The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-03-14
COLUMBIA. S. G.
Tuesday Morning. March IA. 1871.

tuesday Morning, March IL, 1871.
THs BAYoNEr ELECTION LAVA RE-
PUBLICAN VIEW OF IT.-The Chicago Tr.'-
bune. in an able editorial article, an
nounces that it regards the law for tho
regulation of elections by Federal bayo-
nets as ''of doubtful constitutionallty,
and, as party measure, great mis-
take" After summarizing the provi-
sions Of the Act, the Tribune says:
This Act rests upon the assumption
that Congress and the United States
marshals and their deputies are more
competent to protect the political liber-
ties of the people than the people them
selves. We have nm election in this city
every four years, at which Presidential
electors, Governor and State officers,
twenty-five members of the Genernal
Assembly. twenty Aldermen, and other
officers, State and municipal, to the
aggregate number of fifty, are to be
chosen.
At the same election we have to choose
one member of Congress. Under the
pretense of regulating the election of
this one member Of Congress, this ACT
interposes the power OF the United
marshals to take possession of tho regi-
stration books and of the ballot boxes,
with power to exclude any other persons;
with absolute power to arrest any voter
or any other person objectng to their
proceeding, and with power to arrest the
inspectors of election appointed under
the State law and imprison them, and to
disregard any and every State or munici-
pal law or judicial process which might
restrain them.
Though. nominally, this is to be dono
with respect to the election of the nem-
Der of Congress, it must affect equally
the election of all the other officers,
State and local, voted for at the same
time. Has Congress the right, or hav-
ing the technical power, ought it thus to
attempt to take the management, con-
troll and regulation of elections for State
and local officers out of the hands Of the
people Of the State, and from under the
laws of the State? X
But the effect of this legislation upon
the public mind is odious. It partakes
of the spirit of the sedition laws enacted
under the first Adams, and intended to
perpetuate the power of the old Federal
party. 1t has reactionary effect, and
though the law may not be resisted by
violence, the popular feeling inclines
against that party which adopts it. Un-
der this law Federal troops may be en-
ployed to aid tho marshals in enforcing
their absolute control at the polls, and
thousands of jealous and earnest Repub-
licans, in all parts Of the country, will
not hesitate to denounce such unnecessa-
ry and wanton interference with the
freedom of elections. Five voters in
each precinct thus protesting against
such legislation would revolntionize tho
political organization of the Government
in single election.
But, suppose there should be change
In the ascendancy of parties, and that
the United States marshals, and their
deputies, and the inspectors of elections,
and the military commanders, and the
entire machinery of this bill, should be
placed in the hands of Democratic ad-
ministration, what then? How would
these arbitrary and extraordinary pow
ers be exercised in those districts where
colored persons vote? How would it
then Le iu New York city? How would
it be in Chicago? Imagine the entire
election in this city, the registration,
and the polls, and the ballot boxes, and
the counting of the votes, delegated to
two ''invincible Democrats" with power
to arrest aEy person questioning their
proceeulnB', nuu having authority to
order the Federal soldiers to clear the
precinct Of the ''naygurs' or other Re-
publican voters? Do the Republicans
Of Chicago or any other part of the
West or South want to surrender their
right to hold their elections under State
laws and local officers to irresponsible
deputy marshals, clothed with the most
arbitrary and extraordinary powers?
Yet that is the law which Congress has
just enacted, and which upon change
of administration would confer these
immense powers npon the Democratic
party. We protest against this law, ca
pable rs it is Of being abused to such n
monstrous extent, and we think that, in
whatever light it may be regarded, its
enactment will prove grave mistake.
A Washington correspondent OF the
Pittsburgh Paper, under date of the 9Th
inst, says:
Democrats write cheerfully from New
Hampshire in relation to the prospects of
the party at the election on Tuesday
next, but the Republicans arc again em-