The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-05-09

gled. they would allow the bin 70 fail. NOS
Nitnstanding the reforms that we had Sc
cured. regarding these reforms NJ Of but IT.
Gle consequences along side the great principle
that the Army of the United States la tune Of
peace shosld be under the control Of Con
gre-> and obedicnt - it, laws. AFTER long
and proiracted negation, the senate Com
inittec have conceded that principle In all Its
length and breadth. including the penalty
which THE Senate had stricken out. We bring
you back, therefore. report. with this alter.-
ton OF u single word. which lawyers assure
u- j. proper 20 be mnde restoring TO this bill
the principle for which We have commended
80 long and which il 80 vital 20 the civil
rign ,. ana liberties Of the people Ihus haze
country the same great protection against
the standing army which cost strugKe OF
20 years for the Commons q England 70 90
cure for the British p>rople."
Prom 'h.y t.fei review ~ the subject :. suf-
Gientiy appears 10 me that under the exise|
mg laws there can be no military fnserfer-
encc with the al cfions. No case Of snch In
terfer-nce has in fact occurred since the pas
sage Of the ACT last referred o.. No officer
~ the tnited States has appeared. under or
der-. at any place II election ia any state.
No complaint even at the presence 0f the
United states troops has been made In any
quarter. IL may therefore be confidently
stated there a. no Necessity for the enact
ment Of Srs'ti "a OF the bill before nlc to pre-
vent military Interference NJ elections. The
laws already ia force ARE NIL that II required
for that end But that part ~ section of this
llll which II significant and vitality import
amt 4 the clause which, II adopted, will de-
prive the civil authorities Of the United
States Of All power 20 kesp the peace ut Con-
erc-sional elections.
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS
IN every district IN n very Important sense
are Justly a matter Of political interest and
concern throughout the whole country In
each state every political party Is entitled
the share OF power which II conferred by
legal and constitutional suffrage. IL Is the
A. al m -isan ffsap
cat oiss prescribed by law 10 cast an unintimi.
dated ballot and 70 have his ballot Justly
counted. 80 long A. che exercise Of this pow
er and enjoyment Of this right are common
and equal. practically AS well as formally,
submission 20 suffrage will be accorded 10y
ally and cheeriniiy. and the departments 81
the Government will feel the true vigOr OF
tie popular will thus expressed.
Two provisions OF the Constitution author
lie legislation by Congress for the regulation
Of Congressional elections. section OF Arti-
Gle ! of the Constitution declares "rhe
times, places aud manner of holding
elections for Senator'S and Representa-
tile LEGISLATURE thereof: but Congress may
10 any time, by law, make or alter such r-gu-
lafion- except a To- the places OF choosing
senator's" The Fifteenth Amendment Of tia
Con ytitution b. ~ follows;
Section 1. The right OF citizens OF the
United states TO vote snail not be denied or
abridged by the United states on by any
state on account OF race, color or previous
CONDITION oil rerNlture.
section = The Congress shall have power
e. cnioice this article by appropriate legi-ia-
tinn"
The supreme Court has held that this
amendment invests citizens Of the United
States with
VIEW CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
which f. within the protecting power Of Con-
gres-. That right the Court declares to
lie exemption from discrimination in
the exercise OF the elective franchise on ac-
count 81 race. color. or previous condition Of
terNlfude. The power ii Congress to protect
this right by appropriate legislation Is ex-
pf-s-ls affirmed " thu Court.
National legislation 20 provide safeguards
Tor free and honest elections 1. niece -sary, as
experience has shown. rot only TO secure
the right TO vote 10 the enfranchised race &C
the south, but also to prevent fraudulent
voting in the large cities Of the North. Con-
gre-- has. therefore. exercised tire power con-
ferrer by the Constitution. and has enacted
certain laws 90 prevent discrimination on
account OF race. color, or previous condition
a. servifnde, and 10 punish fraud, violence
and intimidation NJ Federal elections
Attention L. called to the following sections
Of the Revised statutes of the United States,
viz. section 2ooi. which guarantees Nil citi-
gems the right 20 vote without distinction on
OF scrsitufc. Sections 300 and ens, which
guarantee 20 nil citizens equal opportunity
without discrimination 70 perform b" acts
regarded by Law AZ prerequisite or uualifica-
ton for voting: section sgel. which author
izes the United states Marshal and mis- depu-
ties to keep the peace and preserve order nc
fecerai election; section stss. which ex-
pressly authorizes the United states Mar
shal and his deputies 20 summon
n posse comifatu- whenever they,
or any Of them, are fDrcibly resisted in the
execution Of their duties under tie law
and are prevented from executing their du.
ties by violence. section tjs9. which provides
for the punishment OF the crime OF interior
ing with the supervisors Of Election AMI the
Deputy Marshals in the discharge of their
duties at the elections of Representatives, la
Congress. These are some OF the laws on
this subject which Il IL the duty OF the Exrcn-
tive Department OF the Government to en-
force.
THE INTENT AND EFFECT
fthe 9Th section Of this bill 4 TO prohibit All
civil officers Of the United states. under the
penalty Of line and i'm IMPRISONMENT. from EN-
picying any adequate civil force for snis pur-
pose. AZ place where their endorsements Is
most necessary, namely, nc the polls where
Congressional elections are held.
Among the most valuable enactments to
which have referred are those witch pro-
tect the supervisors ~ Federal Elections in
the dischalg re Of their duties nj the polls. IL
the pending legislation should become law
there Il no power vested In any officer Of the
Government TO protect from violence the OIL
charge Of their duties. Their rights and du-
Iies lnder the Law Will remain. but the Ma
Iional Government VIII he poweriesS 10 en-
force its own statutes The States may en-
keep the peace and to enforce the laws at
state elections II Il nov proposed 60 deny
to the United States the necessary civil au-
Ihorify - protect National elections.
No sufficient reason has been given for this
I'm favor OF state
and against National authority. II well
objections exist against the present
National election laws, all good citizens
would unite In their amendment. Laws pro-
viding safeguards Of elections should be
impartial, just and efficient. they should, II
possible. he 80 non partisan and fair In their
operation that the minority party out ~
power viii have no just grounds GO complain.
The present law have I'm practice unQ uc-tion-
ably conduced 90 the prevention ~ fraud and
states. members Of different political parties
have applied for the safeguards which they
Inrnish- IL l. the right nnd duty Of
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
10 enact and enforce laws which will SECURE
rec and fair Congressional elections. The