The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-23

pfGSBfV6 SUCH qcpT0f
lent registration and fraudulent voting there
at: or fraudulent conduct on the part OF any
1MceI OF election, and Immediately, either at
the place of registration or polling place or.
elsewhere, and either before or after register
with or without process, any person who com.
mits, nj or attempts or offers 10 commit. any Of
she acts or ofenses prohibited herein, or who
United States" '" - 'Ae
Thus suppozted, and by sim aresser forces
when called ssr as shall show hereafter. the
supervisors are absolute masters O. the entire
SITUATION AM 1 to be ield that IL lessons the
Outrage on local self government because they
are 70 be OF difevent polftical parties? Does It
mitigate the crime againss the freedoms Of the
all the parties in she country may be appoint
ed by the administration ia power to coaamit
position.cf spy and informer On che hos,sst
voters oSthis county, who ie ewiliin } to In psde
there seize their bal.ot-boxes, and -rssst their
judges OF elections without process OF law can
diate all s1ch as consent TO be1yosne the instv,l
ments OF Federal power for the overthrow Of
gaTdiess Of the r,srtV name ~ ,hsv hsa &
pose we witr ess the operations OF a uair Of
these supervisors on election Gay under the
congress is 10 be chosen end so also is fhegoy-
ernor of the State, and alathe STATE and county
ticket The people OF tSe precinct have as
sembled to vote for thcse who make their
Laws, and for Others 10 execute them. A few
Old men are there whose fashers fought in the
revolution; here and there one who himself
fought IN the war of 1872. ard with Jacx-
son at New Orleans; the msddle-agedi in the
prime OF manhood and the youth with hfs>
first ballot In his hand ali mingIe together.
with the proud sense that they are seyereien.
especially on that day and a, that place.
AIoom has been secured. ard the judges and
clerks of the election, salectcd by the people
under the laws OF their Slate, have taken their
seats inside, near the accustomed window, for
the convenient reception of votes The jnoges-
are among the Oldest aud most respected ciff-
zens of the community. while the clerks
All IS ready for the great day S work to begin,
and FOR the ballot to execute the VIII of free
the laws OF the State, push Iorsard and de.
mand sdmittance. II the door or The window
break them in without hesitstloa or delay,
and proceed 10 take, occupy, and remain in
such position, whether before or behind the
ballot-box AS they ytpease They ara directed by
the law 10 80 fix themselves in place ana attI-
tude as to best en- able them, in their Judgment,
to watch the voters and see their faces as they
come mp to deposit their ballots, aud also to
scrutlnsze the manner in which the officers OF
come than Banouo's ghost, and with far great
er powers, they force themselves into the seats
of other men; but, unlike the spirit of that
murdered chieftain, they do not appear to
strike terror into guilty conscience, but rather
to the heart They are unlike that uneasy
ghost in another particular: they never leave.
ism INTO thin air. They remain to tse close OF
the banquet, masters of ceremony-from the
beginning to the end. But this is not all. II
election, single spark OF Impotence or 1ndig-
nation should be manifested at the presence of
these supervisors and If any pc SON by word.
a LOOK "a gesture, or in any other conceivable
way is thought by the supervisors themselves
to obStruct or hinder them or either of them,
In their approach, their assault, or their occu-
pancy, sacn person = liable to instant arrest
prisonment not more than two years, or by a
fine OF not more than 5000. or by both such
of the prosecution" II one of the OLD gray
haired judges on the board OF election, inspired
truders would have been exermiDaied like
marauding wolves in a sheep fold, should pro-
the State against being supe rseded ana thrust
aside, neither his age, bis official character nor
the ioSe and yeneraiion OF ms neigh5ors VIII
Bile pun ,shment which have just described.
5.522 OF the revised statutes, with the earnest
hope that every word OF 1t will be read and
carefclly considered by the American people
untilthe very name OF supervisors Of election
becomes an abhorrence In the public mind.
The section is as follows:
Livery person, whether with or without any
authority, power, or process, or pretended an !
thority, power, or process, of any state. terri
assaults, or by bribery, solicitation, or other
wise. iAterferes with or prevents the super
v,soss % 81 elefon, or e.oer OIL sss 'n aT
either OF them, in the performanceo Of any duty
reqnirsd OF them or either OF them. o. which
lzed to perform by any law ofthe United
states, IN the execution OF process or otherwise,
or W.T. o by any OF the means before mentioned
hinders or prevents the free attendance and
presence at such places OF registration or at
such polls of election. or full and free access
and egress toand from any such place of regis
tration poll of election. or in going TO and
from any such place OF registration OF pol OF
/: election, or 10 and from any room, where any
such registration or election or canvass OF
| votes, or OF making any returns or certificates
thereof, may be had. or who molesfs, ,interferes-
with, removes, or elects from any such place.
OF registration or pol Of election, or OF can
| turns or certificates thereof, any supervisor OF
election, the marshal, or his general or special
| or attempts, or offers SO TO do, or refuses or
negleets to AID and assist any supervisor Of
| election, the marshal or his general or
| special deputies, either OF them. in the per-
formance of his or their duties, when reqpired
aid and assistance, shall be Liable TO instant
i arrest without process, and shall be punished
| by a fine OF not more than %. .os0. or by both.
i snch fine and imprisonment. and shall pay the
Sir. / assert, in the hearing of the Senate and
voter, from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific ocean
and from the chain OF lakes on the north 10
the Gulf of Mexico. who Is not liable TO arrest
at any moment on election dav at the polls,
the mind or supervisor or de .uty marshal,
and with no other process or warrant than q
club pair of handouts. assert. and chai-
lenge denial. as lsng this law stands, that
every citizen of the United States holds his
personal liberty while attending the polls and
casting his ballot. solely and absolutely al the
| mere whim, caprice, Impulse, party malice.
| or private hate OF supervisor, or of his coed-
jntor, the deputy marshal. II 1t Is pretended
that py section 2. .0zs the supervisors OF election
for q county OF a parish can not make arrests.
my answer is that the section which have
Just read section b522, overrides all other pro-
visions ON this subject. and In express words
authorizes the instant arrest, without pro-
cess, OF every person who may In any con-
| ceivabie manner interfere with supervisor
or deputy marshal at any place OF fegistra-
ton or eieefisn in the United states where by
law such ofii.ers are entitled to Dc present
| verbally or In writing. No oath or Affirmation
| is required before the citizen Is dragged away
and 1ot Ted up Il Is only necessary for the mind
OF the oyerseer the deputy mal<hal 10 nx
| an offense upon voter, however innocent he
may be, and has arrest follows as fnstantane-
| ously rs the explosion OF powder follows the
| touch OF firc. The silent, unspoEen conc,E,
| sions of irresponsible, Ignorant. and brutal
partisan rrffians permitted. and indeed
required by existing laws 10 determine every
L oura rfrh IN liberty as . ~