The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-30
SHALL THE BALLOT BE FREE?
on SNAIL ARMED TROOPS BE PERMIT
TED 10 STAND Ar THE POLLSY

Speeches by Mes-r.. Stevens and MeMahon.
WASHINGTON, March 29.-The House be-
ing in Committee OF the Whole on tho Army
bill, the pending question being on Mr.. Congers
point OF order that tho proposed repeal OF the
section allowing troops to be stationed at tho
polls Va not gcrmane. Mr.. Stephens Dem. Gal
said that the proposed Legislation was clearly
germano to tho bill. All laws penal in their
character were to DO construed strictly but laws
involving questions OF public right. public lib
erty. and public policy were TO DO literally con-
strucd. not strictly. The gentleman from Maine
tMr. Fryol had said that the section did not on
its face retrench expenditures. That was not
tho question. Tho question was. Would It
probably retrench expenditures ?" He thought
1t would and not only possibly or probably. but
certainly. The past history OF the coun-
try showed that enormous expenditures
had attended the use OF troops at cleo
tions. The acts Of 1895 and 1917 authorized
the use OF the troops only to put down domestic
insurrection. The provision for the use OF
troops for civil purposes was an entirely differ
ent matter. Tho law authorizing the use OF
troops at the polls had never any existence un-
Ill 1865. and the danger OF such a law would
not. he presumed. be denied by anybody. II
there was any man on tho floor who was In
favor OF peaccablc elections and order through
tMr. stephcnsl professed to be equally strong
with him in that feeling. He was for law and
ordor. He had witnessed the soldiers at the
polls. and had seen no good OF II. The country
had got along three fourths OF a century with
out having troops at the polls. and the scnti-
mont OF the people was as much against their
presence there now as II had ever been. The
future harmony. order and prosperity OF the
country would be greatly promoted by hereaf-
ter adhcrlng to the PRINCIPLES and ,prccepts
Of mo tnthers OF tho republic Congress
nate the purpose for when they should DO
used aud tho Presidents right to control and
direct their movements was clearly an executive
one. with which Congress had no power to in
terirre. But Il could say that tho Executive could
hni u right (which he did not think the tx,
ecutive would deny to say that the military
sh3lld not be used at the polls, II any man was
OF the country. the House of Representatives,
dcridc that question. and not the bayonet of the
Mr.. Rood rep. Me- argued against the pro-
pnstl both as to It's substance and IN to its being
In order under the rule
Tho Chairman ruled by declaring the section
to 10 that the amendment is germane. because
Of is rgtrenching expenditure. 1t related 10
the duties OF the army. or rather to the uses TO
which the army may b.. nut.
Mr. Conger appealed from the decision OF the
Chnir, and the decision was sustained-yeas.
12j: nays. lO7.
MIR. Garfield rep. Ohiol delivered long and
blitrr speech in opposition TO the proposed re-
peal. He began BY referring to the gravity Of
the crisis, declaring that the House had entered
upon revolution against the Constitution and
the Government. He explained the points OF
issue between the two Houses at the close OF
the last session Of Congress. and referred 10
what no termed the Democratic threat 10 gain
their purpose OF refuse TO make appropriations
to carry on the Government. The House now
deinands the enactment Of tho aame laws that
rulo ruin. and Mr. Garfield warned the
Democrats that Il tho course were persisted in
It must destroy the Government. Free consent
II the foundation OF our systems. yet here is a
threat 10 thwart II. The methods proposed to
secure tho measures are against the Constitu-
tlon ana are revolutionary. nnd they tend to-
ward the destruction OF the FIRST element OF
Amerlcnn liberty which Is the free consent OF
MI the powers that unite to make the laws. Mr.
Garfield then related the history Of the law II
was proposed 10 repeal. saying that II was intro
ducrd by n Democratic Senator. was voted Tor
by Democrats, and voted against by kepubli-
cans OF both Houses.
Mr.; siephe,nsSnl wish to ask whether the
Government destroyed by repeating law that
TIE Eentloman voted against; Laughter
whether the gentleman wishes to make the i'm;
precision on this House that the bill introduced
ssy trnH.or Powell OF kesssosy. which re, rGsnlted
pussrd the Senate and the House which no
stated that the present Speaker OF the House
and myself voted in favor o.
hr. Gnrllold--I have not intimated that thore
were no amendments. There were amend
NJ. Wood want 10 correct the impression.
] deny that so far as am personally concerned
ever voted Tor the bill, except as q substitute
ur'. Applause on the Democratic sile1
Nr. Garfeld-Let II be understood that have
moi al all entered into the discussion Of the
merits OF the case. am discussing method
Of revolution against the Constitution Of the
Unitod States. l desire % ask the iorDearance
oil the gentlemen on the other side. for remarks
that dislike 70 make, for they will bear Wit
ness that have in many ways shown my de-
sire that the wounds Of the war shall be healed.
and that the grass that God plants over the
graves OF our dead may signalize tho return OF
the spring OF friendship and peace between all
parts Of this country. But am compelled by
the necessity OF the situation 70 refer for q mo-
nent to chapter OF history, The last act OF the
years ago. was stirring and dramatic but it was
heroic and high soulod Then the DEMOCRATIC
Of tho United states we viii shoot Your
Union to death" aud the people OF the
country, not willing to DO ooerced, but
Abraham Lincoln II they chose. did elect him.
lawfully, rs President, and then your lenders in
Capitol did the heroic thing o. Withdrawing
from their seRts. and your Representatives
withdrew from their seats and fung down 70
lion. hut we admitted that it was honorable that
II was courageous, and that i was noble TO give
open field. That conflict and what followed we
all know too well. and to-day. after eighteen
years the book OF your domination is opened
where you turned down your leaves In 1860
and you are signHlizlnR your return to power by
reuuinR tho second chapter not this time n he
roiu onel that declares that II we do not let you
dash statute out OF the book you will not
shoot the Union 10 death. rs in the first chap
ter but stHrve IL to death by refusing the neces-
sary appropriations. Applause on the Repub-
licnn sidol You, gentlemen. haye II in your
power to kill this movement You have II in
your power. by Withholding those two bills, to
snite the nerve centres OF our Constitution to
the stiffness OF death; and you have declared
your purpose T. do II II you cannot break down
the elements Of free consent that up TO this time
h 40 always ruled IN the Government.
Gentlemen Undressing the Democratic side
o the Housed, We have tried to count the cost
We lid try to count II IN 1861 before we picked
up tho. gage Of battle. And although no man
could then forecast the awful loss In blood and
treasure yet, having started in. we stayed there
10 victory. No simply made tho appeal to our
sovereign. TO TINT great omn ipOtent public opin-
ION, 10 determine Whether the Union should be
shot TO death. And now lawfully in our right
and in our place here We pick up tho gage Of
battle which you have thrown down, and Will
appeal to our common sovereign to say whether
you shall break down tho principle 81 free
cpusont In Legislation at prices Of starving the
q Nernmont 10 DEATH
We are ready 10 pass these bills for the sup
post 81 the Government at any hour when you
viii oitar them in the ordinary way; and II you
Oilrr these other measures as separate
measures We will meet you in the
spirit OF fair and fratorna debate; but you
shall not compel us you shhll not cqerce us
even 10 save this Government, until the ques-
ton Inns zone To tho sovereign TO determine