The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-05-09

the share Of power which f. conferred BY
legal and constitutional suffrage. It 10 the
cations prescribed BY faw to csst an unin'imt-
e. 30 e a.xs s 81
and equal, pracsieaiiy g well % formally,
sS e ssd
the Government Win feel the true vtg0r Of
the popular win thus expressed.
Two provisions OF the Constitution author-
Ire legfsiasjon by Congress for the regulation
of Congressional eiect1ons. Section of Artt-
Gle Of the Consultation declares The
times, places and manner Of holding
ttves shall be prescribed in each State by
the Legislature thereof; but Congress may
ut any time, by law, make or alter such regu.
Senators" Tnc fifteenth Amendments of the
Constitution f. - follows:
"Secsios l. The right Of citizens Of the
United States 70 vote shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any
State on account Of race, color or previous
condition OF .ervitudc.
Section Z The Congress shall have power
20 enfoa CO this article by appropriate legfsla-
tton"
Tho Supreme Court has held that this
amendments invests cftizens OF the United
States with
ANEW CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT,
which is within the protecting power OF Con.
gress. That right the Court declares to
The s1src,ss Of the electives franchise on ao
count OF race, color, or previous condition OF
eervitude. The power ofCo .gress to protect
this 1gas Sy appropriate pc pr LEGISLATION 10 e1
National legislation to provide safeguards
for free and honest elections Is nece sary, as
experience has shown, rot only 10 secure
the right 70 vote TO the enfranchised race at
the South, but also TO prevent fraudulens
voting in the large cities Of the North. Con.
gress has, therefore. exercised the power con.
ferred by the Constitution. and has enacted
certain laws to prevent discrimination IN
Of servitude, and to punish fraud. violence
and intimidation at Federal elections.
Attention Is called to the following sections
Of the Revised Statutes of the United States,
VIZ: Section 200i, which guarantees all citi.
Gems the right to vote without distinction ON
account OF race, color or previous condition
OF 6ervitud0; Sections zoos and 20O6, which
guarantee to- all citizens equal opportunity
without discrimination TO perform all acts
regarded by law as prerequisite or qualifica-
se the GoseS .na his aepa
. Federal election; Section s9si, which ex-
shall and his deputies. to summon
posse comitatus whenever they,
or any of them, are rcibly resisted in the
execution of their duties under the law
and are prevented from executing their du.
ties by violence; Section 6522, which provides
for the punishment of the crime OF interfel
ing with the Supervisors Of Election anu the
Deputy Marshals in the discharge of their
duties at the elections of Representatives in
Congress. These are some of the laws ON
this subject which 1t is the duty of the Execu-
tive Department of the Government to en-.
force.
THE INTENT AND EFFECT
Of the 9Th section of this bill is to prohibit all
civil officers OF the United States, under the
$50 fvv1r
pl.ytng any adequate civil force for this pur.
pose. at place where their enforcement Is
most necessary, namely. at the polls where
Among the most valuable enactments to
which have referred are those which pro-
tect the.>upervisOrs of Federal Elections in
the pending legislation should become law
there Is no power vested In any officer Of the
Government TO protect from violence the Off.
GERS OF ta q, United States engaged IN the DIS
ties under the law will remain, but the Ma.
tional Government will be pOweTless to en-
force its own statutes. The States may en-
keep the peace and to enforce the laws at
State elections. 1t Is now pr posed to deny
to the United States the necessary civil au
No suficient reason has been given for this
and against National authority: If wen
National cleo ion laws, all good citizens
would unite in their amendments Laws pro
viding safeguards of elections should DO
possible. be 30 nor. partisan and fair in their
operation that the minority party out Of
power will have no just grounds 70 complain.
ably condneed to the prevention. d ffauS snd
violence at elections, and in several I the
States. members of different political parties
have applied for the safeguards which they
furnish. IL 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 Ok.
Eeps nm hsch VIZ e,,r 81
believing that Section of the bill before
me will weaken. ii not altogether take away,
the power of the National Government 70
protect Federal elections by civil authorities,
! am forced 70 the conclusion 1t ought not to
receive my approval.
me rs separate and independent measure,
but is, as has been stated, attached to the
bill making the usual annual appropriations.
son engaged In the civil service Of the Unit.
ed States from having any force at the place
OF any election prepared to preserve order,
manner enforce the laws. THIS is altogether
foreign to the purpose OF any Army Appro-
Ihe prsctiee Of lacking to the Army Appro-
MEASURES NOT PERTINENT
to such bills did not prevail until more than
forty years after tie adoption of the Consti.
tuition. It has become q common practice.
All parties when in power have adopted it.
Many abuses and great waste of public mon.
ey have In this way crept into tho approprt.
ton BILLS. Tho public opinion of the country
IL against IL. The States which have recently
adopted Constitutions have generally pro.
v1ded q remedy for the evil by enacting that
no law shall contain more than one subject.
which shall be plainly expressed in its title.
The Constitutions of more than half of the
States contain substantially this provision.
The public welfare will he promoted in many
ways by q return to the early practice Of
Government and the true principle of legisla.
ton, which requires that every measure shall
stand or fall according TO its own merits.
II 1t were understood that to attach to an ap.
preparation measure irrelevant to the gan.
eral object of the bill would impcril, and
probably prevent its final passage and APP
prevail, valuable reform In the parliament.
plished.
The best justification that has been offered
for attaching irrelevant riders to the appro.
prtattOn bills Is that IL Is done for convenience
sake, to facilitate the passage of measures
y hich are deemed expedient by al branches
Of the Government which participate In Leg
IT CAN NOT BE CLAIMED
there IS any such reason for attaching this |
OF The Election laws to the Army |
appropriation bill. The history Of the meas. |
ure COntradicts this assumption. A ma
fNvo Nf RuvN, e.