Daily Republican., 1879-04-30

rhe Pres idemt Civ az q qwietus 10
tho Army Appropriated 0asl.

~ "a JsyETOED. a. .5
'rhe Pres'dent Gtyes q 4uietus -
tho Army Appropriations Diil.
The message OF tie President Of the
United States "etoing the Army Appro.
priaiion bill was sent to the House OF
Representatives yesterday, but was not
read, owing to the hasty adjournment
occa stoned by the death of Hon. Rush
Clark. President Hayes says at the
outset that he has maturely considered
the important questions represented BY
the bill, which provides in the usual
form tor the support of the army, and
had 1t contained no other provisions it
would have received prompt approval.
But the sixth section, which amends
the statute in regard to the authority
of the civil, military and naval service
at elections, involves questions OF the
gravest character. He reviews the cir
cumstances attending the adoption of
this statute in 1865; its re.enactment
in 1874 in the Revised Statutes, and
quotes the sections referred to, SIS well
as several other sections bearing upon
the use OF military authority at cleo
tions. .....
The President next refers to the
speeches of leading Democrats in the
Senate and House to show the object of
the enactment under consideration, and
continues.
From this brief review of the subject
it sufficiently appears that, under ex-
listing laws, there can BE- no military
interference with the elections. No
case of such interference has, in fact,
occurred since the passage Of the act
last referred to. No soldier of the Uni
ted States has appeared under orders at
any place of election in any State. No
complaint even of the presence of
United States troops has been made in
any quarter. 1t may, therefore, be con
fdently stated that there is no necessity
for the enactment of section six, Of the
bill efore me to prevent military inter-
ference with elections. The laws al.
ready in force are all that are required
for that end.
But that part of section of this bill
which is significant and vitality i'm
portant is the clause which, if adopted,
will deprive the civil authorities of the
United States of all power to keep
peace at the Congressional elections.
The Congressional elections in every
district, in a very important sense, are
justly mater Of political interest and
concern thIvus hout the whole country.
Zach State, every political party, is en-.
titled to share of power which is con-
f-rr-d by the legal and constitutional
suffrage.
| NATIONAL LEGISLATION NECESSARY.
1t is the right Of every citizen possess
ing qualifications prescribed by law to
cast one ballot unintimidated, and to
have his ballot honestly counted. So
long as the exercise OF this power and
the enjoyment Of this right are common
and equal, practically as well as for
mally, submission to results of the sutf
rage will be accorded Loyalty and cheer
fully land all the departments fgovern-
ment viii feel the true vigor of the
popular will thus expressed* NJ
National legislation to provide safe,
guards for free and honest elections is
necessary, as experience has shown,
not only to secure the right to vote to
the enfranchised race, at the south, but
also to prevent fraudulent voting in
the large cities of the north.
Congress has therefore exercised the
power conferred by the Constitution,
and has enacted certain laws to prevent
determinations on account of race,
color and previous condition Of servi-
tude, and to punish fraud, violence
and intimidation at Federal elections.
The intent and effect of the
sixth sestion of this bill is to prohibit
all the civil officers OF the United
States, under penalty Of fine and impris-
onment, from employing any adequate
civil force for this purpose at places
where their enforcement is most neces,
sary, namely, at the places where
Congressional elections ara held.
Among the most valuable enactments
to which | have referred are those
which protect the supervisors of FEEDER
al elections in the discharge Of their
duties at the polls. II the proposed
legislation should become law, there
will be no power vested in any officer
of the government to protect from VIC
lencs the officers of the United States
engaged in the discharge of their du
ties. Their rights and duties under
the law will remain, but the national
government will be powerless to en-
force its own statutes.
OBJECTIONS IN THE SIXTH sECTIoE.
He then argues that since it is the
right and duty Of the national govern
ment to enact and enforce laws to Sc
cure fair Congressional elections, those
now in force should not be repealed un-
til others are enacted which will better
accomplish that purpose. Believing
that section will weaken, if not altogeth
or take away, the power of the govern
ment to protect the Federal elections, he
concludes that 1t ought not to receive
approval.
1t is foreign to the purpose of an
Army Appropriation bill, and public
opinion is averse to attaching to such
bills measures not pertinent thereto.
The only justification that has been of
fered for this practice is that it is done
for the sake of convenience. but it can.
not be claimed that there is any such
reason for the present action. The
history of the measure contradcts the
assumption.
After briefly stating the objects for
which the extra session was called, and
showing that there had been ample
time to pass the appropriation bills,
and to separately enact any political
measures which might have been de-
sired, he says that the majority in both
Houses saw fit to adhere to the princi-
pie asserted and maintained by the
To- l., II