Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-10-31
From the Philadelphia Enquirer, Of Wednesday.
How II Can be Made to Work.

wv" ~ S0U O0 WSa00 10 " OTks
The single measure that was most perss,ently
urged and 6ercely opposed at the last session Of
Congress was that which was known "a the
Enforcement act" Under disguises altogether
tcO transparent this act was intended to put
every polling place in the country under The
absolute control Of officers Of the General Gov
eminent. 1t ignored as fully as If they had
never existed the constitutional rights of the
various Commonwealths TO conduct their own
elections after their own inviolable qua, antees
In the Objectionable shape in which it was
originally presented, it was defeated, chiefly
through the honorable and energetic stand taken
against il by Hon. William D. Kelley. But as
it passed finally, it was altogether divested Of is
obnoxious features. At the late October election
in this city there were appointed, under the act,
over 800 supervisors and United States deputy
marshals. These deputies were in almost every
single instance men especially and notoriously
untitled for the delicate and responsible work
instructed to them Yet il is but fair to say that
owing to the better character Of their superior
officer, the United States marshal, who we be-
lieve desired to carry ont an improper law AZ
unohjectionable a. possible, they were guilty OF
fewer Irregularities than it was feared they would
be-.
New York Is now, however, undergoing the
full penalties Of the most unjust law. The dep
uties appointed under II in that city are no bet
ter, and may be worse, than the Philadelphia
appolntees. 1t is probable they are worse, and
more probable, still, that the United States mar
shal there is determined TO make an obnoxious
law a. obnoxious in all particulars as it il pos
sible to make it.
Here, for instance il his latest order to hi
deputies:
Deputy marshas are authorized to make arrests
si!hout warrant in the following cases. !,
tho registry refuses to questions put to him
Or her with reference thereto or answers falsely any
In Comparison with this, all circumstances
considered, General Buffers infamous = wO-
man order," ct New Orleans, becomes posi-
lively respectable, and it establishes that.
however depraved one may, become IN the
abuse of delegated powers, thefe will always
plunge. II this order to arrest women-any
woman, no matter how delicate and refined,
no matter whether sick or we'll, who, through
ignorance and disclination. refuses to answer
questions put to her by these deputies chosen
New New 70 York il is e. equally valid in PhiIad elphia,
andsit concerns Philadelphia as much Is New
York to den0unce it now and always as in.
famous beyond the power Of expression.
To fully understand the result of such an
order as the above we need only take into &C.
count the men who were appointed deputies
they were empowered by Marshal KERNs to
90 from house to house TO ask precisely such
questions Is they saw fit to ask, to commit any
indignity they please upon the wife or daugh-
ter OF the voter they are inqulrlng after, and.
unrestrained In any way, without warrant Of
any Sort to lock such wife or daughter in a cell
in Moyamencing Prison for one or several days
and nights. That is what the order means.
Under 1t there is no ladyin the country who
is not at the mercy Of deputy marshal-not
one who cannot be insulted, wronged, and, If
she resents insults or wrong, be locked up upon
the mere will of a deputy marshal. We are
not speaking Of the Marshal's ordinary depu-
ties now, but Of those who are appointed un-
der the late Enforcement bill Of Congress.