The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-04-29

1 poses or posse ordering them about the |
polls, or ordering them anywhere else |
where there is 20 election going on, to pre-.
vent disorders or to suppress disturbances |
that should be suppressed by the peace |
officers OF the state, or if they must bring |
others to their aid, they summon unorgan-
| lied citizens and not officers and men of the |
army as posse cOmltGtHS to quell the dis. |
turbances, and thus get up feeling which |
Will be disastrous to peace among the |
people OF the country. In the house OF |
representatives the object of the act of |
1878 was stated by gentleman who had |
1t 10 charge in similar terms. He said: |
but these are all minor points and insig- |
nlhcant points compared with the great |
principles which was Incorporated by the
house IN the bill In reference to the use of
armed men In peace; they had already
included what they called, and what we
might accept as the principle, they had
stricken out the penalty and the word "ex-
pressly, so that the army might be used
In all cases where implied authority might
be threatened.
The. house committee planted themselves
firmly upon the doctrine that rather than
yield this fundamental principle, for which
tor three years this house had struggled,
tNhOJ WOAiN dltOW AuO bAtl W IuII uOUWktIl-
standing the reforms that we had secured,
Iregarding these reforms Of but little con-
sequence alongside Of the great principle
that the army Of the United States in
time OF peace should be under the control
! Of congress and obedient to its laws. After
long and protracted negotiation the sem
: ate committee conceded thas principle
] in all its length and breadth, including the
4 ! rEnaikyy yvhiah tho baH St~Jol-ap c,k
! We bring you back therefore a report
j with the alteration Of the single word
t which lawyers assure me is proper to be
: made. Restoring to this bill the principle
& for which we have e0ltanded SO long
: and which is so vital to secure the rights
t and liberties Of the people. Thus have
@ we this day secured to the people of this
} jcouutry the same great protection
l. Iagainst the standing army, which cost the
Il struggle of two hundred years for the
le Commons Of England to secure for the
t. British people. From this brief review Of
ye the auhject it sufficiently appears thai
IS under the existing laws there can be ne
D. military interference with elections. NJ
te case Of such interference has in fact oc
I'd CURED, since the passage Of the act las
ep referred to. No officer of the UniteC
ry States has appeared under orders at any
,r place of election, in any state and no com
he plant even of the presence OF United
or States troops has been made IN any quar-
ny ter. 1t may therefore be confidently stat
IRE ed that there is no necessity for the enact
ED ment OF section g. of the bill before
es- ne, to prevent military interference
ed at elections. The laws alread
he in force are all that is requiree
IRE for that end. But that part of section 81!
at of this bill which is significant and vital
lot important is the clause which, if adopted
,nt will deprive the civil authorities OF ia
IRE U. s. of oil power to keep peace at tn
&C. congressional elections. COngresslona
at elections in every district, in very im
of portant sense, are justly matter OF pollt
ST ical interest and concern throughout th
to whole country. In each state every p0!it
the cal party is entitled 10 share Of the p0wt
md which is conferred by legal and constitu
ut, tioual suffrage 1t is the right oil ever
ion citizen possessing the qualifications pr
to scribed by law, to cast one gDintuldatc
ing ballot, and to have bis ballot honest
OF counted so long as the exercise Of th
in rover and the enjoyment OF this right al
the common and equal. Practically as well
hall formally. submission to suffrage will
: or accorded loyalty aud cheerfully; and tt
Use, departments of the government will te
.ate the true vig0r of the popular will thus e
rec pressed.
With Two provisions OF the constitution a
age thorize legislation by congress tor the re
ulation OF congre ssiOnal elections 2Sech
her four Of article oae OF the constitution q
7ica, clares that the times, places and mann
der, of holding elections tor senators aOd re
lpts resentatives shall be prescribed 10 ca
tate state by the Legislature thereof, but C
rage gress Iaay at any tiGIe by law make
such alter such regulations, except as to plat
700 of choosing senators.
more The 18th amendment Of tho CONSTITUTE
is as follows: Section 1.-The right
y or citizens Of the United States to vote sh
npts not be denied or abridged by the Uni
anna States or by any state on account OF ra
tions color or previous condition OF serVltu
shall Section 2.-The congress shall have pol
ding to enforce this article " appropriate |
II or islation.
SER The supreme court has held that
on or amendment inves,s citizens OF the UNI
/ ANY States with u new constitutional RI
te, TO which is within the protecting power
.gally congress. That right the court decia
or at to be exemption from Discrimination
con- the exercise Of tho election igRnshise
on, in account of race, color, or previous condl
ented of seryitude. The power of congress
amer protect this right by appropriate legl
in ton is expressly affirmed by the natl'
IL be legislation to provide sale-gui
,229. for free and bopest elections to be ne
Vieted sary as experience has sLoWl' lot onl.
|, FIVE secure the right to vote to the entranc
ion to ed race at the south but also to pre-,
, pre- fraudulent voting in the large cities OF
ny Of north. Congress has therefore exerc
sr the the power conferred by the constitU
se sec. and has enacted certain laws to pre-
It any discrimination on account OF race, colo
u ex- previous condition Of servltude ana to
q any ish fraud, violence and lntlmldano
ong, if federal elections Attention Is Gale
, laws the following sections OF the res
tie the statutes OF the United States, viz
be sui ton 1904, which guarantees all cit
,e with the right to vote without distinction o
emove count of race, color or previous cOnd
,rence, of servitude; Sections zoos and 2
ton Is which guarantee to all citizens equs
appro- portunIty without Discrimination to
ny for form all acts required By Law as pre- re
9, and ite or qualification for voting; Be
18th, 2,O22; which authorizes the United )
marshal and bis Deputies to keep
assage aud preserve order at federal elect
employ Section 2,024; which expressly autho
States tho United States marshal aud his
for the ties TO summon posse cOn1ltdt1ts whel
in such tEey or any Of them are forcibly rel
ices as 10 the execution OF their duties ubot
e may law and are prevented from exec