The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-01-12
Gov. Geary on Federal Troops at the State
Elections.


Gov Geary (rep in his annual message to
the Pennsylvania Legislature, thus disap-
proves of the employment of Federal troops
to ''assist" in holding State or local elections:
"Thc employment of United States troops
at elections, without the consent of the local
and State governments, has recently received
considerable attention and apprehension 1t
is regarded as an interference with the soyer-
eign rights of the States which was not con-
templated by the founders of the general gov
ernment. and, if persisted in, must lead to
reauts disastrous to peace and harmony. The
practice is one SO serious in its character. and
so injurious in its tendencies, as to merit
prompt consideration and decisive action no.
only by the General Assembly, but by Con-
gress. One of the complaints of the colonists
against the British King was the oppression
growing out of the assumption of this power
They said, He has kept among us in times Of
peace standing armies, without the consent of
our Legislatures !; and, what is especially per-
tinent to the case in point. lie has affect
ed to render the military independent Of and
superior to the civil power The alleged au
thority for the use of troops at our State cleo
tons is derived from the tenth section of an
act of Congress, approved May 31st, 1870,
entitled AN act to enforce the right of citi.
zens Of the United States to vote in the sever
al States Of tie Union, and for other purpo-
SEES, which authorizes United States Marshals
to call to their assistance such portion of the
land and naval forces of the United States, or
Of the militia, as may be necessary to the per-
Torrance of the duty with which they are
charged, and to insure faithful observance of
the fifteenth amendment to the constitution Of
the United States"
''.But it must be forced construction of
this law that will justify the presence of arm
ed national forces at our places Of election
when no necessity exists therefor, and where
their presence is calculated to provoke COLI
sion. With good President the exercise Of
results, but in the hands of bad man, gov
erned by personal ambition, it might prove
exceedingly calamitous. Unconsciousy a
good President might be induced to employ 1t
aoronNuRy; a bad one would be almost GER
tain to use it for his own advancement I'm
der any circumstances, in my opinion it is I'm
safe, and antagcnissic to the principles that
should govern our republican institutions. At
the last October election United States troops
were stationed in Philadelphia for the avowed
purpose Of enforcing the election laws. This
was done without the consent or even the
knowledge of the civil authorities of eth
er the city or the State, and without any ex
pressed desire on the part of the citizens !;
and, as far as can be ascer tanned, without ex-
isting necessity. From conscientious con
viction of its importance, have called your
attention to this subject A neglect to have
done SO might have been considered as an en-
dorsement Of measure that meets my an
qualified dtsopprooal. The civil authorities
Of Pennsylvania have always been, and are
still, competent to protect its citizens in the
exercise of their elective franchise, and the
proper and only time for United States mill
tary forces to intervene will be when the pow
er of the Commonwealth is exhausted, and
their aid is lawfully required