Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-02-13
ANOTHER ENFORCEMENT BILL.
THE ADICAL G A q G U 5.

ANOIH Eh LNr VncGHAANA
THE ADICAL eau G u S.
There was another caucus Of Radical mem
bers of Congress, last night, at which, how
ever, we are informed, 80 stormy was the de-
bate. that the session contin ued until after MID
night" The Press dispatch says there were
not more than fifty or sixty members OF the
House present and no Senators. The discuss
sion commenced on the motion made the pre-
vious night by Mr.. Smith, Of Virginia, to
strike out Of the bill, reported from tae caucu-
committee, the section making the carrying OF
exhibition of arms at Southern polls Tor the
purpose of intimldating voters, etc., pera-
offence The ground of obj ction urged by MIR.
Smith, was that The section drew distinction
between North and South in that respect.
Messrs Willard, of Michigan; Whitley: OF
Georgia; Hale, OF Maine, aud Smith, Of Qir
GINA, favored the motion, the last named de-
claring his opposition to the entire BILL
Walls, coored OF Florida, made violent
speech against the motion to strike out; lie
was followed by Mr.. Trcmaiu, of New York,
and Mr. KassoD, of Iowa, on the same SIDE
The motion to strike out the section was nnal
" adopted by large majority. The bill as
Tins amended was then directed to be reported
to the House.
The discussion developed the fact that one
half of those present would not be bound by
the action of the caucus. Messrs. Pierce, OF
Massachusetts, Hawley, OF Connecticut aud
others, openly declaring they would vote as
they pleased when the bill came before the
House.
Mr. Garfield took slroug grounds against the
bill, declaring that fit should be passed it
would mean third presidential term, to which
he was totally opposed.
Speaker Blaine followed, taking similar
view of the question.
Mr.. Shanks, of Indiana, spoke in favor of
the bill without adulteratiou.
Some of the members declared that the bill,
if passed into law, would, 10 the highest de-
gree, prove Injurious to the Republican party.
Mr.. Dawes and several others who opposes
the bill were not present. During the evening
a number left the caucus before conclusion
had been reached.
The following is full synopsis of the bill as
presented. It is entitled bill ito Protect
Electors and to Prevent Fraud at Elections
Sec l. That if two or more persons within
the jurisdiction of the United States or of any of
the States of the Union shall forcibly overthrow
State government, or any OF the constltutea
authorities Of the same, or interfere IN any torct-
bic or unlawful manner with the duo execution
OF the laws Of State, or OF the Y nlted States or
conspire for such purposes with the intent 10
commit crime, the person so offending shall be
deemed guilty of felony and punished with
fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars and I'M
prisonment at hard labor not exceeding ten years.
. Sec z 1.-two or more persons shall conspire
to usurp by force any such government, or any
department thereof, or shall attempt to subVert
or usu-p such State governm ent or shall actually
overthrow the government of any State, such
person. upon conviction, shall be deemed guilty
of crime anu fined not less than five thousand
dollars and imprisoned tot exceeding two years
Sec g No citizen of the United States entitled
to vote at An election for Representative IN Con
gress, under the Constitution of the United
States. or under the fundamental conditions pre-
scribed in any of the acts of Congress admitting
any of the States lately in rebellion, shall be dc
prived of such right to vote by any action OF
such States, whether by act OF the Legislature OF
amendments to the several State constitutions.
If any officer charged with conducting such
election shall refuse at any election for Congress
to receive the vote Of any such cluz n IN Conse-
quence of any such action, he shall be guilty OF
q misdemeanor, and upon conviction be lined
from five hundred to one thousand dollars, and
IMPRISONMENT not exceeding one year
Sec 4. Any persons using fire arms or other
deadly weapons against any person at any place
on the day of registration for Congressional
elections for the purp Sc OF lntmldatlng or IN
juring such persons while such election is Ill
progress, and who shall do the same before any
election shall be guilty of q crime penalty five
hundred to two thousand dollars; imprisonment
not exceeding three years: Provided, ii hat II
any persons shall carry concealed ire arms or
place of registration this shall be taken as pre-
sumptive evidence OF the intent to lntlmldate
under this act
Sec provides that any registration officer or
supervisor appointed under the laws OF any
State who shall refuse to permit cit,zoEs to vote
or to register, or to allow them sufficient oppcr
tunities to register or to obtain proper inforna
ton, shall also be deemed guilty of crime
penalty, $500 to Sl,0N; imprisonment six
months to two years.
and other papers connected with elections 1t
declares the abduction or mutllaton OF any OF
these papers crime punishable by tine OF live
hundred to three thousand dollars and impris
onment two to i've years.
Section seven provides that if any person shall
be killed while acting under this law. such kill |
ing shall be murder, punishable with the death
penalty.
Section eight conters civil and criminal jurs-
dictlon under this act on United States courts.
Section nine provides for the appointment Of
general supervisors of elections in all Congress
s.onal districts in the same manner rs is now |
provided, in any town from ten to twenty thou |
sand inhabitants. The supervisors may be APP
pointed from any part OF the district and are to
Be appointed by the judges of the United States
circuit courts thirty days before registration
There is to be cbiefsupervsor in every district
Section ten provides for the extension of the
existing law as to deputy United States mar
shals 50 that marshsls may be appolnted IN every
county and parish in every Congressional dis
trict.
Section eleven prescribes the duties of the of.
fcers in charge OF the ballot boxes on the day OF
election; makes it their duty to count the votes
before leaving the ballot boxes, in the presence
Of the supervisors of election or deputy marshal
and to Immediately send certified copy of the
returns to the chief supervisor of the districtand
to the Clerk of the National House of Repre-