The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-07-11
THE LAST ACT OF DESPQT'
ISM.

ISM
A Startling Blow at the Rights
of the States---Tho Radical
Senate Making Preparations
to Retain Grant as President
THE Latest Force Bill.
From the Chicago Tribune, IRepublicau
The Senate has just matured and
passed an act which it is difficult to
describe, but which purports to be to
| provide additional enforcement to the
means Congress has devised to con-
| troll elections in the several States.
From the foundation of the govern
ment until the year 1870, the people of
the several States, acting through their
i State Legislatures, have regulated
their own elections. Congress had
never. attempted TO take the manage
ment and control out of the hands of
| the State Governments until 1870, it
was discovered that it was the duty
of Congress to place the control of all
the elections in the hands of the Fed
eral officers. For this purpose, in
May. 1870, they passed an act, and
again February, 1871, an amendatory
act "to enforce the rights of citizens to
| vote" That law was not only un-
necessary, but was a gross invasion
of popular rights. designed TO enable
the party in power 10 perpetuate its
authority by defeating the election of
any opposition candidates This act
of 1871 provides that. if any person
shall register or attempt to register
his name, under any State law, not
being under the State law q lawful
voter; or if any registration officer
shall register the name of any person
as voter who is notlawfully one, he
shall be prosecuted as for crime
against the laws of the United States.
and shall be punished by fines and i'm
prisonment in the United States
/ Courts. -rf,fs os.f 5lf,o s..,es
1t provides further that, when un-
der the laws of State an election is
to be held at which member of Con-
gress is to be chosen, any two persons
residing, in city having over 10000
Inhabitants may demand of the Judge
of the United States Circuit Court the
appointment of two citizens for each
election precinct. who shall have the
authority to attend the registration of
votes and 20 be known as aSupervi-
sors of elections = these men are to
challenge persons offering to register,
and to inspect and scrutinize, the reg
istry. They are also to attend the
election, challenge voters, to person
ally scrutinize, count and canvass each
and every ballot in their voting pre-
cinct cast. To enable the supervisors
to better take charge of the elections,
they are authorized to take, occupy,
and remain in such position. or posi-
tions, from time to, time, whether be-
fore or behind the ballot boxes. as will
in their Judgment, best enable them
to see each person offering himself for
registration or Offering to vote, and at
the close of the polls to take such po-
sition as will,enable them to count and
canvass each and every vote. 3ar sdt I
At every such election the marshall
of the United States for the District
in which the election is held shall ap-
point two special Deputies to assist
the Supervisors, and be in attendance
at the registration aud voting they
shall support and protect the Super
visors; prevent what they may de-
eide to be fraudulent voting or fraud
ulent action by the Judges, of cleo
tions; and immediately arrest and
take into custody. with or without
process, any person Gncluding the of
ficers of the election) who in their
Judgment shall commit any act pro-
hibited by this law. Any person, Of
ficer of the election, or other, acting
under the authority of the State or
city, who shall interfere with these
Supervisors of Election or Marshals,
or who shall eject them from the polls,
or refuse them the privilege of count
ing or eau vassiiIg the ballots, shall be
liable to arrest without process; and
upon conYiction shall be punished by
not over two years Imprisonment and
not over $4,000 fine, or both. The act
of 1871 contains nineteen sections, fill
ed with pains and penalties against
any person who shall attempt to con-
duct an election against the orders and
free control of these Federal Supervi-
sors and Marshals. .lsifr9 sdi.o aoi3
There is no such thing known as
Federal election law. All elections
are OF necessity held under State laws.
The qualifications of voters for men-
bers of Congress are set forth in State
laws and Constitutions. Members of
Congress are elected at times and pla- |
ces designated by State laws. To
conduct State elections, State officers
are appointed with powers and duties |
to execute the State laws. Judges of
elections are State officers sworn to
execute the law. If the Judges shall |
at any precinct decide that any man |
offering TO vote may do so, against the |
judgment of these Federal Supervi- |
sors, then the latter can arrest the |
whole Election Board Instantly, and |
have them committed to PRISON to |
await indictment and trial, not for vi 1
olating any law, but for rejecting the |
orders of the Federal Marshals and |
Supervisors. IL the Judges Of Elec-
tion shall refuse to let these Marshals |
handle and count the ballots, or mark |
them, or shall refuse TO permit them |
to stand in front of the ballot box, or
otherwise obstruot the pi ogress of the
election, they can be Instantly arrest
ed and taken before a Federal Com
and held to answer not lor
any violation of duty as Judges of
Election, but for interference with
these Marshals and, If convicted of
such interference, they are each liable
to two years imprisonment in the /
and to be fined $1,000 |
each. 1t seems that this law was not
sufficient to enable the
MarshaIs of the United States to take
the elections out of the hands of the
several States, and transfer their con-
troll to persons in no way known 10
the State law, and therefore an addi-
tioual act has been passed by the Sem
ate, extending the operations of the
bill to every prccint in a State where
two persons shall apply 10 the Court
for the appointment OF the Marsiials
and deputies. The Martials are au-
thorized TO call upon the posse cont
itatas to aid them in making arrests,
and the Senate rejected an amendment
Tho use OF military force.
This law is passed by the Senate of
the United States in the year 1872. AT
the election in November next, the
people of Illinois will vote for Gov
ernor aud other State officers, Nloni.
bers of the Leaislalnro for county OIL