Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-09

toned i'm this section, and which the
commissioners may issue, are such as
are provided for the arrest and intimi-
dati0n of voters before elections, on cleo
ton day, and afterward. They are such
as are contemplated in chapter seven of
! the title "Crimes," on which | have al
ready commented. We behold, there
fore, by virtue OF this most amazing sec
ton, the Army and Navy OF the United
States, not placed under the command
/ of the President or such persons as he
may empower, presumably an officer OF
! high rank and character, TO regulate and
/ control elections, but ordered TO obey
/ the summon and CALI of the lowest
/ agents, and naturally, the vilest instru
ments of this whole perniCiOus business.
/ Let us pause and look for a moment at
| the scene which is here provided for.
| The Circuit Courts OF the United States
and the District Courts OF the
| Territories are authorized by
section 1855 to increase the
number of commissioners from time to
time, so as TO afford a speedy and con-
venient means for the arrest and ex-
animation OF persons charged with |
crimes against the election laws, until |
the whole land shall swarm with COM |
missiOners bent on the success Of their |
party. Then these commissioners, APP |
pointed for a political purpose, are EN- |
powered in every county in the United |
States to appoint one or more persons |
whom they may deem suitable to ex- |
ecute their process and carry out their |
edicts. And how astounding and in |
credible it seems in this age OF advanced |
civilization, that these innumerable
deputy commissioners, these irrespons-
iblesublcsSees of Unconstitutional power,
should have by the express words OF |
American law, the authority to summon
and call to their aid not merely the by
ISLANDERS and posse comitatuS of the
country, but such portion OF the land or
naval forces OF the United States or Of
the militia rs they may consider ne
cessary to the performance OF their
duties!
Here are the plain words OF the law,
and no one will gainsay my statement.
Who are these people on whom the
most tremendous powers known 10
human governments have been so
lavishly bestowed? | have no word of
disparagement for United States COM
miSSiOners, appointed TO perform the
legitimate duties of that useful office;
but for political instruments, thrust bv
partisan hate and ambition i'm that posi-
ton, and for those still below them, |
have neither respect nor forbearancc.
Yet OF such as these are made the
commanders OF the military and naval
forces of this Government; To these mis-
erable, cringng camp followers Of any
n -, |
the lowest and most disreputable places |
in the rear rank Of political warfare, the
prOudcSt plumed chieftaiu, the most
peerless warriors on land and on sea,
must bow their tall heads and obey their
mandates. Will some one tell me how
Sherman, bearing a higher rank than |
even Washington ever bore, is to escape
obedience to a deputy United States
commissioner? Will some one point out
to me how, under the law as it now
ttands, Sheridan, Hancock, or the Secrc-
k4rY eGu MSnPFa Fan RnScaalto Scaal-to56ratioh to any oil
spring of the political sewer appointed
by United States commissioner and
bearing a warrant or other process for
the arrest of .itizcn charged with an
otIcnse against the election laws2
The speaker at this point was inter
rupted by slight shower OF rain. The
audience, as one man, shouted to "Go
on" that they could stand it. With an
umbrella held over him by some one on
the platform, the Senator accordingly
proceeded:
These are the laws which caused the
recent extra session OF Congress. The
Democratic representatives in both
branches of Congress determined they |
would not lay taxes on the population
of the country To support laws which
virtually disfranchiSed them. The Re-
publican leaders, going somewhat be-
yOnd the
Practices of Highwaymen,
demanded your money and your liber-
ties both. They demanded your money
in appropriation bills, to be used in de-
priviug you of your liberties.
The Democratic members Joined |
issue on this demand. 4 more
glorious issue on behalf OF mans ca.
pacity for seli-gOvcrnment on the one
hand, and a more infamous issue against
freedom and right on the other, has not
been known in human history for over
200 years. Every assertion of prinCi-
pie, every tendency of thought and ac-
ton, every impulse, every sentiment,
every struggle put forth by the repre-
Sentatives OF the Democratic party at
the late extra session of Congress was
on the side of your natural right, my
friends, 10 govern yOursell-On the side
of the absolute truths of the Declaration
OF Independence; in harmony with
every aspiration OF down-trodden men
Z 1. l,t, = 81 =. |
contrary every thought, purpose. and
effort OF the Republican party, not only
during tine extra session, but for many
years before, has been 20 introduce
force, cOmpulsion, intimidation into
choosing of public officers. The leaders
oi that party have clung to the bayonct
10 rule a free people in time of peace.
They lean upon force, and not upon
the consent of the governed. Ii
there is a man here to-day who sincere
~ believes in that dOCtrine--in the dOr-
trine that he and his Countrymen ought
To be managed, regulated and super
vised on election day by soldiers
pass him by. / have no argument or
appeal to make To him. He, is unfit TO
take part in the Government which our
fathers made. lie was born 10 be a
slave. and ought 20 have lived in Rome
when a deprayed emperor bestowed up
on his horse higher privileges than the
citizens OF Rome enjoyed. But to the
free men oi Ohio, men born free and fit
to be iree-to you appeal in the death
less spirit OF seli-government, the eter-
nal spirit of liberty. Shall the army
rule your elections, or will YOU rule
them? That is the question. Shall
the roll OF the military drum
call out the guards to the polls, or will
you guard them yourselves? There is
not monarchy in the world where even
qualified suffrage prevails, in which the
enforcement of the election laws would .
not create revolution. Nearly a
hundred and fifty years ago the people
of England, although governed by a
king, declared bv act OF Parliament that
he should not under any circumstances, /
or by virtue of any pretense, place |
troops at or near a voting precinct on |
elpctiOn dav. From that hour to this |