Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-05-16
PRESIDENT HAYES SECOND
TN71n

After the congress Of the United States
in the steady pursuance of it's efforts to
free the country from the danger of having
troops at the polls, proposed second bill
having that object in view, for the appro-
val of President Hayes it was rumored ex-
tensively in bis own political party that he
would sign it. The separate bill was free
from two objections which he had urged
to the first-first the faint of coercion be-
cause attached to an appropriation bill land
next the modification Of it to the extent
that it should not affect the civil officers OF
the government. 1t had hardly been sub
mitted to him, however. before the cor
teemed with reports to the effect that the
leading men of his party were engaged in
a work called strengthening the Pres-
dents backbone which would result in
his veto. The work proved successful, aud
on Tuesday last the veto was sent in. AS
from reading the message the character of
the bill vetoed would hardly be guessed
we give the text of it-simple, brief and
clear:
SIT shall not be lawful to bring to or employ at
any place where general or special election is be
ing held in state any part OF tle army OF navy OK
repel the armed enemies OF the united states or to
enforce section 4, article OF the ion OF the
United states. and the laws made In issuance
thereof on application OF the legislature or the
executive of the st tie where such force is to be used
and much of ali laws aS IS inconsistent herewith
| is hereby repealed"
1t shears away no power OF the Execu-
| xl,;,b ho ovaroicoS up6nr thn con ati i.
tuition but simply provides that there shall
be- no portion of the army Of the United
States, Of which he is Commander-ln-
Chief. present at the polls except as that
constitution directs. The President sets
out with and often repeats the proposition
| that there should be no troops at the polls
| but adds:
But there should ba denial of the right of the
national government 10 employ its military force on
any one day and at any pace case such employ
ment is necessary to enforce the constitution and
| laws of the United States.
Among these laws of the United States
under which the United States army may
be employed, and the right to do which MI.
Hayes considers to be denied by the bill is
the following:
".
person engaged in the civil military, or naval SER
vice of The United States, shall order, bring keep
or have under his authority or control any troops
or armed men at the place where any general or
special election is held in any State. unless it be
necessary to repel the armed enemies of the United
States OF to keep the peace at the polls.
1t is the last sentence in this law that
transcends the power given by the con-
stitution of the country, and which en-
braces the whole matter now in dispute
between congress and the President. I'm
der this section the army of the United
States may be used for purposes as nu-
merous as fall to the lot OF a police force.
Under it troops have been stationed at
polls in advance O. any disturbance, and
with the effect of Intimidation. 1t is under
this section that the governing power in
the United States may surround the ballot
box at such points as it may deem i'm
portant, with either military or civil Off
GERS, to overawe the voter. The bare sug-
gestion of breach of the peace will enable
the government, if II so desires, to stifle
the voice Of the people through the ballot
box at any point it may please. 1t is this
opportunity for wrong that the Demo
cratic majority in congress is striving to
abolish. The section has an intent anu
purpose new to the meaning and con-
trary to the spirit of the CONSTITUTE H. The
greatest voices ever heard in the Republi-
can party itself have been raised against
| the use OF the army as police force, and
| Seward, Sumner, Wade-every prominent
Republican in congress in the Kansas
troubles, protested against it. Mr.. Hayes
has neither the constitution, party ira
d1tion, nor the American people of the
present day at his back in his claim that
the U.s.. Of troops at the polls at the ca
Iprice of one man, who may imagine item
necessary to keep the peace'' should be
| tolerated.