The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1879-05-14

rldes Tor TIE punishment OF the crime Of
interfering withthe supervisors Of election
and deputy narshals IN the discharge Of
their duties at She elections of representa-
tiyes In Congress" ~ ~
There are some If the laws on this sub
ject which II Is the duty Of the Executive
department Of the Government TO enforce.
The intent and effect of the sixth section
Of this bill is 20 prohibit All civil Officers Of
the United States, under the penalty Of n
fine and imprisonment, from employing
any adequate civil force for these purposes ut
the place where their enforcement is most
necessary, namely, at places where Com
gressional elections are held, among the
most valuable enactments TO which have
referred, are those which protect the super
visors Of Federal elections in the discharge
Of their duties at the polls. If the pending
legislation should become law there Is no
power vested in any officer Of the Govern
ment TO protect from violence the officers
Of the United States engaged In the dis
charge Of their duties Their rights and
duties under the law will remain, but the
national government will be powerless TO
enforce its own statutes. H.ay r.sHss Hggs
The States may employ both the military
and civil power-to keep the peace and TO
enforce the laws at State elections. 1t Is
now proposed to deny to the United States
even the necessary civil authority TO pro-
tect the national elections. No sufficient
reason has been given for this discrimina.
| tion in favor Of the State and against the
national authority. Ifwell founded objec-
tons exist against the present national cleo
tion laws that all good citizens should unite
in their amendment. Laws providing safe
4. II Il L I'll s..a,
and efficient They should, II possible, be
so non.partisan and fair in their transactions,
that the minority party, out Of power, will
have no just grounds to complain.
The present laws have in practice un.
questionably conduced to the prevention OF
| fraud and violence at elections. In several
of the States, members Of the different po-
l,tical parties have applied for safe guards
which they furnish. II Is the right and
duty of the national government to enact
and enforce laws which will secure free and
fair Congressional elections. The laws
now in force should not be repealed, ex.
cept in connection with the enactment OF
measures which will better accomplish that
important end, believing that section 8 Of
the bill before me will weaken, IL il doe
not altogether take away tho power of the
national government to protect Federal
elections, am forced to the conclusion it
ought not to receive my approval.
| That section is, however, not presented
to me as separate and independent meas
ure, but it is, as has been stated, attached
to the bill, making the usual annual sp.
priations in election laws of the country,
which is no way connected with the use OF
the army. 1t prohibits, under heavy pen
alties, any person engaged in the civil ser
vice Of the United States from having any
force at the place Of any election prepared
to preserve order, to make arrests, to keep
the peace, or in any manner to enforce tn,
laws. This is altogether foreign TO the
purpose of any army appropriation bill.
Justification has been offered for attach.
ing irrelevant riders to an appropriation
bill is that it is done for con venience sake,
to facilitate the passage of measures which
are deemed expedient by all branches Of
government which participate in legi.la
ton. 1t can not be claimed there is any
such reason for attaching this amendment
Of the election laws to the army appropria
ton bill the history of the measure con
tradicts this assumption. A majority Of
the House of Representatives in the las,
Congress was in favor of the section to thi,
bill. II was known that the majority Of
the Senate was opposed to it, and Ms a sepa
rate measure it could not be adopted, it wa
attached to the army appropriation bill t,
compel the Senate TO assent to il.
1t was plainly announced TO the Senate
mat the army appropriation D,ii wou'd no,
DC aiiowto 10 pass unless the proposed
amenuments Oh tnS election laws Were
auoptea WIN H. Inc senate refused U
assent 70 .iie Dill on account OF TINS irreie'
want section. congress thereuPon au'
lourned without passing the appropriation
D'll Tor tne army, ana the present extra SEES
SION OF Tue iorly,s'Ath oongrees became
necessary 70 iu1m'sn means J" carry on .ne
government: Inc GROUNDS upon "h,cn
sne action OF the house report is defended
mas been aistlnetiy stated oy many oil its
aaVoca'es g u week before 'ae close OF 'he las'
sossioh vi Songress the uoctrine IN ques'
tlon was stated oy one OF its aoiest defend
ers as io'Iows;
IL Is our outy torepeai these, It's not
w"rtn WINE 10 attempt 10 repeal except
upon the appropriation OIL. Inc fepuo-
hcan Seha'e wou'o hot agree TO- nor the
nepuorcah rresidoht sign tne Dill i0r sueh
repeal, Whatever oDJecuon 10 tne iegisia-
uon upon the appropriation Dill may De
nnue W an oruihery csse, u G0eS NOT Apply
wnefe free elec'lons ana the hoerty OF the
c'tlzeh are concerned. we nave power 70
vote money Let US annex eonditlons 10 H.
ahu ihs's' upon redress OF grievances
BY another distinguished member it was
said that the right of the representatives
Of the people to withhold supplies is as old
US English liberty. History records nu-
merous instances where common feeling
that the people were oppressed By laws thai
the lords would not consent TO repeal by
| the ordinary methods of legislation, OBJ