Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-05-07
Veto Message.

Tn, following Is the message OF Pres
:lent Hayes, vetoing the house bill, en-
lied An act making appropriations
Gr the support of the army for the fis-
~ wear ending June 30th, 1880, ana for
other purposes"
me House Of Representatives:
~ Rave maturely considered the important CUES.
- nrcs-pted by tia bill entitled 40 act making
Ly,priatons for the support Of the army Tor the
sFPi ending June 30th 1850, and for other
~ n,.ss and return it to The house of rep
.llntatiyss in which it originated with
MY OBJECTION TO IT'S APPROVAL.
nh bill provides in the usual form for appropria-
50 rsouired for the support of the army during
a. next fisca year. If it contained no other pro-
,',ons it would receive my prompt approval 1t
indies however, further legislation which at
nod AS il il, to the appropriations which are
pi.te for the efficient performance OF some of the
most necessary duties OF the government
.,,,ivss questions of the gravest character. The
In section OF the bill is amendaory of the statute
u in iorce in regard to the authority Of persons in
bs civil military and naval service of the United
80 ar the place where any general special
ZION is held in any state This statute was
pred February Is, 1865, after protracted debate IN
n, senate, and almost without opposition in the
ouse Of representatives by the concurrent votes of
th Of the leading political parties OF the country
r, became a law by the approval OF President Lin
1ln 1t was re-enacted in 1874 in the revised
,,tue, Of the United States sections Pow and 552S
,-tieh are as follows:
SETON 2O02 No military or naval offer or
,,6-r porson engaged in the civil, military or naval
sr,ice of the United States, shall order, bring.
sssp or have under his authority. or control, any
.ro61s or armed men at the place where any general
Ar specal election is held in any state, unless ii be
necessary to repel armed enemies of the United
states or TO keep peace at the polls.
S-ction 552S. every officer of the army or ma
~ ar other person in the civil military or naval
,rrytce Of the United States, who orders, brings,
,eeps or has under his authority or control any
f,oops or armed men at any place w0ere gene
mi or special election lis held IN any state, unless
.ucb force be necessary to repel armed enemies
Of the United States, or u keep peace at polls,
snail be fined not more than five thousand dollars
and suffer impris onment at hard labor not less
than three months nor more than I'VE years.
tbs AMENDMENT PROPOSED
in this statute in the bill before me, omlts from
10Th OF the fore2ong sections the words, 'or to
keep the peace a; the polls The effect OF the
adoption of this amendment may be considered
first upon the right of the United States govern
meut to use the military force to keep peace at
an election for members of congress; and Sec
ond upon the right OF the government by evil
authority to protect these elections IRON violence
and fraud. In addition TO the sections in the
statute above quoted, me following provisions OF
law relating to the use of military at elections
are now IN force.
Section 2O3 No officer o. the army or navy OF
the United States shall prescribe, or Tx, or ut
tempt prescribe, or fix by proclamation or 9TH
aTw ise thc qualifications OF voters III any state,
or in any manner interfere with the freedom u
any election IN any state, or with the exercise OF
the free rights of suffrage n any state.
Section 5s29. f 'ery officer or other person in
the military or navel service who bv force, threat,
intimidation, order, advice or otherwise, pre-
vents, or attempts to prevent any qualified voter
Of any state from freely exercising the right or
Suffrage at any general or special election In
such states shall be lined not more than 5000
and imprisoned =. nard labor not more than hye
'earS.
vv W bn hos
uIescribe or fix, whether by Proclamation, order
Or otherwise, the qualifications OF voters at any
election IN any state, shall be punished as pro-
ilded IN the preceding section.
section 553l. Every officer or other person in
le military or naval service who by force, threat,
IlimdatiUn or otherwise, compels or attempts
TO Compe! any officer holding an election in any
STATE, 10 secure a vote from any person not To-
galg qualified to vote, or who imposes or at.
pmpts 10 impose any regulations ior conducting
any general OF special election in any state dli-
Hreut from those prescribed by law or who III
,srtrres in any manner with any officer OF cleo
Jon In the discharge Of his duty shall be pun
sled rs prescribed IN section 5229.
Section 5J32 Every person convicted OF any
'rnses specified in the five preceding sections
SAIL in addition to punshmen.s therein sever
-presCribed, be disqualified from holding any
| Ice of honor, profit or trust under the United
N2tes; but nothing in these sections shall be
Construed 10 prevent any officer, soldier sailor, or
marine, from exercising the right OF suffrage ia
1y election district 10 which he may belong If
Slate In which he offers TO vote
THE FOREGOING ENACTMENTs
would seem 10 be sufficient TO prevent military
Interference with elections But The last con
EiesS to remove all apprehension OF such inter-
eieHce, added 10 this body of the law section ID
Wlhe act entitled AN act making appropriations
Tor the support of the army for the fiscal year end
ny June Both 1873. and Tor other purposes ap-
proved June 18th, IS, g, which is as follows:
Section 18th. From and after the passage of
l1S act 1t shall not be lawful TO employ any part
A' The army Of the United State as posse CONT
Aibs or otherwise, for the purpose OF executing
'lr law except in such cases and under snch cir
tuusanccs as such employment OF said force may
oetHpressy authorized by the constitution or by
nacl OF congress, and no money appropriated by
lN dct snail be used to pay any OF the expenses
incurred In the employment OF any troops in vo-
iIon OF this section, and any person wllinlly
coating the provisions OF this section shall be
.semed gu lty OF misd meanor, and on CONVICTION
,6ereot snail be punished by fine not exceeding
u ,Vh, or Imprisonment hot exceeding two
!ta,s, or both such fine and imprisonment,
mus act passed the senate alter iuIl considera-
.ou without single vote recorded against IT on
IN uhai passage, and by Il majority OF more than
"p u rdS II was concurred IN by the house OF
representatives..
ihE PURPOSE OF THE SECTION QUOTED
nas stated in the senate by one OF it. supporters,
w, Therefore hope, without getting Into aug
,"toYeFsy about the past, but acting wisely for
,t1 Alure, 1nat it shall take away the idea that
I"g army can be used by general or special
Putty marshal, or any marshal, merely for cleo
,.'A purposes, or posse, ordering them about
pol!s or ordering them anywhere else where
s,.e j. no election going on to prevent disor-
ls'' or suppress disturbances that should be sup
ta.>atu ny the peace officers of the state: or If
s-g' must bring others to their aid they should
,ss"nch unorganzed citizens and not summon
.s ''l'cFS aud men of the army as posse c0nlS
.t 70 quell disorders aud thus get up feeling
I.lg WIN be disastrous to peace among the peo-
pug OK The country"
III he house Of representatives
THE OBJECT or THE ACT OF rs
'N stated by gentleman who had II in charge
s'a'idf terms. lie said: But these are minor
a,.".s ana insignificant points CON pared with the
-. WIuclple which was incorporated by he
..'e 10 the bill in reference To the use of armed
rE I I'D peace " The senate had already included
1.,+L lGeS called and what we night ooept as the
FBsEt'p!er bht they had stricken out the penalty
-t. aaa stricken out The word expressly " SO
,1a. we we army might DE used in all cases where