The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-31
SHALL THE BALLOT BE FREE!
THE RElL TSSUE BEFORE CONGRESS
IND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.


an. Democrnts Propose 10 RepeaI-The Be-
Ginning Of the Important Parliamentary
struggle In the House Of Representatives
w,suISGroN, March 30.-The Republican
,.slers in the present House OF Representa-
,ves are not displaying that consummate tact |
,rd marked ability which has heretofore given
,heir sido decided advantage in political de-
bate In the preliminary skirmish Of the great |
,,rugele which IL soon TO engage the attention |
Of the whole country. the Democrats have won |
oil ,he points OF vantage In their partisan |
,col the Republicans have risked their whole !
cose upon false issue. and unless thcr adver- |
saries stupidity blunder they will be morally
defeated before the contest is fairly begun.
Already the impartial sense OF the thoughtful |
rortion Of the people has been prciudiced by |
the inconsistency OF Republican Senators like
Coukling. Blaine. Anthony. Hamin. and Hoar.
invcighing against the removal OF Senate OFF,
GERS on the ground that II was blow at civil
service reform. Such arrant hypocrisyi is equal
led only BY the shameless demaRogery OF the
men who assert that the Democratic majority
In Congress is determined TO either revolution
ige the Government or 10 starve II TO death.
The simple issue involved in the legislation
proposed TO be incorporated in the Army Ap-
preparation bill is this Hns the House Of Rep
resentatiyes the right conditionally to appro-
pirate money? Under the rules OF the House
two requisites are necessary TO make the pro-
posed legislation in order upon an appropria-
ton bill. First. is it Rermane; and second. is
il In the interest Of economy. The Legislation
which the Democratic majority propose in the
Army Appropriation bill is simply the repeal Of
asingle sentence OF section 2.0O2 OF the Revised
Statutes 1t was under the cover OF the colorado
authority which this single phrase conferred
II
put to the basest partisan use In almost every
Southern State. The employment OF troops for
the purpose of controlling elections ia not only
volative Of the spirit Of our institutions. but Is
menace 10 the life Of the republic. so jealous
OF the military power are the English people
that one OF the conditions upon which stand
ing army 10 permitted to exist Is that on cleo
ton days troops shall be ouartered in their
barracks. and not suffered to approach within
two miles OF polling place. All English and
American writers upon election laws hold that
the mere presence OF troops at the polls with
out any interference upon their part is pre-
sumptivs evidence that the election was not a
fair and free expression OF the will OF the qual-
fed electors. The use Of troops. therefore for
the ostensible purpose OF keeping the peace at
the polls Is contrary to the genius OF republi-
can institutions. at variance with the spirit OF
our Constitution. and is a standing menace to
the liberties Of the people.
And yet the Republican leaders In the House
insist that TO strike out OF a section Of the Re-
vised Statutes half dozen words which we're
never intended to confer the power that has
been exercised under them. Is a revolutionary
blow aimed at the life OF the Government To
appreciate the absurditr OF this proposition
rightly 1t is only necessary to epitomize the his
tory Of the act OF 1865. which the Democrats
propose to amend The Constitution places the
army wholly under the control OF Congress.
The President 10 Commander -in-Chiof. but sub
iect TO the rules and regulations prescribed by
Congress. The act OF 1895 prescribed the man
ner in which the President should. upon the
request Of the Legislature OF State. or OF the
Governor. the Legislature no. being In session.
employ the militia to suppress insurrection
which had outgrown the power Of the State
70 control. The act OF 1908. after the formation
Of regular army. authorizes the use Of Fed
eral soldiers in accordance with the consttu-
tional provisions to suppress domestic violence.
which was successfully bidding defiance to
State authority. Thus the law stood until 1861.
when the necessity OF civil war justified Con-
gress In 6estowing extraordinary power upon
the President. The civil war having ended by
the overthrow Of the rebels and the undisputed
establishment OF the civil authority in every
southern state. II was deemed proper TO recall
the eXtraord nary power which had been vested
in the President as Commander in Chief OF the
PoRy a0f Of For Ri S ,se
session OF the Thirty eighth Congress a
6Ill TO prevent military interference IN 4
reiarred 10 the judiciary Committee. but the
Republican majority sent i 10 the Military Com
mittee. This was in 1854. when the war fever
was still at white heat. II was claimed that
the rebellion WIS not yet at an end. that spirit
g. drhanes stu existed @ even % r N the border
ty. and that II would be unwise 10 lift entirely
Cue heavy hand OF military restraint The Mill
tr7 Committee OF the Senate reported sd-
yersey upon Senator Powell's bill, and. after
much discussion. II WAS informally laid aside.
On June 22. 1864. Senator Powell again called ii
W. and. after amendment. il was passed The
essential portion OF the bill. as Senator Powell
proposed II, was as follows:
:nesr Il ne United states other per.gn engased IN
he cy military " naval service Of the United states,
uol any iroops VI armed men within one mile VI the
t NJ % sy ssne,s. or 'p.Sial csenTn Is nel ~ Any
Necessary the armed united
Senator Pomeroy OF Kansas successfully
moved 70 amend the clause 10y adding. or to
Keep n. peace at the polls;", ,whereupon Mr..
Powell said: object 70 that. II would destroy
Keep pence AZ the polls; And Senator Sauls-
bury OF Delaware said: That Is the very pre-
text on which these outrages were committed in
my state. and it Is the very same pretext that
viii lie put forward again."
Senator Pomeroy clnimed that the troops had
been used in the Territory Of Kansas ostensibly
b. preserve the peace at the polls aud he
thought the Democrats should be chRry Of legis-
lHung now altogether 70 prohibit the use OF
troops really To preserve peace AT the polls.
Senator Howard Of Michigan, Of the Commit
tee on Military Affairs. explained that the ad-
verse report from his Committee WIS upon the
ground that 1t is not the right Of AN enemy OF
Tue country 10 vote or exercise any political
fun"tiuns, whether that enemy be a rebel. a
domestic enemy. or whether lie be Il public
enemy. owing allegiance to n, foreign Govern
meut. THIS. - said, was the doctrine OF his
report. 90 But" he continued. " in res pect TO all
persons who are friends OF the Government.
who wish 10 uphold the Government. but who
may happen 10 differ upon questions Of admin
istration, the report dos d-clars-very prop
eriy. certainy-thAt there should he no inter-
ference either Of the military or other persons
IN The tree enjoyment Of that valuable privilege
There had been interference on the part OF
the military IN elections In the border States OF
Delaware, Maryland, aud Kentuck States
that were not in rebellion. States where de-
cidrd majority of the people We're Union in
faith and in practice Ii WIS to forbid the EN-
ployment Of the Federal troops for such pur-
poses in those States that this law was pro-
posed. and upon which this discussion. rs eplt.
omized above. was had in the Senate on the 22d
day OF June. 1864, twelve days before the victory
WAS won by the Union troops over the rebels Al
Gettysburg. While this very discussion was
going on in the Senate. Lees army was across
The Potomac and his cavalry was raidinR into
Pennsylvania. But even at this critical period,
krpubllcan Senators like John y. Hale and
Wflaat, nfaA ina - ma a..