Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-05-29
The Third VpfO

day the following message, VetoioR The Lsgisla'
tive, Executive and Judicial Appropriation bill
10 the House of Representatives.
After mature consideration of the bill eDtltled
| "Ao act making appropriations for the leelsa'
| tive, executive and judicial expenses CT the
| Government for the 6sJal year euding Juoe 80,
| 1880, ard for other purposes, | herewith re
turn it to the House OF Representatives, in
which it originated, with the folloUing ublsc-
tons to its approval:
| The main purpose of the bill is to appropriate
| the money required to support, durl0g he next
| fiscal year. the several civil departments OF the
Guverument The amount appropriated tx
ceeds 10 The aggregate SIS 00U.OOO.
| This money is peeded to keep 10 operation
the essential furctluns Of all rhe great depart
meps Of the GJveroment-leg legislative, x Gu
tive a1d Judicial. Ii The bill ccntaircd Do other
provisions 90 otj c.ion to its approval would be
~ SIDE. 1t embrsos however, q LumHcc CT
causes rels,ing to subj cts OF great general 10
terest, which are wholly uncoonectcn With the
| appropriations which provides FIR, The Oh
iectluns 20 the practice OF acklpg general !eRls-
lation to sppIoprisliun bl:, especially when
the object is to d, prlve 8 o3,rIdcatu branch Ct
the Government OF its right to the free exeTclse
IT in owr discretion ard judgment touching
spt ciel message 10 relation 20 House bill No. J.,
which 9as rru o. d 10 the House Of Represen.
taliy 90 the 29 b Of last month. lIegrct that
| The o. cti0us which we're then expressed 10
! this method Ct gsla;ioD hsVe not seemed to
Cougress Of sufficient wight to dn Susde from
this renewed Incorporation OF general enact
N enls 10 40 appropriation bill, aud that my
cunstlu onsl duty n respect OF the general
Legislation thus placed before me cannot be dis.
charged without seeming 10 dtlay, however
bri, a., the necessary appropriations by Con
gress for the support OF he Government. With
cut repeating those obj ctiCns, | respectfully
refer to that message Tor statement OF my
views on the prIcipIe maintained 10 debate by
The advocates of this bill, W., that TO With
bold appropriations is ooosti utinnal means
Tor the redress" of what tho m,ierlty OF the
House Of R.presentativ may regard IS "a
grievance"
The bill contains the following clauses. viz:
And provided further, That the following
sections of the r. vised Statutes Of the United
States. pamoIs 2 DIG, 20lS and 02O, sod all
of the succeeding sections Of said statutes dowo
10 and including section 2 OPT, aud also section
5. 522, be, and the same are hereby repealed -
\ land that all the other sections OF
the Revised Statutes, spd all laws and paris OF
laws authorizing the appointment OF chief su
pervisors of elections, special deputy narshats
of elections, or general deputy ma!shsls having
auy duties to perform 10 respect to any cleo
ton and prescribing their duties and powers
and allowing them compensation, be, and the
same are hereby repealed
L. also contains clauses amending sections
2Ol7, 2Ol9 202S and 203l Of the Revised
Statutes.
TIE scsious OF the Revised Statutes which
tho bill, if approved, would repeal or amend
are part of an act approved May 80, 1870. and
amended February IS, 1871, entitled IAN act 10
enforce the rights oil cizeos Of the United States
10 vote 10 the several States OF this Union. and
for other purposes" All OF the provisions oil
the allowed named acts, which it is proposed
10 this bill to repeal or modify, relate to the
Congressional elections. The remsiDiog portion
of the law, which will continue 10 force after
the enactment of this measure, is that which
provides for the appointment, BY Judge of the
circuit court OF the Uuited States, OF two super
vsors Of election 10 each election district, at
any Congressional election, on due application
OF citlzeus who desire, 10 the language of the
law, Ito h6vo such election guarded and Scru
tinized." The duties of the supervisors Will be
10 a,tend at the polls at all Congrc ssioDal cleo
tons, aud to remain after the polls are opt o
until every vote cast las been counted but they
will "have DO authority to make arrests, or to
perform other duties than TO be 10 the imme
date presence OF the officers holding the cleo
ton. and 10 witness all their proceedings, in
cludipg the uDtinR of the voes, and the
makiog Of return thereof" The par! of the
election law which will DO repealed by the APP
prova of this BILL includes those sections which
give authority to The superVisorsrt election ITO
personally scrutinz,, count and canvass each
ballot" and s the sections which confer all
tbority upon the Uuitcd States malshsIs and
deputy marshas, 10 connection with the Con
gressional elections. The enactment OF this bill
will also repeal section 1922 of The Criminal
Statutes of the Uhited States. which was Gu
acted for the protection of Uoiled States officers
engaged 10 the discharge Of their duties at the
Congressional elections. This section protects
supervisors acd marshaIs in the performance OF
their duties by making the obstruction or the
assaulting of these officers, or any interference
With them by bribery or solicitation, or other
wise, crimes against the United States
The true meaning and effect OF the proposed
legislation are plain. The supervisors, With tho
authority to observe and witness the proceed
iugs at the CoDgression elections will be left;
but there will be no power to protect them, OR
10 prevent Interference with their duties, or to
punish any violation Of the law from which
their powers arc derived. If this bill is ap-
proved, only the shaved of the authority OF the
United States at the National elections will RI
main-tbe substance will be gone. The super
vision OF the elections will be reduced to mere
Inspection, without authority on the part Of the
supervisors to do any &c: whatever 10 make
tho election a fair one. All that will be left 10
the supervisors is the permission to have such
oversight of the elections IS political parties are
10 the habit of exercising without any authority
of law, 10 order 10 prevent their oppoucnts
from obtsinipg unfair advantages. The object
of the bill is to destroy any control whatever
| by The Uoted States Over the Congressional
| elections.
The passage Of this bill has been urged upon
| the ground that the election of ueo,bers Of
| Congress isa matter which concerns the States
| ,lone; that these elections should b. controlled
xcu,lvely by the States; that there arc and cao
| be 90 such elections as National elections; and
! hat the existing law Of the Uoited States reg
u'atiog the Confessional elections is without
warrant ic the Constitution.