Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-02-19
TIE Proposed New Force Bill.

force bill adopted ia the Republican Congress
sional caucus IN Washington on Friday night
Section | That If two or more persons
| within The jurisdiction OF the United States or
any Of the States Of the Union shall forcibly
overthrow State government or any OF the
constituted authorities OF The same or inter-
fere in any forcible or unlawful manner with
the due execution OF the laws Of Stale, or OF
the United Suites, or conspire for such pur-
poses with the intent TO commit a crime, the
| person 50 offending shall lie dScmed guilty Of
felony and punished with fine not exceed
ing ten thousand dollars aud Imprisonment at
bard labor not exceeding ten years
Sec. 2. lf two or more persons shall con-
spire 10 usurp by force any such government,
or any department thereof or shall attempt
to subveri or usurp such State government,
or shall actually overthrow the govern
ment OF any State, such person. upon convic-
lion shall be deemed guilty OF q crime and
fined not less than FIVE thousand dollars and
/ Imprisonment not exceeding two years.
Sec g. No citizen Of the United States en-
Titled 10 vote AT an election for representative
| in Congress under the constitution of the
| United States or under the fundamental con-
dirions prescribed in anv Of the acts of Con-
| gress admitting any Of The States lately in re-
leion, shall be deprived of such right to vote
by any action Of such States. whether by act
of the Legislature or amendments to The
eral Stale constitutions II any officer
charged with conducting such election shall
| refuse ut any election for Congress TO receive
/ the vote of any such citizen in consequence Of
any such action he shall be guilty Of a INSIDE
1 ineanor and upon conviction he fined from five
| hundred TO one thousand dollars, and impris
onmeut moi exceeding one year
/ Sec. a. Any person using firearms or other
deadly weapons against any persons at any
| place on the day of registrations for the
congressional elections for the purpose of in
timidaiiug or injurng such persons while such
election is in progress, and who shall do the
same before any election, shall be gully of a
crime; penalty five hundred to Two thousand
dollars; Imprisonment not exceeding three
years; provided, that il any persons shall
carry concealed firearms or other deadly
weapons nj such elections or place OF registra-
ton, this shall be taken as presumpiive evil
dence of the intent to iniimdate under this
act.
Sec. g. Any registration officer or super
visor appointed under the laws of any State
who shall refuse to permit citizens TO vote or
10 register, or 10 allow them sufficient oppor-
tunii.s TO register, or TO obtain proper infor-
nation shall also he deemed guilty of II crime;
penalty, $500 10 ST. 600; imprisonment, six
months 10 two years.
Seclion six relates to the ballot-hOxes, poll
lisis aud other papers connected with cleo
tons. II declares the abduction or muiilaiion
OF ny OF lNtSt phpefS a. cf'mt, putilSUdiiie Nv
fine of FIVE hundred to three thousand dol
lars. and Imprisonment two TO five years
Sec. Z. Ii any person shall he killed while
acting under this law, such killing shall be
murder, punishable with The death penalty.
Section eight confers civil and criminal
Jurisdiction under this act on the United States.
Section nine provides for the appointment
Of general supervisors of elections 10 all CON
gressional districts, in the same manner as is
now provided in any town from ten to TWEEN
~ thousand inhabitants. The supervisors
may be appouird from any part OF the dis
lrict and are to be appointed by the judges OF
the United States Circuit Courts thirty days
before registration. There is 10 be chief
supervisor in every district.
Section ten provides for the extension Of the
existing law rs TO deputy United States
shals, so that marshals may be appointed in
every county and parish liz every congression-
al district.
Section eleven prcscrihes The duties of the
officers in the charge OF the boxes on the day
of the election; makes il their duty to count
the votes before leaving he ballot-boxes, in
the presence OF the supervisors Of the election
!. or deputy marshal, and immediately send u
certified copy 81 The returns TO the chief suiervi
sor of the district and 10 the clerk of the
Iional House OF Representatives.
Section twelve provides that no officer act
ing under this act shall receive compensation,
and that the oaliot-hoxes. papers, &c, snail
be retained by the custodian nulil the close Of
the first session Of the Congress to which they
relate also prescribes means whereby contest
ants 10 Congress may obtain certified copies
OF the ballot.
Section fourteen provides that whenever any
such unlawful combinations drfued in the
revised statutes and under this act. shall he
organized or attempted, and so numerous and
powerful as 10 he able, by violent 10 set at de-
/ a Ctuta thor oil
such cases such combinations shall he deemed
rebellion against the United States and du-
ring The continuance of such rebellion within
The limits which shall be prescribed hv the
proclamation of the President Of the United
States, il may be lawful for The President Of
the United States in his discretion, TO suspend
the privileges OF the writ of haheas corpus ;
and it is provided also that all The provisions
nj the section Of the act'of March B. 1865, re-
lating to habeas corpus are hereby revived in
full powers.