The Van Buren press., 1872-06-25
The Force Bill.

with which it bristled as it came from the
Senate. We have the gravest objections to
the act even as it passed. Nevertheless. it
contains provisions that are calculated to
ameliorate the unfortunate political condition
of the people of Arkansas, and it does not lie
in the mouth of tho radical power that rules
the ballot in Arkansas, to argue against the
validity of the law. 1t was a radical measure,
passed by aradical majority to further radical
purposes. For any good results that are like
ly to flow from it, we are indebted to the de
tcrmined stand of the democrats aud liberal
republicans in the House of Representatives,
who upset the presidential scheme to carry
the November election by the help of the
military
Arkansas is the only State in the Union,
since the passage of the amnesty bill, where
it is claimed by the radicals that any consid-
cradle number OF people are disqualified to
vote, by constitutional or legal enactments.
Such claim is the sheerest pretense, put up
tor the purpose OF yet a little longer holding
on to power. The Federal courts are invested
by this law with the fullest authority to Sc
cure fairness in the registration and election.
Their aid will be asked to that end, and if i'm
partially granted in the true spirit in which
the law should be administered, this law will
enable Us to have fair election. We are not
doubtful as to its result Whether the dis
lranchi,ing clauses do or do not stand, the
conservative people of the State Will carry the
election in November by an overwhelming
majority. This is the law:'
That whenever. in any County or Parish, in
any Congressional district. there shall be ten
citizens thereof, in good standing, who, prior
to any registration of voters for an election
for representatives, in congress, or prior to
any election in which a representative in con
grcss, or prior to any election in which rep
resentative in congress is to be voted for,shall
make known, in writing to the judge OF the
circuit court of the United State, for the dis
tritt wherein such county or parish is situated
their desire to have the said registration or
election both guarded and scrutinized it shall
be the duty OF the said judge of the circuit
court within not less than ten days prior to
said registration or election, as the case may
be. to open the said court at the most conVen-
lent point in the said district and the said
court, when so opened by the said Judge shall
proceed TO appoint and commission from day
to day and from time to time under the hand
of the said Judge and under the seal ofthe
said court for such election district or voting
precinct in said congressional district, a
shall in the manner herein prescribed, have
been applied for and to make, change or re-
new the said appointment from time to time,
two citizens, residents of said district or vOt
ing precinct in the said county or parish, who
shall be of different political parties and able
to cad and write the English language, and
who shall be known and designated a super
ysors Of election; and the said court, when
opened by the said Judge as required herein,
shall thercirom and thereafter, and up to and
including the day following the day Of the
election, be always open for the transaction
of business under this act and the powers and
jurisdiction hereby granted and conferred
shall be exercised as well in vacation as in
term time, and judge sitting at chamber,
snail have the same power and jurisdiction,
including the power of keeping order and Of
puuishiug any contempt of his authority, as
when sitting in the court; and no person
shall be appointed under this act aS supervisor
of election who j. not ut the time OF his APP
pDintment, a qualified voter of the county,
parish, election district or voting precinct for
which he is appointed, and no person shall be
appointed deputy marshal under this act, or
the act to which this is amenGatory, who is
not qualified voter at the time OF his APP
polNllntNJ III Nnc county, parish, district or
precinct in which his duties are to be per-
formed. And section thirteen Of the act of
which this amcndatory shall be construed to
authorize and require the circuit court of the
United States. inside the section mentioned.
to name and appoint, a. soon as may be after
the passage of this act, the commissioner pro-
yidcd for in the said section, in all cases in
which such appointments have not already
been made in conformity herewith. And the
third section Of the act to which this is an
amendment shall be taken and construed to
authorize each of the Judges of the circuit
courts of the United States to designate one
or more Of the judges Of the district courts
within his circuit to discharge the duties
arising under this act and the act to which
this i an amendment And the words "any
person" in section four OF the act Of May 81.
1870, shall be held to include any officer or
other person having powers or duties of an
Official character under this act, or the act to
which this is amendatOry,
It is provided, further, that the supervisors
herein provided for shall have no power to
make arrests, but are authorized TO be in the
immediate presence Of the officers holding the
election. aud they are hereby authorized to
witness all proceedings including the count
ing of the votes and the making Of all returns
thereof as provided in the act to which this is
an amendment And so much of the said sum
herein appropriated as may be necessary for
the said supplemental and amcudatory pro-
vision is hereby appropriated from and after