Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-01
nailp Aennebet Journal.
Augusta, Thursday Morn'g, May l. 1872


army appropriation bill arr unanswerable.
First he recites the various laws which
have been passed and are in force in re-
gard to the interference of the military at
elections, by which it is plain to be seen
that there can be no military interference
with elections.
What then is the purpose of the demo-
Gratis in urging the amendment in the sixth
section of the bill? 1t is to deprive the
civil authorities of the United States of all
power to keep the peace at the Congress
ional elections. 1t is to prohibit all the
civil officers of the United States from en-
ploying any adequate civil force at any of
the places where elections are to be held
to make the national government entire
" helpless to enforce its own statutes in
regard to national electons-to deny it the
rights with which the constitution has in
vested it. The President squarely takes
issue with the democracy in this matter.
He first asserts that it is not the presence
Of the military at the polls they desire to
prohibition that is sufficiently guarded
against in existing statutes-but their aim
is to shackle the arm of the government
so that even the civil officers can do moth
ing to enforce the laws in regard to elec-
tons. Plainly they desire to get rid of
Davenport in New York and Others who
like him promote fair elections and so
stand in the way OF democratic success
through the fraudulent machinery en-
ployed by Tammany. But the President
plants himself firmly upon the constitu-
ton, claims that Congress has the right to
regulate the Congressional elections, and
objects to the taking away of that right as
proposed in this bill. This is sound re-
publican doctrine. and the enunciation of
il by the President will As sorely disap-
point the B0urbons as it will please the
stalwart opposers of the doctrines of state
Rights as understood in South Carolina
and by those everywhere who cling to the
Lost Cause. 1t is the important feature of
the message. 1t will give strength to the
republican party, uniting and marshalng
it for the great conflict Impending
The arraignment of the democratic
majority for their attemted coercion of the
Executive is bold and thorough. They
cannot escape the force of the indictment
drawn againt them, nor can they deny
that the President is right when he de
clares 1.-The new doctrine, if maintained
will result in consolidation of unchecked
and despotic power in the House of Repre-
senfatives. A bare majority Of the House
will become the government. The EXecu-
tive will no longer be what the trainers of
the constitution intended-an equal and in
dependent branch of the government. 1t is
clearly the Constitutional duty of the Pres
ident to exercise his discretion and Judge
ment upon all bills presented to him with
ont constraint or duress from any other
branch of the government.
To say that a majority Of either or both
of the Houses of Congress- may insist on
the approval of Il bill under the penalty of
stopping all of the operations of the govern
ment for want of the necessary supplies is
to deny to the Executive that share of the
Legislative power which is plainly con
ferred by the second section of the seventh
article of the Constitution. 1t strikes from
the Constitution the qualified negative of
the President. II is said that this should
be done because it is the peculiar function
of the House of Representatives to repre-
sent the will of the people, but no single
branch or department of the government
has exclusive authority to speak for the
American people. The most authentic
and solemn expression of their will is con-
tanned in the Constitution of the United
States. BY that constitution they have or
dered and established a government whose
powers are distributed among coordinate
branches which As far as possible. consis-
tently with harmonious cooperation, are
absolutely independent of each other.
The people of the country are unwilling
TO have the supremacy of the constitution
replaced by the omnipotencc of any de-
partment of the government The enact
ment of this bill into a law will establish
precedent which will tend to destroy the
equal independence Of the several branch
es of the government.
The message as whole is an able. con-
vincing, bold paper, having the ring of
the metal which republicans are gladto find
in their President. 1t will be endorsed
from Maine to California enthusiastically
by the republican party. What the demo
Gratis will do about it remains to be seen
The wisest among them long since saw
the folly which their party was commit
ting, but it is too late now to repent. They
are in predicament from which they can
not escape without disgrace, let them turn
which way they will.
tFrom the Bangor Wing and Courier