Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-05-07

7 o.
before me- TO prevent military Interference at eee-
tons. The laws already in force all that are re-
quired for that end. But that part Of section g.
OF this bill which is significant and virtually i'm
portant. is the clause which, il adopted will deprive
civil authorities of the United States OF all power In
Keep the peace at congressional elections. Cougres
sonal elections H. every district, in very import
ant sense, justly matter of political interest
and concern throughout the whole country Each
state, every political party, is entitled share OF
the power which is enforced by legal aud constitu-
tonal suffrage II is the right OF every citizen POS
'essng the qualifications prescribed by law cast
ONE UNINrINtpArtp BALLOT
| and have his ballot honestly counted. So long as
the exercise OF this power and the enjoyment this
right are common aud equal, practically well as
formally submission TO the voice OF suffrage will be
| accorded loyalty and cneerfully, and the depart
mens OF the government will feel the true yigor Of
| the popular will thus expressed.
Two provisions of the constitution authorize
| legislation by congress for the regulation Of con
! gressonal elections. Section of article ], of the
constitution dec ares:
| The times places aud manner of holding elections
for senators aud representatives shall be prescribed
in each state by the legislature thereof but congress
may at any time, 10y law, make or alter such regula
tons except to places Of choosing senators.
The l5th amendment of the constitution is as fol-
lows:
! section /. The right of citizens of the United
States shall be denied abridged by the
United Stats or by any state on account of race,
color or previous condition of servtude.
Section The congress shall have power to en-
force this article by appropriate legislation.
THE SUPREME COURT HAS HELD
that this amendment invests citizens of the United
states with new constitutional right which is
within the protecting power of Congress. That
right. the court declares to be exemption from
mnation in the exercise OF the elective fran
chise on account of race, color or previous condition
OF seryltude. The power OF congress 10 protect this
right by appropriate legs alton is expressly affirmed
by the court. National legislation provide safe
guards for free and honest elections is necessary as
experience has shown not only 10 secure the right
the entrauChlseu
TO prevent fraudulent voting in the large cities of the
nor h. Congress has therefore exercised The power
conferred by the constitution and has enacted Ger
tain laws to prevent discrimination On account OF
race, color previous condition OF servtude and to
punish fraud, violence and intimidation at the fed
eral elections.
Attention called the following sections of the
revised statutes of the United STAGES viz: Section
2OOi which guarantees all citizens the right 10 vote
without distinction on account OF race, color or pre-
vous condition of seryitude; sections 2lJ0 aud CO
which guarantee to all citizens equal opportunity
without discrimination to perform all acts required
by law as pre- requisite or qualification for voting;
section 2G22. which authorizes the United States
marshal and his deputies to keep peace and preserve
order at general elections: section .J2i, which eN
prossly authorizes the United States marshal and his
deputies to summon posse conhatUS whenever
they, or any of them, are iDrcby resisted in the
execution of their duty usder The law. aud are pre-
vented from the execution of their duty by violence
section 5022 which provides for punishment for
the crime OF interfering with supervisors of cleo
tons aud deputy marshals in the discharge OF duties
AZ elections OF representatives III congress THESE
are some of the Laws this subject which it is the
duty of the executive department Of the government
10 enforce.
THE INTENT AND EFFECT
OF the 9th section of this bill is TO prohibit all
CIV officers of the United States under penalty !
of fine and imprisonment from employing any
adequate civil force Tor this purpose at the place
where their enforcement Is most necessary. VIZ:
at places where gressional elections are he d.
Among the most valuable enactments to which |
| have referred, are those which protect the SUI
pervisors OF federal elections in the discharge of
,heir duties AT the polls Ii the pending 'egisla
ton should become n law there L. no power vest
ed in any officer OF the government 10 protect
from violence the officers OF the United States en-
gaged IN the discharge of their duties Their
rights and duties under the law will remain, hut
the national government will be poweress 10 en-
force its own statutes. The states may employ
both military and ciyil power to keep peace and
nlOrce laws Al state elections; 1t is now proposed
to deny to the United States even the necessary
civil authority to protect nat onal elections. No
sufficient reason has been given for this dlscrim-
inatlon in favor of the state and against the ma
tiona authority, If well-ounded objections ex-
list against the present mt o nal election law all
good citizens shou unite to amend them 80 as
TO provide ae.guards of elections which should |
be impa tial. just aud efficient They should II
possible be so unpart san and fair IN their opera
tons that the minority party out o! power VIII !
have no just ground to complain. The present
laws have, in practice, unquestionably conduced |
10
PREVENTION
of fraud and violence at elections In several of
the states members OF different political parties |
have applied for safeguards which they furnish 1t
Is the night and duty Of the national government
10 enact and enforce laws which vii secure fire.
and fair congressional elect ons The laws now
in force should not be repealed except IN connec'
ton with the enactment Of measures which WI
better accomplish tnat important end
Believing sec! IN OF The bill before me will
weaken if it does not altogether take away the
power of the national government to protect
federal elections by civil authorities, am forced
TO the conclusion
1T OUGHT NOT TO RECEIVE MY APPROVAL.
That section is, however, not presented TO me as
"A separate and independent meaaure but Is. as
has been stated, attached to the bill making the
usual annual appropriations tor the support OF
he army IL makes vital change III the cleo
ton laws of the cou ntry, which Is In no way con
n.cted with the use of the army. 1t p ohibits,
under heavy penalties. any person engaged In
the civil service of The United States from having
any force nj the place OF election, prepared
TO preserve order, TO make arrest, to keep peace,
or IN any manner enforce the laws This is alto
gether foreign to the purpose OF Az army appro-
priation bill The practice OF lacking to the
army apprOpriat on bills measures not pertinent
to such bills did not prevail until more than iorty
years after the adoption OF the constitution 1t
has become common practice. All parties
when in power have adopted it, Many abuses
and great waste of public money have in This
way crept into appropriation bills. The public
opinion of the country II against II. The states
which have Tecen " adopted constitutions huye
generally provided a remedy for the evil by
enactng that no law shall contain more than one
subject which shall be plainly expressed in its
title. fhe constitutions of more than half OF the
states contain substantially this provision. The
public welfare will be promoted In many WAYS
by return to the esTly practice OF The govern
mcnt and 10 the true principle of legislation
which requires that every measure shall stand or
f.ll according 20 its oan merits II II were un
derstoOd that 10 attach to an APPROPRIATION
measure irrelevant to the general object of the
bll would imperl and proba hy prevent is tnal
passage and approval valuable reform IN me
parliamentary practice Of congress " ould be ac-
complishcd.
THE BEST JUSTIFICATION
that has been offered for attaching irrelevant
Ide4s an appropriation bill is that 1t is done for
convenience sake 10 facilitate the passage of
nd L.