Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-05-08
The Army Bill.

4uo ARMY Dill
President Hayes has vetoed tho army
appropriation bill, and in his message re.
turning the bill without his approval has
assigned several reasons. His objections are
confined chiefly to the sixth section of the
bill, and to that portion which prevents the
use Of tho civil or military force of the Go
vernment to control elections. The features
Of the rider look somewhat to States rights,
holding that the control of oil elections for
State and United States officers belong pro-
perly to tho States, whose interest it is to
preserve the freedom and purity of elections.
The veto claims the right of Congress to
control elections for Federal officers, and to
prevent aud punish through Federal low
fraud and intimidation at such elections, and
especially under tho Fifteenth Amendment
lie also claims that the passage Of the ohjec'
tionable section is unnecessary and superfu-
Gus, rs it's object is fully accomplished by the
act Of 1878 attached to the appropriation
bill for that year, which forbids the use of the
army ns posse for the purpose of executing
the laws, except in cases and under circum,
stances euch as may bo expressly authorized
by the constitution or by act of Congress,
claiming that since the passage of that act
no case of military Interference with elections
has taken place.
Anether objection is that tho proposed
legislation takes from the President the power
of executing the laws now of force rs to cleo
tions, assuming that tho use of troops at tho
polls is necessary for that purpose, and
further that the States have no interest in or
power 10 secure fair and orderly eleo,ions for
Federal officers.
The last and perhaps most foroible ohjec-
tion is the shape in which the alteration of
the law is presented, being rider on an
appropriation bill. AS to this objection, the
bill is admitted to be in accordance with the
constitution to tack diverse measures to any
bill, and that both parties have prao,iced it
forty years or more. In our State and in
most Of the States there is constitutional
Inhibition to such legislation, every bill being
required to rotate to one subject which shall
be expressed in the title. We think this
wise measure. but neither tho Federal const-
tuition nor the practice of Congress has over
recognized such a requirement, so that the
veto cannot be sustained on this ground.
The Honse, on vote whether the bill
contrary Notwithstanding, atood 100 for tho
passage Of tho bill to ITO against it, and tho
bill was lost for want of two-hirds vote
The great question now is what course tho
Democratic party shall take.
On the lst instant the joint committees
from the House and Senate, appointed by the
Democratic caucus to report what course of
action should be taken by the Democrats.
agreed on plan which though not yet mad 0
public, is understood to be substantially os
follows
1T will recommend tho repassage of the
army appropriation bill with tho sixth
section changed so ne to apply only to officers
of tho army and navy and not to United
States civil officers thus obviating the princi-
pal objection raised by the President against
its approval. The argument by which thit
recommendation will be supported is, in brief
that the President vetoed the bill beoause Of
its alleged abridgmont Of the powers of til,
civil officers, that in reality this was not tn,
intention and would not be the effect of tht
bill rs heretofore passed., and tho Presden
having, in the opinion of tho Democrat,
party, evadcd tho moin issue, he should now
be given an opportunity to pass upon bill
which shall present to him the sole question
) whether or not the army or any portion of j
should be used to keep the peace at tho polls.
We approve fully Of this course, as the
wording of the sixth section gave tho SHADOW
Of reason for the veto in denying the rlgb
Of the civil officers OF the government to b,
present at the polls. With this featur,
; eliminated the veto must rest on the aim ant
purpose Of tho Radical party to use the mill
tary arm, of the government to influence ant
control elections. Iftthis course be adopted
by tho Democrats, 1t is believed tho bill viii
be again vetoed. which will put tho Demo
cratic party on better footing before III,
country. Should this occur the Democrat,
will doubtless pass tho appropriation bill,
without any riders and;shen submit the obiec-
tionable riders to tho President 10 the shape
esparate ac.o. This is the course advocated