The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-05-22
POLITICS..
The PRESIDENTS VETO

the House the bill entitled, An ACT 70 pfOnlDlt
military interference At elections, with his OBJ
jections in . message.
The message Was to the effect that no addi-
tional legislation was necessary to prevent in
reference with elections by the military or
naval forces of the United States- The true
rule a. to the employment of military force At
elections is not doubtful. No intimidation or
coercion should be allowed to control Or in
to take the place, or to perform the duties Of
the ordinary civil police force. There has
been, and will be no violation of this rule I'M
der orders from me during this administra-
ton; put their shall be no denial Of the right
of the national government to employ its mil
it.ry force on any day, and any place, in case
such employment is necessary to enforce the
constitution and laws of the United States.
II has deem enacted that it shall not be law
full to bring to or employ at any place where
. general or special election il being held in
State. any part of the army or navy of the
United States, unless such force be necessary
to repel the AIMED enemies Of the United
States or to enforce section 4, article 4, of the
constitution of the United States and laws
made in pursuance thereof, on application of
the legislature or executive Of any State where
such force is to be used; and SO much of all
laws as is inconsistent Herewith is hereby re-
pealed.
1t will be observed that this bill exempts
from the general prohibition against the en-
ployment of military forces at the polls two
specified cases. These exceptions recognize
AID concede the soundness of the principle
that the military force may properly and con-
be used at the place of election,
when such use is necessary to enforce the con-
stitution and laws, but in excepted cases leave
the prohibition so extensive and far reaching
that It's adoption will seriously impair the
fiuence citizens in the exercise of their right
to vote, whether it appears in the shape OF
mbinations of evil disposed persons, or of
the armed bodies of q militia of State. or of
the military forces of the United States.
"No soldiers, either of the Union or of the
State militia, should be present At the polls
efficiency of the executive department OF the
government.
A number of other authorities were brought
up. after which Mr.. Hayes thus continues:
Under the sweeping terms OF the present
bill the national government is effectually
shut out from the exercise of the right and
from the discharge of the imperative duty to
useit, whenever and wherever required for the
times where and when its elections are held.
The employment of its organized armed forces
for any such purpose would be an offense
against the law unless called for by and there
fore upon the permission of the authorities OF
the State in which the occasion arises. What
IA this but the substitution Of the discretion
of the States government for the discretion II
the government of the United States a. to the
performance of its own duties? In my judg-
ment this is the abandonment Of its obligs-
t,ons by the national government, . subordi-
nation of national authority. and an intrusion
Of State supervision over national duties,
which amounts, in spirit and tendency, to
State supremacy,
Although believe that the existing statutes
are abundantly adequate to completely pre-
vent military interference with elections, in
the sense in which the phrase ia used in the
title of this bill, and is employed by the peO-
ple of this country, 1 shall lind no difficulty in
concurrins in any additional legislation limit
ed to that object which does not interfere with
the indispensable exercise of the powers OF the
government and the constitution and laws.
ORGANIZED IN TOPEKA.
The State central freedman's committee
organized at Topeka, on the 9th. and become
incorporated under the State law. This i,
done TO give stability and responsibility to the
organization. The charter states the purposes
of the organization a. follows: THE purpose
for viii n this corporation il formed il to re
lieve as far rs possible the wants and necessi
ties of destitute freedmen, refugees and immi
grants coming into this State; to provide nee
essary food, shelter and clothing for them wheI
the aged, the feeble and the sick, to aid ans
assist them in procuring work and in hndinl
homes either in families or, where they wisl
to- locate them on government or other land
and TO do and perform such other acts of char
ity and benevolence - the necessities of sucl
freedmen. refugees and immigrants may re
auire- The board of directors consist of thir
teen persons headed by the Governor and Stat
officers Chief Justice Horton and United State
Judge Foster.
woMKN's WAITS.
In st. Louis on the 10th the delegate
to the National Women's Suffrage association
visited the Merchants exchange by the invita-
ton of the directors, and were greeted wit
cheers. clapping hands, etc. They were eacors
ed to the rostrum by the president, and yer
introduced by Miss Phoebe Cousins. of 81
Louis. Short addresses were then made b
Mrs. Stanton, Miss Anthony. Mrs. Thompson
Of indianapolis, and Mrs. Merriwesher. o
Memphis which were listened TO with marke'
attention by several hundred members an
warmly applauded.
GOLD ASD srLvKR-
At a cabinet meeting on the 18th tn
subject of . double standard Vas discussed Z
considerable length. in connection with th
more recently expressed opinion Of other M
ton. on the subject. and il was undefstoo
that Secretary Evarts would reopen CORE
pondence with foreign governments, lcokin
to fresh negotiations for the adoption of du,
| standard.