Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-09-21
The Law Of Elections.

Wa take rom the W dsblnston Sentlnel the
solIowing communication, which is understood
~ be from the pen of Conway Robinson, one of
tho nrofouudest thinkgrs and sJundest lawyers
10 the country:
"Tbat in all cases the military should be un-
dor strict supordinat ion to and governed by the
civil poger,' is principle which cannot be
d,sreparIed by any government which deserves
70 be called republican. And 10 constitution
al government, whether called republican or
monarcaica it is essertal that elections should
be absolutely free; therefore all uudua Influences
upon the electors sre illegal and strongly pro-
hIbted" Mr. l. )cke ranks it among those
breaches of trust 10 the Executive Magistrate
which, according to his uotlons, amount TO
dissolution OF the Government if be employs
the force, treasure and officers Of the society to
corrupt the representatives, or openly to pre-
engage the electors aud prescribe what manner
of persons shall be chosen. For thus to regu-
late candidates and electors, and new-model the
WAYS OF election, what is it, says he, but to cut
Up the Government by the roots, and poison
the very foundation OF public security ?
70 do these things, whether by meaus Of the
army or othe. wise, is beyond the constitutional
power of the Queen OF Great Britain and Ire
land or o! the President Of the United States,
and couss quently is not within the lawful pow
or OF any ctficer or pesson acting under either.
Accordingly, Sir William Blackstone has
saii that "as soon, therefore, as the time aud
place Of election, either in counties or in
huroughs, are fixed, all soldiers quartered iu the
place are to remove, at least one day before
the election, to the distance of two miles or more,
aud not to return until one day after the poll is
ended y II III Com l7q
Aud the revised statutes otthe United States
passed 10y The Fcgty third Congress (lS73 Al
provide as follows:
Section 552S. Every officer Of the army or
navy, or other person iu the civil, military Or
naval service of the United States, who orders,
briggs, keeps, or has under his authority or
control any troops OF armed men at any place
where general or special election Is held 10
any State, uuless such force be necessary to
repcl armed enemies Of the United States, or
to kct p the peace at the polls, shall be hned
Do; more than five thousand dollars and suffer
imprisonment at hard labor not less than three
mpuths nor more than five years.
Sec. 5529. Every officer or other person 10
the military or naval service, who by force,
threat, intimidation, order advice, or other
wise. prevents or attempts to prevent, any
qualified voter of any State from freely exer
csiug the right of suffrage at any general or
special election in such State, shall be fned not
more than five thou ,aod dollars and imprisoned
Al hard labor not more than five years.
"Sec. $500 Every Officer OF the army or
navy who prescribes or fixes, or attempts to
prescribe or 6x, whether by proclamation, or
der, or otherwise, the qualifications OF voters
at any election io any Safe. snail be punished
AS provided 10 he preceding section.
Section $751; Every officer or other person
IN the military OF naval service who by lotce,
threat, intimidation, order, or otherwise. com
pcis, or attempts 10 compel, any officer holdlug
an election ln any State to receive vote from
a person not legally qualified to vote, or who
imposes, or attempts to Impose, any regula.
lions tor conducting any general or special
election Ia State different from those pre-
sctlbed by law, or who interfere5 10 any man-
ner with any officer of an election 10 the dis
charge of his duty, shall be punished as pro-
vlued iu section 5529
Section 5532 Auy person convicted of any
OF the ofeuces specified 10 the five preceding
sections shall, in addition to the punlshments
therein prescribed, be disqualified from hold
lng any office of honor, profit or trust uodcr
the United States
September 9, 1876"
Under what style aud title should sovereign
address the chief magistrate of a republic? ln
writing to the President of the Uulted States
her Majesty makes use of the dreadfully patro-
uzlnS formula of "My Good FREUD" The
Duae Of Rutland employed some familiar phrase
When he issued proclamation to the farm Ia
beers on his estate. Kaiser William, 10 con-
WAtuIating General Grant on the American
|yutcnary, writes "Grcat aud Good Friend,
%hIth sr'k,S one as at least better than tue
bnn>h formula. Tn: Emperor Francis Joseph
GiyrS'n> his letter with Honorable and Dear
Freud, wulle the Gar says simply M. lie
tFe>dcn The Gar, perhaps, shows the
O'>i taste of all, for the other monarchs, by
us'os an ou; Of the. way form OF address, seem
10 ..N snow 'hat they thought Of beginning with
NY broth2r,' but on reflection decided that
Wyy could not quite, aud So hit on compro-
%'se; he question is serious one, and might
Ss"1'lIa'ycnrage s1l the great mind Of Lord Beacous-
D"d'-- VANITY Far.