The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-04
The Last Veto.
list. Louis Post. Dispatch. /

lSt LoulS IOSt-DlspdJCAsl
One of the military or STRONG" measures
expressly intended for the perpetuation of
Republican rule in the South was the law
passed during Grants term in relation to
United States marshals and supervisors at
elections. d
ed law an army of over $4,000 supervisors
and deputy marshals were appointed in the
elections of 1876 and 1878.
They were not used in the South. They
were not used in the North proper. They
were not used in States that were decidedly
Democratic, with the solitary exception of
Missouri, and here only on account of the
districts in st. Louis. They were not used
IN States that are decidedly Republican.
The official statements show conclusively
that these $4,000 marshals were almost en-
tirely used in the close districts of the close
or middle States. The closer the district
the more money would be spent in it for
marshals, and the official figures presented
by Mr.. Thurman in his recent speech
established beyond the shadow of a doubt
the significant coincidence of close or doubt
full, or even Democratic, districts going
Republican wherever these marshals were
most numerously employed.
In Cincinnati. for instance, the Democrats
had carried both districts in four successive
elections by decided majorities until last
year, when, by terrorism and corruption.
these marshals stole both districts and gave
them to the Republicans.
In this city q whole regiment of 200
deputy marshals were employed in 1876. Mr..
Frost alone received fully 1000, and these
were almost used in two Democratic wards
to reduced or prevent Democratic majorities.
What wonder that district which had never
in its whole existence elected anybody but a
Democrat, should have been made to return
a Republican?
In New York city, however, the working
Of this law was most infamous, as thousa DIS
and thousands of voters were arrested by
these marshals without even warrant, and,
as it was subsequently proven, without a
shadow of ground, and tens of thousands of
voters were prevented by this reign of ter
rorism from voting at all.
The character of these marshals was
universally very bad As rule the scum of
the very lowest strata of the very lowest
population of the large cities were selected,
Dominaliy to protect, but really to
prostitute the ballot box. In this
city, as in New York, Cincinnati, Phiia-
delphia, etc., men served as United States
marshais who had previously and frequently
served their country in the jaIls and psni-
tsntiaries of the land, or were conspicu
ously qualified for that service. In other
words, every rough, hummer, shoulder
hitter or yagrant, every thief, burglar, rob-
Der or murderer who wanted to sell his vote,
or those of Others could do so by taking the
place of deputy marshall during the cleo
ton week, and receiving his pay out OF the
United States treasury, under the provisions
of the law for the protection of the purity
of the ballot box"
1t is this infamous law which the American
Congress has resolved to repeal.
1t is this infamous law which the execu-
tive, under the direction of the stalwarts, is
resolved to preserve.
1t is this infamous law which is really
more important than the bayonet clause or
use of the regular army at the polls.
Ii this infamous law which took over
half million of dollars out of the treasury
and Into the pockets of the Jail bird marshals,
:. 1t is this infamous law which makes fair
or free elections impossible, and which, if
allowed to continue. may lead us to the far
cical elections under Napoleon I'LL. where
officials of the Government could manufac-
ture majorities at their will.
And the repeal of this law by both Houses
of the American Congress is now vetoed by
the first president who never was elected,
but owes his place to fraud.
There seems rather a natural fitness OF
things in this last veto.