The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-03-02
The New Bayonet Election Bill.


provisions contained in the Enforcement
bill of the last session, Congress has
supplemented 1t by the passage Of auoth.
er far more stringent and oppressive in
its operations. The bill, which bears
the deceptive title Of "An act to enforce
the rights Of citizens to vote in the
several States Of the Union" and which
contains nineteen long, cumbrous aud
complicated sections, is the most alarm
ing stride in the direction Of absolute
Capitalization aud the complete subju. 4
CATION OF all State rights and State laws
beneath the foot Of federal power, which
has been attempted in the history Of the
country. What heretofore has only
been sodght to be accomplished by
gradual approaches and stealthy aud
measured steps, this bill proposes to eff.
feet ut single bound. BY the first
section of this bill the federal govern
ment takes full and absolute possession
of the registry of voters provided for
by the laws OF any State, aud control
oil all State officers orregistration. Any
violation ofthe State law becomes, the re.
fore, necessarily u crime against the
United States, to be taken cognizance OF
in the federal courts. Not relying,
however, upon the faithful performance
of their duties by the State register, in
spectors aud judges of election, the bill
next provides for the appointment by
the United States circuit judges Of two
federal supervisors of elections in every
election district. BY the fourth section
of the act, these supervisors are to at.
tend at all times and places fixed for
the registration OF voters, aud personally
inspect and scrutiuize the registry.
BY the filth section, they are to attend
at all times aud places for holding cleo.
tions for Representatives in Congress,
aud for counting the votes east, aud to
remain with the ballot.box until the
last vote is counted. BY the sixth see.
ton, these supervisors, on the days Of
registration aud election, are authorized
to take, occupy and remain in such po-
sition or positions ut the place Of regis.
tration or Of election as they may see
fit, before or behind the ballot. boxes, as
their Judgement may dictate, and when
the polls shall be closed they may place
themselves 10 such position with refer
ence to the ballot boxes as they may
choose, for the purpose Of canvassing
the votes. All TINS they may do prac-
tleally to the entire exclusion OF the
States othcers, registers, judges and III
spectors' And the penalty tor any IN
reference with the supervisors, or oil
refusing to AID them when called upon,
is imprisonment for not less than one
year, and lne OF iron 81, ooo to So
0oO, OF both.
Nor Is tins halt oil the machinery oil
intimidation and Oppression provided Tor
by the Dali under the PFetext OF enforcing
the fiSh,s oil citiLens 10 vote ny the
9TH section every marshal oil the United
States Is empowered, and 1t IS made his
duty, upon the application oil two citl-
zens, to appoint special deputies to
assist IN the enforcement OF the law
these are TO attend, not as heretofore.
on election days ooly, but at oil the
times and places specified Tor tho attend
ance oil the supervlsofs---that is, through
the whole period Of registration, OF vot
ing, aud OF countlns the votes. They
may arrest, wi'h or without process, any