The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-05
aarasld's Misrepresentation.

4
only six years before the war your law an.
thorized marshals Of the United States 70 20
through all our households and hunt for fugi-
tive slaves, Aud your democratic Attorney
General declared, in an opinion IN 1854, that
a marshal Of the United States might call to
his aid the whole posse, including soldiers and
sailors and marines Of the United States, to
join in the chase and 10 hunt down the tngi-
tive. Now, fellow.members Of the House, ii,
for the purpose Of making slavery eternal, you
could send your marshals aud could summon
posses and use the armed forces Of the United
States, by what face or grace can you tell US
that, in order 10 procure freedom ia elections
and peace at the polls, you cannot use the
same marshals, with his armed posseg
The above is an extract from the closing
part Of Gen. Garfeld's speech 10 the House
of Representatives on Saturday, on the
amendments to the appropriation bills re-
pealing the odious federal election laws.
Gen. Garfield, in uttering the above, must
either have been ignorant himself of the
political history Of his country, or pre-
sumed that his hearers were. The two
cases Of using federal officers in the States
are not parallel. The Fugitive Slave Law
was passed in 1898 for the purpose of put
ting in operation clear and mandatory
provision Of the Constitution. From the
passage of that act up to lS42-until the
decision of the case Of Prigg Is. the Com
monwealth Of Pennsylyania-the provi-
sious of this law were executed by
State officers. That decision, delivered by
Judge Story, and against the opinion of
Judge fancy and three other judges, de-
clared that while master had full power
and authority, in every State in the Union,
to seize aud capture his slave, it was not
obligatory upon State Magistrates to as
sist him. According to this decision,
which was from the highest tribunal in
the land, 1t was competent for States to
prohibit their officers from assisting slave
owners in the capture Of their slaves
This, several States did at once, aud in
time an, or nearly all, the free States pass
ed similar enactments. The Fugitive Slave
Law, as before stated, was passed under a
mandatory provision of the Constitution.
The free States practically aunullod il by
prohibiting their officers from carrying out
its provisions, aud Congress had no alter
native but to enforce it BY government
officers. In brief, the Fugitive Slave Law
was mandatory; number Of the States
refused to enforce it, and Congress was
obliged to provide officers to carry out its
provisions. This law, Gen. Garfield neg
lected to tell his auditors, was opposed by
his own party. The bill for enforcing the
Fugitive Slave Law and the federal cleo
ton laws are not analogous. The cleo
/ ton laws have no foundation in the Con
stitution, aad their operations are subyer-
sive Of republican institutions, and produc-
tive of bitter political controversy and
bloodshed. and if not repealed will still
further involve the country in turmoil.
For nearly century federal supervisors OF
elections we're unknown. Prior to 1872
the State laws we're deemed sufficient to
secure fair aud honest elections. In that
year, this very same Garfield was foremost
in three days debate, in advocacy Of
usiSE federal supervisors at the polls, with
power to make arrests Unfortunately.
The enactment was tackled on 70 On ap-
preparation bill, and now that the Demo
Gratis propose to repeal ii in the same man
ner, the cry Of revelation is raised by the
Republican party. Gen. Garfield, in an
other part Of his speech repeats this cry,
and intimales he would dissolve the Union
before he would consent to have repeal
of the election laws tackled on to any APP
preparation bill Revolutionary indeed
If that be revolutionary, Gen. Garfeld's
party was the first TO introduce it. In
1876, while our country was at war with
Mexico, a bill appgopriating 100000,
to enable the President to adjust the bonn
diaries beweeD this country and Mexico,
in the event of treaty Of peace during the
recess Of Congress, was defeated by an
amendment, known as the wilmot Proyiso,
that slavery should not exist in any Of the
territory which might be acquired.
Gen. Garfeld's speech, without explana-
ton, to those unfamiliar with political
history, is a conclusive arraignuept Of the
Democratic party for inconsistency. But
when the facts arc brought out, !. is seen
that what the Democrats did In enforcing
the Fugitive Slave Law, was only what
they were commanded to do BY The Con-
stituticn; that they only employed federal
officials when State officers were prohibited
from ueting by State enactments. II is
also evident, that the Republican party, IN
denying the right Of Congress to repeal
the federal election laws by amendments
to appropriation bills, are exhibiting their
own Inconsistency; and by designating re-
peal ia such manner as revolutionary, are
eonyielipg themselves Of revolutionary
A. a I E.