Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-05-30

tenn. appointed Senator Ooroon In MS place
She senate, on motion OF Senator Here
ford, took up the house bill making appro-
priations for certain works rivers and |
narbors, and Senator Hereford spoke in favor
of the bill, which includes an appropriation
for the improvement of the Kanawha and
Big Sandy rivers.
Senator Conkhn9 was speaking againt the
bill as not being for the general interest OF
the commerce of the country, when he yielded
to a motion by Senator Chandler to adjourn,
which was agreed to, and the senate adjourn
ed until Monday.
IN PHE HOUSE.
Mr.. Gibson La ], from the committee on
ways and means, reported resolution Tor
final adjournment on the tenth of June
Mr. Atkins Tenn chairman OF the COM
mttee on appropriations, suggested that the
resolution be not pressed to-day, but lie over
for consideration till Saturday next, the
house having agreed to adjourn over to-mor-
row.
Mr.. Gibson assented to the suggestion. and
the resolution accordingly lies over:
Mr.. Conger gave notice that he would
sGer an amendment to the resolution by add
ing to it the words provided, the approprIa-
ton bills have then been passed"
Mr.. Whitthorne [Tenn.] also gave notice
that he would move to recommit the resolu-
ton with the instruction that it be not re-
ported until the committee on ways and
means shall have first reported the bill to
abolish duty on quinine and other income
tax.
Pending these proceedings the veto mes
sage was received from the President.
To the Members of the House Of Representatives:
SIRs-After mature consideration OF the Dill entt-
ted IAN act making appropriations for the leglsla-
tive executive and judicial expenses OF the govern
ment for the fiscal year ending June go 1850, and
OF representatives, I'm which it originated, With the
following objections to its approval: The main pur,
to support during the next fiscal year. the several
civil departments OF the government. The amount
lion dollars. This money is needed TO keep In OPP
Grafton the essential functions OF all the great De
partments of government legislative. executive
ana judicial II the bill contained no other proVls-
ions, objection to Its approval would be made It
subjects OF great generel interest which wholly
unconnected with the appropriations which 1t pro
especially when the object is to deprive Co
~ free exercise OF lis own discretion and
Judgment touching such general legislation were set
bin No l. which was returned thu houae of repre-
sentaliVes the tWenty-ninth of last month. re-
70 this method Of legislation haze not seemed to
congress OF sufficient weight to dissuade from the
appropriation bill, and that my constitutional duty
In this respect and the general legislation thus
seeming delay. however briefly. the necessary APP
Precipitation BY congress for the support Of the gov
eminent. without repeating those objections, re-
spectfuly refer to that message for statement Of
my Views the principle maintained In the debate
by the advocates OF this bill, viz: ITO with
hold the appropriations is constitutional means
for the redress Of what majority OF the members
of the house Of representatives may regard as a
grievance" The bill contains the following clauses,
VIZ: And, provided further. that the following
sections OF the revised statutes Of the United States
namely: Sections 2Ql6, 20lS and 1920, and all
succeeding sections OF said statutes down to ana
Including section 2027, and also section 5522,
be and the same are hereby repealed" and that
all other sections of the revised statutes and all
Of Law ia
OF chief supervisors OF elections special deputy mar
shas of elections or general deputy maTSnsls hav-
and prescribing their duties and powers, and allow
ing them compensation, be and the same are here
sections 2Ol7, 2O19, POPS and 203l of the revised
stutes The sections or the revised statutes which
the bill, IL approved, would repeal or amend, are
part Of an act approved May go 1870, ard amended
February 2S, 1871; entitled an act TO enforce the
several States of this Union and for other purposes
4 OF the ions Sr re ae0ss s al aGs
to congressional elections. the remaining portion OF
satment OF this measure provides for the appoint
msns hg udge 81 Ene ege1T court OIL ai Lns
lions aTsS1 in '' each election district dt any
congressional election on due application OF
have such election guarded and sorutInized" The du
ties of supervisors will be 10 attend at the polls at
all congressional elections and to remain after the
polls are open until every vote cast has been counted,
but Trey will have no authority to make arrests or to
presence OF the officers adding the election and to
witness ali their proceedings ifcluGlus the ccEnting
OF votes and making return thereof The part OF
the election law which Will be repealed by the ap
pgoYal Of this bill includes those sections which
give authority to supervisors of elections ito per
lot" and all the sections which confer duthQrity
upon United States marshaIs aud deputy-n arshal
in connection with congressional elections rhe en-.
actment of this bill Will also repeal section 5O2S OF
the criminal statutes Of the United States, which
was enacted for the protection of United states ON
GERS engaged In the discharge OF their duties at the
perYisors and marshal5 10 the performance
Of their duties by making distractions or the assault
by bribery or solicitation. or otherwise, crimes
against the United states, The true meaning and
SSeryilofs. With authority to observe ana witness
the proceedings at th6 Congressional elections, vii
be left but there VIII Pc no P9TeT 70 Gf0ieeI men,
punish any violation of the law from which their pow
ers are derived. II this BILL IS approved, only the
tiona elections Will remain but the substance will
be gone. The supervision of the elections Will be re-
duced TO mere inspection without any authority on
the part of the supervisors any act whatever TO
make the election fair one. All that will be left
oversight of elections political parties In the
habit OF exercising, without any lauthorty of law,
T sSanae be ob n the bin Is s des0y
| any control whatever by the government of the
| The passage of this bill has been urged upon the
ground that the election of members Of congress Is
| elections should be controlled exclusively by the
etaleS that there are and can be no such elections
the United States relating 10 oo0s ressiona eecoas
is without warrant In the constitution. is SdeH,
Karded the election of members of congress In every
State and in every district as in very important
Germ to the whole country. The original prov SION
Of the constitution on this subject Is as follows
Section 4. article l.. The times, places and man
| ner of holding elections for senators and repre-
seutatyes shall be prescribed In each State by the
law. make or alter Suoh regulations, except as to
places OF choosing senators.
| A further provision has been added, which Is en-
braced in the fifteenth amendment. II is as fol-
| lows; .
States TO vote shall not be denied or abridged By the
United States or by any State, on &C: unit OIL race,
6olCr or previops condition OF servitude.
sec. 2. Congress shall have power TO enforce this
article, by appropriate legislation under tine st ne
Congress, In 1865, passed comprehensive Law,
which prescribed tull and detailed regulation for
several States This law has been in force Almost
thirteen years In pursuance OF IT, all OF the mem.
their seats. Its eonstuiOnality is not called into
question. 1t Is confidently believed that no sound
na Of Sn fS be National feggaOn Of
elections which VII not show that the elections OF
consiitutionallg regulated By patl6nal Authority.
The bill before me Itself recognizes the principle
tions but national elections II leaves in full force
The existing statute, under which supervisors are
serve and witness Congressional elections Whenevel
due application is made by citizens who desire saa
| to supervise In any respect whatever
the congressional elections exist, under section T.
article of the constitution, 1t is power which,
like every other power belonging to the government
| of the United States. is paramount and supreme,
and includes the right TO employ the necessary
means TO carry 1t into effect The statutes OF the
| United States which regulate the election of mem
bers or the house of representatives, essential
Part Of WHICH Z Is proposed to repeal by This bill
have been In force aDout eight years. -Four con-
gressiOnal elections have been held under them
two OF which were at the Presidential elections OF
| 1872 and 1875. Numerous prosecutions trials aud
convictions have been held in the courts OF the
United States In all parts OF the Union for viola
lions OF these laws. In no reported case has their
constitutiOnallty been called in question by any
u re of the courts of the United states. The va
lIdIty or these LAYS is sustained by the uniform
course OF judicial sctioR and otaSn. II II is urgec
that the United States election laws not neeeS
sary, ample reply IS furnished by the history OF
their origin and of their results. They were espe-
claly prompted by the Investigation and exposure
OF frauds committed In the city and state OF New
| York at the elections Of 1858. Committees repre-
senting both OF The leading political parties of the
country have submitted reports to the house of rep
resentatives on the extent of these frauds. com
mlttee OF the fortieth congress, after d
| fqll Investigation, reached the con-
| ctusIOn The number of fraudulent