The daily gazette., 1879-03-05
FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS.
SPEECHES OF SENATOR SALISBURY AND
SENATOR KEENAN,, OF N. Y.


limited debate upon this amendment to
its character. 1t was passed by the ma
jorty Of the Senate, and it has been a
subject of dissatisfaction to the people of
the country. Under its operation there
has been great Injustice and great OPP
preston exercised toward the freemen of
this land. Now when a question comes
up upon which legitimate discussion
upon the character of the laws Of 1870
and 1871 can be had, the majority of the
Senate limits debate TO five minutes, so
that full exposure of the pernicious
consequences which have resulted from
these laws cannot be bad. 1t is true that
in debate which has already proceeded
there has been demonstrated the ihiqui-
ties that have been practiced under
the operation of this law. But in
a question affecting the liberties and
rights of the people there should be the
most enlarged freedom Of discussion.
We have heard to-day that in the city
of New York alone thirty-one hundred
warrants were issued by the supervisors
of elections. see from published st 'te-
meuts that there have been a very large
number Of deputy marshals in that city
and in other cites. Some twelve hum
dred were appointed in the city of Saint
Louis, and for what purpose? Every
man who applies common sense to the
inquiry as TO the purpose and object of
the appointment IF such number in
Saint Louis will find it in the fact that
there were three close election districts
in that city which by the oppressive op-
erations of this law were carried by the
republicans. Three districts which had
heretofore by small majorities returned
democratic members TO the other House,
under the operations of this law, by the
aid of these deputy marsbals, were car
red for the republicans. How was IL
in Cincinnati Where two districts in
that city had heretofore given small
democratic majorities this law was pat
in operation and the vote of the demo-
era ic majority overborne by the inter
ference OF these deputy marshals. For
the purpose of aiding the republican
party the law was inaugurated, and it is
to continue the operations of this law in
that regard that the Attorney General
now asks that he may have this appro-
praton OF S250,000 granted TO him. l
hope we shall not do it. do not believe
the law is constitutional, and it ought TO
be repealed. | do not believe it has
been executed in the spirit Of fairness
and justice, and | believe that it strikes
down the right of free elections which
the people of this couhtry have ever
de .ired.
Yet when this question, involving the
principle of free elections, is brought to
the attention of the Senate and the at
tention of the country, the honorable
Senator fom Iowa moves in his place
that debate upon the subject shall be
limited to five minutes. Sir. there are
greater rights then that of appropriating
the public money. There is the right,
the inalienable right, OF freemen involved
In this discussion.
again repeat my regret that the
Senator from Iowa should have felt i'm
pelied to move that the five minute
rule be now adopted in this dis
cussion. But sufficient time has elapsed,
and will still elapsed, in the discussion
to call the attention of the country fully
to the wrongs that have been praciced
by our republican friends under the law
of 1870 and 1871.
The Attorney-General asks us 10
give him an appropriation of S25O,O00
for what ? The language of the amend
ment, which ! understand was prepared
by the Attorney-General, or in his OH
ce,is to pay expenses that have occurred
and that may hereafter occur in enforce
ing these laws. How have the laws been
enforced ? Ii were to assign but one
reason why | should withhold my vote
from this amendment could find ample
reason and justification for my vote in
the manner in which the law has been in
the pat enforced.
Mir. HERMAN. OF course ! do not in
| tend to make any speech, but as We are
appropriatlng money for deficiency un-
der the act of 1871, affecting the elections,
| want to call the attention OF the Senate
to one or two facts that appear in sworn
evidence on report made to Congress,
10 show that we should have detailed
statement of how this money is to be
spent before we vote it very literally. /
hold in my hand Report No. 500. Forty
fourth Congress, first session, containing
| the evidence that was taken in New
| York in reference to expenditures under
this law, in referance to the election
prior to 1876. You find on pages 20 and
II the testimony of Mr.. Gibney, who
says that he was employed under MIR.
Davenport in supervising the election.
He was paid IS day for ten days. lie
then saws he drew S33 more, and | want
to show you how he drew it. He says he
made out "bill for carr iage hire by in
structons ofthe president of the district" :"
Question. Although you had never
paid dollar?
| Answer. No, sir.
Blu. he made out bill which he re-
ceip,ed, which was paid, tor expenses in
Cured as "aid TO chief supervisor in
fourteenth assembly dis riet," as follows:
October 25, carriage hire Sl5.
October 26, carriage hire SIS.
October 26, stationery S3.
lie swears he never paid dollar for
carriage hire, nor dollar for stationary,
and vet these sums were paid to him.
Take another witness named CUM,
whose evidence is on page 20. lie testi-
fips that be was connected with the secret
Service Department. aud that he belong
ed to a pol tical club. There were ex-
penses which were paid out of this fund
for preserving the purity of elections
(which, in this testimony, they called the
lkuklux fund. This witness is asked the
following question:
By MIR. CAULFIKLD:
nuast;on I ask Won on the whole il