Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-04-16

OPINIONS OF COY. GEARY.

The. Republican members OF Congress
from Pennsylvania are SAID to be greatly
embarrassed by memory of the follow
ing opinions expressed few years ago
by Governor Geary, when Repu blican
Governor of this State, about Federal
troops at State polls. Ho said
"The employment Of the United
States troops at elections without the
consent Of the local and State govern
ments has recently received considera-
bic attention and apprehension. 1t is
regarded as an interference with the
sovereign rights of the States, which
was not contemplated by the founders
of the General Government, and, if
persisted in, must lead to results disas-
trous to peace and harmony. The
practice is one 30 serious in its charac-
ter and so injurious in its tendencies as
to merit prompt consideration and dc.
cisve action, not only by the General
Assembly but by Congress. One Of
the complaints of the colonists against
the British King was the oppression
growing out of the assumption of this
power. They said, He has kept among
us in times of peace standing armies
without the consent Of our legislatures :
and, what is especially pertinent to the
case in point, He has affected to render
the military independent of and super
ior to the civil power" The alleged
authority for the use of troops at our
State elections is derived from the
tenth section of an act OF Congress
approved May 81, 1870, entitled AN
act to enforce the rights of citizens of
the United States to vote in the sew.
eral States of the Union, and for other
purposes, which authorizes United
States Marshals to call TO their assist.
ance such portion of the land and
naval forces OF the United States, or
of the militia, as may be necessary to
the performance of the duty with
which they are charged, and to insure
q faithful observance of the fifteenth
amendment TO the Constitution OF
the United States.
"But il must be forced construction
of this law that will justify the pres
ence of armed national forces at our
places Of election when no necessity
exists therefor, and where their pres
ence is calculated to provoke collision,
With good President the exercise Of
the power referred to might have nc
injurious results, but in the hands Of a
bad man, governed by personal ambi
ton, il might prove exceedingly calam
itous. Unconsciously a good Presi
dent might be induced to employ il
wrongfully; bad one would be almost
certain to use IL for his own advance
ment. Under any circumstances, in
my opinion, IL is unsafe and antagon
istic TO the principles that should gov
ern our republican institutions. AT th,
last October election United States
troops were stationed In Philadelphi,
for the avowed purpose of enforcing
the election laws This was done with
out the consent or even the knowlcdg,
OF the civil authorities of either III,
city or tho State and without any ex
pressed desire on the part Of the citi
zens, and, as far as can be ascertaincd
without existing necessity. From I
conscientious conviction Of lis import
ancc | have called your attention :,
this subject. A neglect TO have don,
so might have been construed as ar
endorsement OF measure that meet
my unqualified disapproval. The civi
authorities of Pennsylvania have al
ways been and are still competent u
protect its citizens in the exercise o.
their elective franchise, and the propel
and only time for the United State
military forces TO intervene will be whei
tho power Of the Commonwea ealth I
exhausted and their aid Is lawfully re
quired"