, 1879-05-13
THE VETO MESSAGE,

ANOTHER FILE ron TIE DEMOCRATS TO n1TH
At.
WAsu1NoToN, D. c., May 12-Tho following
is the MESSAGE Of thu President Of the United
9tates, returning to tho House Of Representa-
ttvcs the bill entitled "An net to prohibit MILL
tary interference at clect!ons":
TO ths Iloust Of Representatives: After caro-
ful consideration of the Bit entitled IAN act to
prohibit military interference at c'cctlons,"
return It to the House Of Representatives, in
which It originated, With tlle following objec.
lion to it, approval:
In communication sent to tho House OF
Representatives on the 29th Of Inst montt, re-
turning to tic House without mr. approval tho
bill entitled An act making appropriations for
tic support Of tho army for the fiscal year cu-
Ing Juno 30, 1880, and for other purposes"
cndeavored to show, bv quotations from tho
statutes Of the United States now In iosce, and
by brief statement Of facts In regard to tho re-
cent elections 10 several States, tl,at
NO ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION WAS NECESSARY
to prevent Interference NTH elections by the
military or naval forces Of tho United States.
The fact vas presented In that communication
that at tho ti.no Of the pabsuge Of the act of
June 10, 1873, In relation to ttu employment OF
the army osse conitatuH, or otherwise, 1t tsaA
nlAlntancd by It's friends tlut 1t would establish
vital and fundamental principle which would
secure to the people protection against etal,sl-
ing aruy.
Tho fact WINS nlso referred to tint, since the
passage Of this act, Congressional, State, nnd
municipal elections had been held throughout
tho Union, mt, that In no instance has complaint
been made Of the prcsencc OF United States
soldiers ut thu polls.
Holding, as do tho opinion TINT any military
Interference Whatever A. the polls is contrary to
tho spirit OF our institutions, and would tend to
destroy the freedom Of elections, and sincerely
desiring to concur with ConRruss Ia all OF It's
measures, 1t Is with very great regret that am
forced to the conclusion that tho bill before INC
Is not only unnecessary to prevent such iutur-
ference, but Ii
DANGEROUS DEPARTURE
from long-settled and important constitutional
principles.
The trua rule u to tho employment Of mill
tary forces at elections IL not doubtful NJ In
t1Hldatlan or coercion should be allowed to co1t-
troll or influence ctizens In tho exercise Of their
right to vote, whether 1t appears In the shape Of
combinations Of ovll-dfaposcd pcrsons, or Of
armed bodies Of militia Of Btatc, OF Of the
military force Of tho United States.
1'llp elections should be lreo from all forcible
Interference. md, d far a. practicable, from nl
apprehension Of such interference. No soldiers,
either Of the Union Or of tho State militia,
should be present 1T Tho polls to take tho place
or to perform the duttts OF
AN ORDINARY CIVIL PoL1cn ToRcx.
There has beon and Will be no violation Of
this sule under tho orders from me during thts
Admlntstration. But thero should ba no denial
Of thu right OF tho National Government to em-
p,oy lts military force on any day at auy place
In caso such employment IL necessary to en-,
forcs tia Constitution md laws OF tho United
6tatea-, ::
-, THE BILL
before tne Is u follows;
.Bs It Enaefsd, ste., That It shall not be lawful
to bring 10 OF employ 1t any place Whsts& general