Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-05-16
The Veto of the Bill Forbidding Troops at
the Polls.

the Polls.
Baltimore Sun.
The President has vetoed the separate
bill to prevent the interference of the
military with elections, upon the specific
ground that such bill, if it should be-
come law, would curtail the constitu-
tional authority of the executive office,
ard would amount to "a substitution OF
the discretion of the State governments
for the discretion of the government OF
the United States as to the performance of
It's own duties" Mr.. Hayes at the same
time. recites the views given in his pre-
vious veto message, refers to the act OF
June IS, 1878, in relation to the posse CONF
tatas, and assents to the general PROPOSE
ton that any military interference what
ever at the polls is contrary to the spirit
OF our institutions. "No soldiers. either
of the Union or of the State militia" he
adds, ''should be present at the polls to
take the place OF perform the duties of the
ordinary Gil il police force. There has
been and will be no violation OF this rule
under orders from me during this admin
isLration." The point he contends for IS,
to use bis own language, that There
should be no denial Of the right OF the
national government to employ its mill
tary force on any day and az any place in
case such employment is necessary to en-
force the cons tuition and laws Of the
United States But while he cites the
acts of 1892, of 1895 and Of 1907 in support
of his position, it does not APPEAR either
from the laws themselves or III the light
of history, that these acts were framed
with any reference, Immediate or remote
to popular elections. In this connect ion it
may here be mentioned that tie views Of
Mr.. Hayes Oh the subject OF tie veto, and
when aud why to exercise it, are not in &C
cord with those of other than democrats
lii times past, when it was, as it should
always BIT, one of the aims Of statesmen to
conform their pubic acts first to the logic
Of the constitution, rather than to the
leanings of party or the mere sticking of
personal pride. The late President Tay-
lor, typical Southe, WING, in his famous
| ALLISON letter. which secured him the
nomination in 1913, said explicitly:
The power given by the constitution to
the Executive to interpose his veto is a
high conservative power; but in my Opin-
ion, it should never be exercised except in
cases of clear violation of the constitution,
or manifest haste and want Of due consid-
Grafton by Congress. Indeed [ have
thought that for many years past the
known opinions and wishes of the Execu-
tive have exercised undue and injurious
influence upon the legislative department
of the government, and from this cause l
have thought our system was in danger of
undergoing a great change from it's true
theory. The personal opinion of the indi-
vidual who may happen to occupy the ex-
ecutive chair ought not to control the ac-
ton of Congress upon questions of domes-
tic policy, nor ought his objections to be
interposed when questions of constitution
al power have been settled by the various
departments of government and acquiesced
in by the people,
Practically, upon the same grounds of
the present veto, Mr.. Hayes might refuse
to sign bill precribing rules for the re-
form of the civil service. because any such
bill must begin by limiting the Executives
discretion and freedom of choice in appoin-
ting civil officers of the government. But
the action Of the President in vetoing the
bills which have been submitted to him by
Congress, with view to putting at rest
the annoying question of military interior
ence in election will, after all, perhaps, in
due time meet fitting judgement at the
hands of the people.