The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-05-09
The Presidents Veto.

Message Of tho President vetosng shs
Army Appropriation Bili.
TO the House Of Representatives.:
have maturely considered the Important
questions presented by the bill entitled An
Act making appropriations required for the
support Of the Army for the fi-cai year ending
June ~. isso. and for other purposes" and
IN which 4 originated. with my objections 90
The bin provides in the usual form for the
appropriations required for the suppor, Of
the Army during the next fiscal year II is
contained no otner provisions. n would re-
ceiye my prompt approval. Il includes. how
ever.
FURTHER LEGISLATION.
which. attached as it Is 10 the appropriations
which are requisite for the efficient perform
ance 81 some Of the most necessary duties Of
the 1overnment. involves questions Of the
gravest character.
The sixth section OF the bin Il amendatory
OF the statute now IN force IN regard 20 the
authority ~ persons In the civil, military and
naval service Of the United states AZ place
where any general or special election q held
In any State. This statute was adopted feb-
ruhfy y, lsS3. after a pfotlncted debate IN
the Senate and almost without opposition ia
the House Of Representatives. by the cOrcur-
rent votes 81 both oi the leading political
VI n
the approval OF President Lincoln. IL was
re-eDncted In lssi. Ia tue Revised statutes ~
the United states, sections 200. and 5s2s.
:" secfson 20ta. No military or naval ofiicer
or other person engaged In the civil,
military or naval service uf the
United States shall orucr, bring keep
or have under his authority or control any
troops or armed men AZ place where any
general or special election i held IN any
State, unless Il be necessary to repel armed
A. tsH mr. m Eafn 4 lfs
peace nc the polls
:. Section s3-c Every officer OF the Army or
Navy, 81 other person in the civil, military
o. naval service, v no orders, brings, keeps
or las under his authority or control any
tfoop- Or armed inen, AZ auy place where
general or special election l. held Ia any
state, unless such force be necessary 20 rrpcl
armed enemies 81 the IbiIed States. or 10
keep the peace nt the polls, snail De fined hot
more than $500 and suffer imprisonment at
hard labor not less than three months nor
more than i've years"
TnE AME>DMENT
proposed in this statute in the bill before me
omit- from both Of the foregoing sections the
words "or 90 keep the peace az the polls"
Tie effect OF the adoption Of this amend
.nent may be- considered, nrst. upon the right
OF the United states Government TO mlt-
tary force 10 keep the peace NJ elections for
members Of Congress. and. second, upon the
right OF the ooNernuent, by civil authority,
70 protect these elections from violence and
In addition 70 the sections Of the statute
above quoted. the following provisions of the
Law relating 80 the use OF the military power
NJ elections are now In force:
.'Secfson 2O4. No officer of the Army or Navy
Of the United states shall prescribe or Tx or
attempt 10 prescribe or M by proclamation,
order or othcrsiSe, the qualifications OF
voters I'm any state. or In any manner inter-
ferc with the freedom OF any election IN any
State or with the exercise Of the Tree rights Of
suffrage In any state.
I" Section as9 Every officer or other person
In the military or naval service who. by
force. threat, Intimidation or otherwise, pre-
vents. or attempts 10 prevent. any qualified
voter Of any state from freely exercising the
fignt Of suffrage nj any general or special
election In such state, shat. be fined MOI more
than W. and impii- az hard labor not
more than fiye Years.
" Section $50 Esery officer of the Army or
Navy VINO prescrif,es or fixes. or attempts 10
prescribe or fix, whether by proclamation.
order or OF. erwise. the qualifications az the
voters nc any election in any State. shall be
punished as provided In the preceding sec
lSecfson s5sl. Every officer or otter person
In the military or naval service who. by force,
threats, intimidation. or otherwise. compels
or attempts 20 compel any oricer holding AN
election in any state 90 receive . vote from a
person not legally qualified 20 vote, or who
imposes or attempts 70 impose any rtguia-
tions for conducting any general or special
election In state. different from those pre-
scrfbed by law. or who intcrferrs in any man
ner with any officer of election In tile dis
charge Of his duties. shall be punished ~ pre-
scrfbed IN section As2a
. Section 5aSs. Every person convicted Of
any OF the ofenses specified IN the five pre-
ceding sections shall. IN addition a. the pun
ishmenf- therein scveraly prescribed. be
disqualified from holding any Office of honor,
profit or trust under the United states; but
nothing in these sections shall he construed
60 prevent any officer, soldier, sailor or
marine from exercising the right OF suffrage
in any election district 60 which ne may
belong. II otherwise qualned according 10
the Laws Of the state In which he Offers 10
vote"
The foregoing enacfmenss would seem 90
be sufficient 90 prevent military interference
with elections. but the last Congress, 70
remove ~ apprehension Of such inter.
Of tho act entitled IAN Act making appro-
priations for the support ~ the Army fer
the fiscal year ending June %, i-ss. ard for
other purposes" approved June l., Isis.
which T. A. follows.
section IS. From and after the passage Of
this act e nRail not be lawful @ employ any
gosss ccnsnafus or otherwise for the purpose Of
executing the laws. except in such cases and
under such circumstances as such employ
menf Of said force may be expressly author
ixed by the Constitution or by act OF Con-
gress- No money Appropriated by this act
shall lie used TO pay any ~ the expenses in
cured In the employment cf any troops In
violation Of this section. and any person
willfully violating the pro, iSion- Of this Sec
tion shall be deemed guilty Of misdemean-
or. and. upon conviction thereof, ehail DO
punished ~ fine not exceeding $1,000 or
imprisonment not exceecing two Years, or
both such hnc and iiDpri-onment."
Ths- act passed the senate alter full con-
sideratinn without single vote recorded
against IL on - final passage. and by ma
5urity Of more than two tuirds 10 was con-
CURED In by thc House OF Representatives.
TnK PURPOSE
Of the section quoted WINS stated IN the SEN
ate by one oi it, supporters ns follows:
Therefore. ! hope without getting into any
controversy about the past. but acting wisely
for the future. that we shall take away the
idea that the Army can he used by u General
or special Deputy Marshal or any
Marshal merely for election purposes.
or rs posse. ordering them about
the polls or ordering them anywhere
else where there r. no election going on 10
prevent disorders or suppress disturbances
that should he suppressed by peace officers
- fha sfafe. or IL IheN musi hiring others To