The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-05-01

10 keep the peace could never be questioned
Under the act protecting elections, which CAV,
the United States jurisdiction in Congressiona
elections, the right to enforce that Jurisdiction
was also conferred. Up to 1864 no limitation
had ever been proposed to this constitutions
right. In 1861 Gen. Schenck and other Cen
erals issued orders keeping certain men from
/ the polls, ,and undertaking in some sort Il
i prescribe electoral qualifications Gen Me
! Clellan, a Democrat, and of course originally
| Inspired by the traditions of the democracy
(and he had never known Democrat during
that war who did not profess unlimited &C
qua1ntance with the spirit and meaning d
the constitution, even if he could no
read its title)-Gen. Mcclellan had issued
orders during the war which he (Conkline
now read, interfering very strongly to preserve
the peace at the polls and suspending habeas
corpus. 1t was some time after this before the
Democrats discovered the enormity of such
practices Two or three years afterward they
resolved that the war was failure, and hoped
by theaid of their northern sympathizers with
the rebellion to gain control of the Govern
ment. The man selected as their candidate
then was the same man who had tramlDled the
right of suffrage under foot and suspended that
ancient writ SO dear to AngIo-Saxons Such
things led to the act of 1866, not to confer DOW.
or, but to define and restrain it. It was intro
duced by man of whom il is related that On
your draft feel no interest in it. Kentucky's
quota is full on both Sides Even after the
words Cor to keep the peace at the polls1 we're
added to his BILL Mr.. Powell and other Demo-
Gratis urged the adoption of the measure as
amended. 1t was not, as has been alleged. q
war measure imperative in peace. It was
passed when the war was in It's last thro0s,
when our armies were victorious everywhere
under Sherman. 1t was meant to be, said to
be, and is, a mere check,
Mr. Conkling went on to anaIyze provisions of
law to support his argument that under the law
troops could no more act without definite au-
thority than Sheriff could hang culprit with
out warrant of law It also provided for the
very subordination of the military to the civil
power, now so earnestly advocated 1t also
provides that troops shall not be used save
when necessary. His friend from Connecticut
(Eatonl smiled. 1t was lawyer smile, but his
friend knew that the repose of discretion some
where was unavoidable Discrt ton NAV be
abused, and, as humanity was weak. ithad been
abused from the earliest times, but it was a
necessary evil Why, in heavens name, in a
republic where universal suffrage is cherished,
which is governed by majorities, should cleo
ton day be picked out as the only dav of the
year to be handed over to rufianism, brutality
and disorder? Mr.. Conkling referred to the
Democratic frauds by false naturalization
papers in New York elections In some
districts he said the Democratic major
tiles were larger than the whole number of
men, women, children, horses, dogs and cats in
the district Yet fraud by naturalization pa
pers and registration was but small part of
the irregularity on that election The election
Of 1870 was the first in which the national
election law was enforced and bloodshed was
feared. The terrible scenes of the draft riots
were fresh in the minds of all Fearing rope
tition of them, good citizens asked the President
for protection; and, in spite of the imprecations
and threats of the Democracy, Grant protected
them. That election was orderly, and when
New Workers next have occasion to show their
appreciation of Grants services his action in
1870 touching this matter will not be hidden
away by those who espoused him wisely. IF
this bill becomes law, Supervisors of election
will be merely lockers on, unable to deter bull
lies from intimidating voters. Many men have
been prosecuted and convicted under this law.
The courts uphold it's constitutionality. But
the theory of unconatitutionalitY has been
abandoned. The Democratic caucus itself has
acknowledged the worthlessness of that theory.
We were told it cost money to carry out this
law. Certainly it does. But the nation which
lavished hundreds of millions to preserve its
constitution would not stick at the payment of
$500, 00Oto preserve free elections. Applause.
The presiding officer (CoclrelD said repeti-
ton of the applause would lead to clearing of
the galleries.
Mr.. Conkling said the remarks of the presid-
ing officer led him to remember to say some
thing that the gentlemen would be interested
in-that the money squandered uselessiy in the
last River and Harbor Appropriation bill alone,
or even interest on it, would enforce the election
laws to the end of time. Let the rufianism at
the polls in the interest of either party cease
and there would be no need of further expense
in executing the election laws Mr. Presi-
dent, said Mr. COnkling, has the present Elk
ecutive been sufficiently robust in his policy
even as to enforcing these laws?" He asked
this in view of the fact that the next election
would occur during this administration Why
was this attempt made to block the wheels of
Government on the eve of an election? Only
one explanation is apparent. 1t is a strike for
party victory With fair election the
Democrats cannot carry the election. There
fore these laws must disappear The Demo-
Gratis know that with matters in their hands. no
matter what the Republican majority may be
where the green grass grows in New York State.
the Russ pavement in the great city win over
whelm it. This is a contrvance to catch the
Government, but he believed the people of the
country believed it was Wisest to intrust the
control of the country to hands which had
never been raised against it. They believed
these laws were wholesome and necessary, and
they would defend them to the uttermost point
which opportunity allowed.
Mr. Conkllng IN his allusion to Mr.. Davis,
Of Illinois, said that after Mrs Winslow that
Senator had an inexhaustble source of sooth-
ing s1rup The Senator reminded him of one
slumbering in storm and dreaming of calm.
The Senator seemed to think there was no
noise anywhere, and one could hear pin
drop, saying that rights were sacred South
and North and that there was peace and tran
quillity and the laws were obeyed, therefore
there was no occasion for apprehension OF
anxiety. Could rights be sacred when fresh
done barbarities show that elections in some
portions of the land were despotism tempered
with assassination, when old and young were
flying in terror from their homes and the
graves of their murdered dead? Rights secured
when thousands brave cold, hunger and death,
| asking among strangers for that treatment OF
humanity under law which made them citi-
zens while God made them men? Heaskod the
Senators to read the memorial in their behalf
containing the most shocking recitals of modern
times-the blacklist ever recorded in civilized
or savage life. There was not such faith as the
Senator possessed-no, not in Israel Order
reigns in Warsaw" The Republican party
wanted peace and prosperity in the South as
well as the North, but disregarding truth viii
not bring peace Fair words butter no pars.
nips. This lullaby and hush had been q mis-
take from the beginning 1t has misled NORTH
and South. In Andrew Johnsons time con