The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-06-27
To Corresnnndents.
The President and Congress.

On Monday President Hayes returned to
money for the expenses of the United States
courts The bill did not prohibit the Presi-
dent from appointing United States supervi-
sors of elections and deputy marshals, but it
omitted to provide money to pay the salaries
of the deputy marshals. Every other official
connected with the United States courts was
provided for President Hayes takes the
ground in his veto that the laws provide for
the appointment of the supervisors and dep
uty marshals and he is sworn to execute the
laws. He cannot do so unless money is pro-
vided to pay their salaries All of which, as
the Baltimore Sun remarks, is more plausible
than sound The President expressly admits
that the bill which he vetoes does not inter-
tere with the supervisors of elections or their
duties; it only deprives the government of
the power of protecting them in the discharge
of their duties by a little army of deputy
marshals around the polls. Now the protec-
ton of the federal supervisors is rs much the
duty of the State police as it is their duty to
Or the individual voters. The safety of the
supervisors and their ability to perform their
duties do not depend upon the amount of
physical force at their disposal at the polls;
otherwise they should not be made contingent
upon the request of "two citizens" to have
deputy marshals appointed. Nearly the en-
tire number of deputy marshals appointed at
the last federal and Presidential elections were
appointed in New York, Pennsylvania Ma
ryland and Missouri, which sufficiently illus
trates the partisan purposes which alone they
were expected to subserve.
The President has signed the legislative
appropriation bill. He has also signed the ar
my bill, with proviso that none of the mon
ey appropriated shall be used to pay for the
transportation and subsistence Of troops en-
ployed as police at elections.
The Democrats have not fully decided upon
the course they will pursue, but it is expect
cd that the judicial appropriations will be di-
vded into two separate measures, the first
providing for the courts with the jury pro-
visions attached; the second providing for
the compensation of the United States mar
shals, but prescribing that no part of the mon
ey shall be appropriated for the pay of deputy
marshals
President Hayes by his veto of the judicial
appropriation bill has shown himself to be
a partisan of the most violent character The
bill can take effect this year only in the State
nff California in Il ist ,t Of nut N,rlyn mud
in one district of Iowa-thosc being the only
places where congressional elections are to be
held. But he is unwilling to sacrifice the
party advantage which may he gained
through the appointment of II horde of deputy
marshals who receive pay from the govern
ment for electioneering for the Republican
ticket. His persistency in endeavoring to
perpetuate federal interference with elections
has driven from his support conservative
Democrats like Mr.. Alexander II. Stephens
of Georgia, who will hereafter be found in
full accord with his party.
The conflict between Democratic Congress
on the one hand and the President, backed
by Republican leaders, ON the other, has
Presidential campaign will be fought. The
Democrats proclaim their opposition to the
assumed right of any President to menace or
overawe voters at the polls with Federal bay
onets; they declare themselves opposed to
interference in elections by federal supervisors
and deputy marshals, on the ground that each
State is as much interested as the President
can possibly bein preserving order at the polls,
and that the ballot in every State should be free
and unrestricted to all legal voters. A ballot
box transfixed with a bayonet will be the sign
around which not only the Democrats but all
Others who prefer the safety of their country
to the success of their party, will rally to vic
tory. ..