The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-06
Protest OF q Republican Governor
against the Employment Of United
States Troops mt EIectEons-Messase
OF Governor Gcary-Comments Of
the Tribune. .-.....

against the Employment Of United
States Troops mt EIectsons-Message
OF Governor Geary-Comments Of
the Tribune. -...s.
HARRISBURG, Pa, January 5.-The fol-
lowing is an extract from the message of
Governor Geary: ia L
"The employment of United States troops
at elections, without the consent of the
local and State governments, has recently
received considerable attention and repre-
hension. 1t Is regarded as an interference
with the sovereign rights of the States,
which was not contemplated by the found
ers of the General Government. and. if
persisted in, must lead to results disastrous
TO peace and harmony. The practice is one
so serious in its character, and so injurious
in its tendencies as to merit prompt con-
sideration and decisive action, not only by
the General Assembly but by Congress. !
One of the complaints Of the colonists
agninst the British King was the oppression
growing out Of the assumption of this
power. They said he "had kept among
US in times of peace standing armies with
out the consent Of our Legislatures" and
what is especially pertinent to the case in
point. I" he has affected to render the mill
tary independent of and superior to the
civil power. The alleged authority for the
use Of troops at our State election is de-
rived from the 10th section Of an act Of
Congress, approved May IL, 1870, entitled
"an act to enforce the right OF citi-
zens of the United States to vote
IN the several States of the Uuion,
and for other purposes" which authorizes
United States Marshals to call to their as
sistance such portions OF the land and naval
forces of the United States, or Of the Mill
tia, as may be necessary to the performance
of the duty with which they are charged,
and to ensure faithful observance Of the
fifteenth amendment to the Constitution Of
the United States. But it must he forced
construction Of this law that will justify the
presence of armed national forces at our
places of election when no necessity exists
therefor, and when their presence is cal
culated to provoke collision.
With good President, the exercise OF
the power referred to might have no inju.
rious results but in the hands ot;a bad
man, governed by personal ambition. it
might prove exceedingly calamitous. IN
consciously a good President might be in
duced to employ it wrongfully; bad one
would be almost certain TO use it for his
own advancement. Under any clrcum-
stances, in my opinion, it is unsafe and
antagonistic to the principles that should
govern our TCpuUltCdu lllsIlGuLlOHSs
at the last October election United States
troops were stationed in Philadelphia tor
the avowed purpose of enforcing the cleo
ton laws. This was done without the con-
sent or even the knowledge of the civil au-
thorities of either the city or the State, and
without any expressed desire on the part
of the citizens, and, as far as can bc.ascer-
tanned, without. any existing necessity.
From conscientious conviction OF 1ts I'M
portance, I have called your attention
to the subject. A neglect to have
done so nnght have been construed
as an endorsement of measure: that
meets my unqualified disapproval.i The
civil authorities Of Pennsylvania have
always been and are still competent to pro-
tect its citizens in the exercise of their
elective franchise, and the proper and only
time for United States military forces TO IN
teryene will be when the power. OF the
Commonwealth and their aid is lawfully
required" f''' -
NEW YORK, Jan. 5.-The Tribune com
ments thus on Gov. Geary's message
"The remarkable passage in the message
of Gov. Geary, Of Pennsylvania, on the
subject of the employment OF troops al
elections is mainly remarkable Tor It's re-
semblance to the kindred utterances O
Governor Hoffman. That the presence o
troops is desirable, nobody claims. That Il
was desirable in Philadelphia was perhaps
| q subject for consultation between the Gov
ernor and the President, but hardly for dis
cussion in this message" .sr.s.