Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-05-01
The Presidents Vet, Of the Army Bill.


sage OF the President returning the Army
Bill to tie House. so far AS We have recciv-
| ed II before going to press:
To the House Of Representatives.
Ihsve maturely considered the import an,
questions presented In this bill, aud now
return 1t TO the House with my objections
To Its approval. The bill provides tor the
appropriation required for the support ol
the army during the next fiscal wear II
IL contained no other provision il would re-
ceive my prompt approval II Includes.
however. further legislation. which, nj.
tached rs II Is to appropriations which are
requisite tor the efficient performance al
so,ne of the most necessary dulles III the
Government, involves questions of the
ersvest character. The 9Th section Of ID,
hill II amendatury to the statute now In
force IN regard to the authority OF persons
In the civil. military aud naval service a,
any place where any general or specisi
election il held in any State. (ile Thea
proceeds to give the date Of adoption ot
the statutes, quoting them in fnll.) The
amendment TO the proposed bill ouits
from both sections the words. .'or To keep
Pssce at the polls" The effect OF the
adoption OF this amendment may be con-
sidered. first. upon the right OF the govern
ment to use military force TO Keep peace at
the election OF members OF Congrrs,
second. upon the right OF the government
by civil authority To protect these cleo
tons from violence and frauds.
lie then quotes NIL the sections OF the
revised statutes bearing on the subject.
aud lays. from this brief review ut the
subject IT sufficiently appears that under
the existing laws there can be no military
interference with elections. and no case Of
such interference has occurred since the
passage Of the act last referred to. Chat
of 1879 No soldier OF the United States
has appeared on orders At any election Ia
any State; no complaint. even. of the
presence Of troops at the polls. has been
made 10 any quarter.
IL may therefore be confidently stated
that there Is no necessity for the enact
ment OF section six of the bill before me 10
prevent military interference with cleo
tons. The laws already in force are all
that are required for that end: but that
part OF section OF this bill which 10 sig-
niiicsnt and vitality Important Is the clause.
which II adopted. will deprive the civil
authorities OF the u. s. Of all power to
keep peace at congressional elections.
Congressional elections In every district,
In very important sense. are justly mat
ter OF political interest and concern
throughout the whole country. In each
State every political party is entitled to .
share OF the power which Is conferred by
legal and constitutional suffrage.
Ii IL the right OF every citizen. possess
Ing the proper qualifications, TO cast one
unintimidsted vote, and hsv. his ballot
honestly counted. So long as the cxer-
cisc Of this power and the enjoyment Of
this right are common aud equal subDis.
sion to the results OF the suffrage will be
accorded loyalty and cheerfully and all de-
partpents OF the Government will feel the
true vigor OF the popular viii thus ex-
pressed.
Two provisions Of the constitution su.
thorize legislation by Congre-. for the reg
ulaiion nf Congressional elections. die
here quotes thr 18th atne ndiuent.j H.
supreme court has held that this amend
ment invests citizens OF the United States
with new constitutional RICH, which il
within the protecting power of Congress.
That right the Court declares To be the ea-
ercise of the elective franchise without
discrimination on account OF race, color,
or previous condition OF -eryitude.
The power OF Congress to protect this
right by appropriate legislation Is express
ly affirmed by the court.
National legislation TO provide safe
guards Tor free aud honest elections Is nee
cssafy as experience has shown. not only
TO secure the right to vote "a the rp-
franchised race al the South, but also To
prevent fraudulent voting at the large
cities Of the North.
Congress; has therefore exercised the
power confSrTed by the constitution and
has enacted laws to prevent discr,mina-
lions ON account OF race. color or previous
condition OF s-ryitude. To punish fraud, Vi
ol.nce aud Intimidation al federal elections.
Attention Is here called To sections sO1,
zoos. a0O5
These are some Of the laws on the sub
ject which IL Is the authority of the execu-
tive department. OF the government, to CO.
force.
The intent and effect OF the sixth section
OF this till Is TO prohibit all civil officers OF
the United States. under penalty OF ane
and imprisonment. from employing any
adequate civil force for this purpose at the
place where their enforcement, is most
necessary, namely. At the places where
Congressional elect !ons are held.
Among the most valuable guarantees
to all citizens Is the equal opportunity,
without discrimination, to pc riorm all the
acts required by laS as \ prerequisite or
qualification for voting.
The euactments TO which have referred
are those which protect the supervisors Of
federal elections in the discharge OF their
duties at the polls. IL the proposed lesis-
lsilon should become law there will be no
power vested In any officer OF the govern
nent 10 protect from yioleuce the officers
Of the United States engaged 10 the de
charge OF their duties. Their rights aud
duties under the law will remain, but the
81 y.
enforce lis own statutes.
The States may employ both military and
civil power TO keep the peace. and 10 en-
force the laws at State elections. II Is
now proposed 20 deny To the L. 5. even
the necessary civil authority to protect the
nation slelections. No sufficient reason has
been given for this discrimination In favor
OF the State aud az sinst national authority.
II well founded objections exist against
present national election laws all good citi-
zens should unite la their amendment
The laws providing safeguards for cleo
tons should be impartial, just and effic-
lent; should be SO comparison and fair in
their operation. that the minority party
out OF power may have no just grounds To
complain
The present laws haze in practice un-
questionxbiy conduced TO the prevention oi
irauu ana violence AT eiectlOus. In several
States members OF different political rar-
ties have applied for the safeguards which
they furnish.
1t is the right and duty OF the National
Government to enact and enforce laws
which will secure free and fair Congress
sional elections. The laws now In force
should not be repealed except in connec-
ton with the enactment of other measures
which will better accomplish that import
Ant end.
Believing that section OF the bill before
me will weaken, il not altogether take
away, the power OF the national govern
meut to protect federal elections by civil
authority. an forced to the conclusion
that 1t ought not to receive my approval.
| This section makes q vital change In the
| election laws OF the country which are in
no way connected with the use OF the
| army. 1t prohibits under q heavy penalty
any person engaged 10 the civil service OF
the United States from having any force
At any election, prepared to preserve order
and make arrests.
- Sullivan G. Andrews has been con-