The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-23
Federal Supervisors and United States
Marshals an Exceedingly Dangerous
Element in American Politics.
Absolutely No Personal Liberty Under the
Operation of Republican Election
Laws.
The Hour OF Mortal Peril to the Federal
Constitution and Free Govern.
ment Close at Hand.
The Eloquent Indianian Warmly Congratu-
lated by Numerous Democratic
Senators.


WASHINGTON. April ls.-Following is sena-
tor Voorhees, great speech on the army appro-
priation bill, as delivered in the Senate yes
terday. 1t was the speech Of the day, IL not of
the session, and attracted great attention.
The senator said.
MIR. PREsIDENT-It is due TO the American
people that a clear and ample statement
should be made of the causes Which have led
pose therefore. to examine in detail the laws of
the United States as they now exist ON the two
partial courts, and to show that If these laws
are permitted 10 remain in force IL will only
be necessary for some bold man, clothed with
operation in order, at his own pleasure, to
overthrow this Republic In spirit, form and
name from its turrets to its fouudation stones
propose to demonstrate that all the parts of
a compile and systematic machinery for sue
cessfuI revolution against every principle OF
free government, against every reserved right
of the States. and against the most
be found IN the malign Iegislatio,l OF the
last Ia years. Let the laws themselves speak,
and when their ominous and threatening
voices are fully heard throughout the land, u
am willing TO stand or fall b.! the candid Judg-
ment of the people.
Revised Statutes, chapter OF the title.
"crimes," as the Keystone OF the v hole arch ofi
ballot-box. l do not believe IL is generally
known that the Federal Government has as
serted to- itself the right by law to interfere
description throughout the Union. On the
contrary, the prevalent opinion, think, has
claimed and exercised at times and places
when and where. Federal officials such as
members and delegates Ia Congress were
chosen by the people. The section, however.
ii ted reads as follows: - =
EVERY person who. by any unlawful means,
hinders, delays, prevents, ror obstructs, or
combines and. confederates withothers to him
der, delay, prevent, or obstruct, any citizen
Hfnfr1 0ft ir0d tn rnras. N
qualify hin to vote, or from voting at amy
election in any State, Territory, district, coun
ty, city, parl h, township, school district, mu-
nicipality, or other territorial subdivision,
shall be fined not less than $500. or be impris-
oned not less than one month nor more thsn
one year. or be punished by both such fine and
any kind in all tbs broad land which is not
reached aud embraced in these sweeping pro-
visionse All the States and Territories are
| own elections and to punish those who offend
against their freedom and purity is broken
ng Engaged in choosing their clerks, auditors, % s.
| treasurers, and sheriffs; wherever city pro-
ceeds to elect her mayor and other municipal
| officers, township or a school district is
the % presence SCI @ Of United States authority to ar
BY this law. If in the excitement Of election
day two citizens quarrel, and one
from delays yTschns the pos
| soon as he otherwise might, afine of not less
than $3.50 is here denounced against the often.
of one year. This Is the plain reading of this
enactment, and I challenge contradiction.
But it may be said that this section does not
| provide Tor It's own execution, and therefore it
can never become destructive to the liberties
and local rights OF the people, No such oyer, oyer,
| who devised this legislation. The most ample
provisions have been made for its rigid en-
| forcement in every nook and corner of the
| Union. Section ,9S2 contains the following
peremptory command to Federal oficisls
| sThe district attorneys, marshals and deputy
| narshals, the commissioners appointed by the
circuit and territorial courts. with power "a
arrest, imprison or bail offenders. and every
| other officer who is especially empowered by
tue expense of the United States, to institute
| prosecutions against all persons violating any
of the PROVISIONS OF chapter of the title
| .erimes,' and to cause such persons to be ar
| rested and imprisoned, or bailed, for trial be
fore the court of the United States or the terri
! torial court having cognizanee of the offense.'
| Here it will be seen that the entire execu
| tive force of all the United States courts
backed by the money OF the United States
treasury, is dedicated to the enforcement O
| all the provisions of chapter OF the title
neretofore oao;ed g seetion I ss c'on SowsSes ever
| simply stands at the head of chapter o
American law. n cbapter of VI elaborate sec
| tfons, in Zs of which the fiery and unscrupu
lous zeal of party hate and the refined inge
| nuity of trained lawyers have exhausted them
selves in creating new offenses against th'
elective franchise, In digging pitfalls ans
, ana honest citizens, IN prescribing the read,
instrurnentalitfes by which they may be over
taken in seeming violations OF law. in drag
: giDg them suddenly away from among thei
, neighbors to distant hostile Federal courts 70
| trial, and In dcnouneing against them sucl
penalties, after conviction by packed jnriet
= | as would warm the dust oil Scroggs and Ieffrie
+ | with JOY could they hear them, though the.
| have lain two centuries dead. ftsa4 tftfI4
Sir. this chapter has no parallel among tn
penal codes OF civilized nations II two pei
| sons conspire to threaten any citizen in tn
| enjoyment of any right or privilege secured I
| him by the constitution or laws of the Unite
States, or because OF his having exercised sue
| right or privilege, they are liable, under sec
| tiOn 5,5OS, TO a fine or $780, and to fmprisor
| ment Tor q term Of 10 years although the threa
:, may not have been carried out or It's executio
{ even attempted. II some timfd or maliciou
i partisan can satisfy ajury of his own poiitica
and biased court. that two or more person
!, have agreed among themselves to intim idai
9 him in the free exercise and enjoy ment of h
: rights he VIII secure their conviction an
: their punishment by enormous fines and Ion
Imprisonment, although In fact he may ne
r | have been inttmidated or scared at all or ti
n jured in any respect whatever. And to TIL
:, penalty shall be added eligibility to an
II by the constitution or laws OF the Unite
l., States. This Is the very barbarism of part
:. warfare and has it. origin In the most vindi
'i tive passions of the human heart.
e. Penal codes for the purpose OF securing an
Of maintaining party ascendeDcy are familiar
the historian of every age, but none have bet
| more malignant than this. Bearing this IA
e. in mind, a X the attention of the Ssnate ne
n, to another branch OF this general system {
the suppression of free elections. Ii bears
- the oth-r parts of the system a close and VII
n connection. The Federal Government havil
re usurped full and completeau over eve
: species OF elections. State, county, towDsh
u and city. and having given this usurpation,
charge OF the Federal courts and their onlciu