Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-30
From Yesterdays Secoad Edl,ioa. /
VETO AGAIN.
A President Who Would
Starve the Government
To Make Capital for His Party.
Bigger than Old Man Grant Now
with the Stalwarts.

delivered to the house of representa-
tives to-day;
MESSAGE.
SIRs-Ater mature consideration of
the bill entitled " An act making appro-
priations for legislative, executive and
Judicial expenses of the government for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1880, and
for other purposes" / herewith return it
to the house Of representatives, in which
it originated, with the following objec-
tions to its approval: The main purpose
of the bill is to appropriate money re-
quired to support, during the next iscal
year, the several civil departments of the
government. The amount appropriated
exceeds in the aggregate $l8,000,0O0. This
money is needed to Keep in operation the
essential functions of all the great depart
ments Of goyernment-legislative execu-
tive and judicial.
If the bill contained no other proyis-
ions nc objection to its approval would be
made. 1t embraces, however, a number
of clauses relating to subjects Of great and
general interest, which are wholly uncon-
nected with the appropriation which II
provides for. The objections to a practice
Of taeking general legislation to appro-
priation bills, especially when the object
is to deprive a coordinate branch of the
government Of its right to a free exercise
of its own discretion aud judgment touch
ing such general legislation, were set forth
in the special message in relation to house
bill MOL, which was returned to the house
of representatives on the 18th Of last
month.
l regret that the objections which were
then expressed to this method of legisla-
ton have not seemed to congress Of suti-
cient weight to dissuade it from this re-
newed incorporation o fgeneral enactments
in an appropriation bill, and that my con-
stitutional duty in respect to general
legislation thus placed before me cannot
be discharged without seeming delay
however briefly the necessary %appropria-
tion by congress for the support Of the
government.
Without repeating those objections !
respectfully refer to that message for q
statement of my views on the principle
maintained in the debate by the advocates
of this bill, namely, that to withhold
appropriations is a constitutional means
for the redress of what a majority of the
house of representatives may regard az q
grievance.
The bill contains the following clause,
viz: "And provided further, that the fol
lowing sections of the revised statutes Oh
the United States, namely, sections Wl6
20lS and 2020 and all of the succeeding
sections of said statutes, down to and in.
Guiding section 1927 and also section $50,
he and the same are hereby repealed,
and that all the other sections of the re-
vised statutes and all laws and parts Of
laws authorizing the appointment Of chief
supervisors of elections, special deputy
marshals of elections or general deputy
marshals having any duties 10 perform in
respect to any election, and prescribing
their duties and powers and allowing
hereby repealed"
1t also contains clauses amending sections
20l7, 20l9, 2028 and 20Sl of the revised
statutes, which bill, If approved, would
repeal or amend one part Of an act ap
proved May so. 1870, and amended Feb
ruary %, 1871, entitled IAN act to enforcl
the rights of citizens Of the United State
TO vote in the several States of this Union
and for other purposes" All of the pro
visions of the Above-nAmed acts, which i
is proposed in this bill to repeal or mOdi
fy, relate to congressional elections. TIL,
remaining portion of the law, which viii
continue in force after the enactment .
this measure, provides for the appoint
ment by a Judge of the Circuit Court o
the United States, of two supervisors o
elections in each election district, at any
congressional election, ON due application
of citizens who desire, in the language o
the law, " to have such election guarded
and scrutinized. The duties of the super
visors will be to attend at the polls ut al
congressional elections, and TO remain
after the polls are open until every vot,
cast has been counted, but they win hav,
no authority to make arrests, or to per
form other duties than to be in the imme
date presence of the officers holding the
election, and to witness all their proceed.
ings, including the counting of the vote
and making a return thereof"
The part Of the election law which viii
be repealed by the approval of this bill
includes those sections which give author.
ity TO supervisors of elections "to person
ally scrutiniZe, count and canvass eacl
ballot" and all the sections which confer
authority upon United States marshall
and deputy marshals in connection will
congressional elections. The enactmen
of this bill will also repeal section 552 o
the criminal statutes OF the United States
which was enacted for the protection o
United States officers engaged in the dis
charge Of their duties ut congressiona
elections. This section protects super
visOrs and marshals in the Performance
Of their duties by making obstruction o
assailing of these officers, or any interior
ence with them by bribery or solicitation
or otherwise, crimes against the Unitet
States.
The true meaning and effect Of the pro
posed legislation are plain. The super
visors, with authority TO observe an,
witness the proceedings ut congressiona
elections, win be left, but there will be D.
power TO protect them, OF 10 prevent an,
interference with their duties, or to pun
ish any violation Of the law from whicI
their powers are derived. II this bill is ap
proved only n shadow OF the authorit,
Of the United States at national election
will remain, the substance vii
NC BuHts Luz euptIflslun VI oltCblOu
will be reduced to mere inspections, wit
authority on the part of the supervisor
to do any act whatever to make the cleo
ton a iair one. All that will DO left :
the supervisors is permission to hsv
such oversight of elections as politics
parties are In the habit Of eEerolsin
without any authority Of law TO proven
their opponents from obtaining unfair I'D
vantages. The object Of the bill Is to.dI
stroy any control whatever by th
United States over congressional elections
The passage of this bnl has been urge
upon the ground that the election {
members OF congress is a matter whic
concerns States alone; that these election
should be controlled exclusively by tn
States; that there are and can be no sue
elections Ms national elections, and thI
the existing law Of the United states h
lating 70 congressional eleeii9ns II VIII
out WAFrant IN the c9nstitntion. II
evident however, That the framers q N
constitution regarding the election
members of congress in every atRte an
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