Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1879-04-24
CONGRESS.
Federal Interference.
Speeches by Senator voorhees,
and Mr.. Carlisle.
SENATE i.

WASHINGTON, April II, 1879.
Senator Voorhees, called attention
to what he feared was not generally.
realized, viz: that federal interfer-
ence extended not only to congress
slonal. but to State and local eiee-.
tions. The protection. of. the ballot
box had been wrested from the pro-
persiocai officers, and thereby, Ameri-
can citizens have been deprived of
their dearest rights. The spirit that
dictated such Innovations was dis
trust OF the people and want OF faith
in their capacity for self-government.
In this the whole constitution had
been perverted. The people, when
the facts were. made clear to them,
would resist this insulting and en-
croaching tyranny, and a righteous
sensessf resentment would spring ap
in every breast. He hoped the PEG.
pie would read the law ON which such
acts were based until it shall become
an adherence to the public mind
Under it there was no American, that
was not liable to arrest for no other
reason than that existing in the
minds of Supervisor or Deputy
Marshal. This placed every PERSONS
liberty at the mercy of party malice
or hate. Every ruffian acting in such
capacity was to determine . mans
right atzthe polls. The constitution
plainly guarded the citizen in all his
rights, but that instrument was plain
ly violated by the arrest and impris-
onment of citizens on insufficient evil
dence by malicious spies and inform
ants If the constitution sanctioned
such practices, it would be proof that
those who framed it were not inter-
ested in free government and that
fathers who achieved our indepen-
dence had failed of their great pur-
pose. The spirit which produced
this law WAS like that which preceded
the French revolution and caused its
fires to break out, and which made
every citizen tremble with fear of q
blow in the dark. 1t eminated from
the spirit that ruled at Venice, where
a look of suspicion was more to be
dreaded than the blow of q dagger
and doomed the victim to walk the
Bridge of Sighs to prison and a
wretched death. All history reveal
ed the danger of leaving means for
usurpation on the statute-b ook.
There was no loss to conjecture what
might be done under the laws to
which he referred, for they had al
ready been enforced over our liberties
to an extent which would have forced
any other people than serfs to revolt.
He then referred to acts done in New
York, which had brought shame and
disgrace to the whole country
scenes in which John Davenport had
been the autocrat OF the baiiot-box,
where with cohorts, that Supervisor
intitnidated thousands who departed
from the polls to avoid lawless prose
cuuon. His deputies were federal
eelux. organized to oyer awe rise
ns,. and deprive them OF their rights.
What happened in New York car
transpire anywhere. No. true man
could say that such a statute should
stand unrepealed. No true man
could overlook that the rights and
liberties of the people have been
trampled under foot through it.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, April l7.-Mr. Car
Isle said, during the long dominion
of.the Republican party, it had been
their constant practice to incorporate
legislation in appropriation bills II
was admitted that such right existed,
but gentlemen On the other side claim
that that right ought not to be exer-
cised at this particular time, because
it was !scnown or rather presumed
gislation as was proposed
-!.t .h~ aDurpyai of