The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-04-30
BY TELEGRAPH.
AFTERNOON REPORT.
STALWART HAYES /!
HE SHOWS A STIFF vERTEBRA
And vetoes the Army Appropriation
Bill-Strong and Cogent Objec-
jections-Invuinerab
= Reasoning.


ing is the message of the president OF
the United States, returning to the
house of representatives the bill en-
titled San act making appropriations
for the support of the army for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1880, and
for other purposes:'
To He House Of Representatives:
have maturely considered the i'm
portant questions presented by the bill
entitled San act making appropriations
for the support of the army for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, and
for other purposes" and now return
1t to the house OF representatives, In
which it originated, with my objections
to its approval. The bill provides In
the usual form for appropriations re-
quired for the support of the army
during the next fiscal year. If it con-
tanned no other provision it would re-
ceive my prompt approval 1t includes,
however, further legislation which, at
tached as it is to appropriations which
we're requisite for the efficient perform
ance of some of the most necessary
duties of the government, involves
questions of the gravest character. The
sixth section of the bill is amendatory
of the statute now in force in regard
to the authority of persons in the civil.
military and naval service of the United
States at place where any general or
special election is held In any state.
This statute was adopted February
25, 1855, after protracted debate in
the senate, and almost without opposi-
tlon in the house of representatives, by
a concurrent vote Of both the leading
political parties of the country, and
became law by the approval of Presi-
dent Lincoln. 1t was re-enacted In
IA in the revised statutes of the United
states, sections 2,002 and s, ,528r which
are as follows:
Section 2,002: mo military or naval
officer or other person engaged in the
civil, military or naval service of the
United States shall order being kept or
held under his authority or control any
troops or armed men at places where
any general or special election is held
in any state, unless it be necessary to
repel armed enemies of the United
States, or to keep peace at the polls"
Section 5, ,52S: every officer of the
army or navy or other person in the
civil, military or naval service of the
United States who orders, brings,
keeps or has under his authority or
control any troops or armed men at any
place where general or special election
is held in any state, unless such force
be necessary to repel the armed ene-
mics of the United States or keep peace
at the polls, shall be fined not more
than $4,000, and suffer imprisonment
at hard labor, not less than three
months nor more than five years."
The amendment proposed to this
statute in the bill before me omits from
both of the foregoing sections the words
"or to keep the peace at the polls. -
The effect of the adoption of this
amendment may be considered, first,
upon the right of the United States
government to use military force to
keep the peace at elections for members
of congress, and second, upon the right
of the government by civil authority to
protect these elections from violence
and fraud. In addition to the sections
Of the statute above quoted, the follow
ing provisions Of law relating to the
use of the military power at elections,
are now in force:
Section 1908: No officer of the
army or navy of the United States shall
prescribe or fix, or attempt to prescribe
or FIX by proclamation, order or other
wise, the qualifications of voters in any
state, or in any manner interfere with
the freedom of any election in any
state, or with the exercise of free rights
of suffrage in any state"
Section $500: Every officer or Other
person in the military or naval service
who by force, threat, intimidation, OF
order, advice, or otherwise, prevents OF
attempts to prevent any qualified voter
of any state from freely exercising the
right of suffrage at any general or spe
cial election In such state shall be fined
not more than $4,000, and imprisoned
at hard labor for not more than five
years"
''Section $500: Every officer Of tht
army or navy who prescribes or fixes Oh
attempts to prescribe or fix whether BY
proclamation, order or otherwise, ths
qualifications of voters at any election
In any state shall be punished as pro
vided In preceding section.''
Section 553I: Every officer or othel
person in the military or naval servic'
who by force, threat, intimidation O.
otherwise compels or attempts to com
pei any officer holding an election ii
any state to receive vote from an.
person not legally qualified to vote o
who imposes or attempts to impose an
regulations for conducting any genera
or special election in any state differen
from those prescribed by law, who in
terferes In any manner with any Office
Oh election in the discharge of his dut
shall be punished as prescribed in sec
ton $780,
Section 5532: Every person convie