
with the freedom aud good order of the cleo
ton, wo be to the State officer, magistrate On
policeman who should venture to lay band
upon them. By the 10th section the same
penalties as in the case of any interference.
with the supervisors are denounced against
any person who shall dare or attempt to .'iD-
terfere with, remove or eject them from any
such place of registration or poll of election
Finally, to crown all the monstrosities III
this most INDUSTRIOUS bill, by the 18th sectiun
each and all IF these functioparies, big aud
little. SUPERVISORS and deputy marshals, has
the army and navy OF the United States placed
at his beck and call. He may summon a
posse consitotus Of the bystanders, nr call upo"
the nearest military officer for aid, and, in the
language of the bill, sit shall be the duty ol
such commanding officer, upon such requisi-
ton being made, to obey it without delay"
Then, to stimulate the zeal of this army Of
officials. clothed with powers more terrible
than those of a Russian police, the bill pro-
vides that each and every supervisor and de-
putty marshal shall receive compensation at
the rate OF FIVE dollars per day "for each and
every day he shall actually have been on du-
ty, not exceeding ten days"
Who can wonder, in view Of the use pro-
posed to be made Of the army by this bill,
and Of what has already taken place under
the previous act, that Mr.. Brooks, Of New
York, declared in the House last week, wher
the army appropriation bill was under discus
sion, that, SO help him God, he would neve'
vote one dollar for the pay OF the army while
the bayonet election law remained upon tht
statute book. Better far would it be to dis
band the army tomorrow, to dismantle every
fort in the United States, and to burn and de-.
.troy every musket aud cannon owned by the
Government, than to convert the military
forces of the country into an engine for ths
suppression Of the liberties of the people.
We have given but an imperfect aud mea
gre outline Of this bill of nineteen sections.-
No further argument is needed to show thu
madness aud wickedness Of such q scheme o
legislation. The case is too plain for argu
ment, and mere statement of the provision
of the bill is, or ought to be, its sufficient con
demnation. 1t should be enough to say tina
such bill is actually pending, that it has al
ready passed one House Of Congress, that it is
alter all, but a corolIary to that which passee
81.