New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-21
THE REPORT.

judiciary having had under consideration the messa-
OF the President disappearing Of House bill No. l3o2
entitled, Act Prevent Military Interference with
Elections" submit the ioo wing statement Of the rea-
sons why they cannot concur With the views Of the
majority OF said committee:
The repeated efforts said report 20 make Il appear
that right authority to interfere with state cleo
tions on with the freedom anu lawful conduct Of any
elections claimed asserted any quarter l. hardly
deserving of serious notice. The minority 10 Congress
have made such claims. TIE night Of Federal super
vision contended for applies TO Congressional elections
only This is entirely ignored IN the report OF the major
ty. Their report proceeds upon the false assumption
that President advocates The OF Federal author
ily to supervise state elections. No sucl claim Is made
the message under consideration in auy other
uterance of the President. Neither does the
advocate or justify military interference with
the freedo Of any elections the contrary the Presi
dent uses the following language.
II Is historically during the rebellion there
such interference in cases when facuou dom.-
nant element OF dsoyaty existed. These necessi
ties growing Of the nature Of tGe conflict and the
anomalous condition OF the seeding and border States
They were, IN sense, OF partisanshp. Military
orders were Issued Tor he purpose by Officers on the
army irrespective their political Affiliations Among
the earl" ana most notable OF sucn orders was that
HEADQUARrERs ARMY or THE POTOMAC
WAsHiSGToS, oct. %. 1851.
GENERAL: There Is apprehension among Union
citizens In many parts OF Maryland u attempt az
citizens the occasion o. the fecOL, TO take place
the oh OF November next
ing directs that You send detacnments Ola sufficient
number of men 10 tue different points n your vicinity
voters aud 10 thar dsunionsJs allowed to
umdate them or in any way % interfere Win their
rights lie also desires 10 arrest aud hold IN con
hnemen until after the election al disunOnisjs who
known 10 nave returned irOm virginia recently and
of me- eeren For the ugrpose OF carving onf these
Ou "A al Z4d NaUeIs
corpus. General Stone has received similar instruc
tiOns 10 these You will please confer wtu him as to
tne particular points that each snail the control Of
am, SIR very respectfully your 9oedent servant;
NQjJr-GeHer0l y. F. BANKS Commanding Dir,S5On
Muddy Branch, v. d.
Before the close Of The rebellion and while deuounc-
ing the sippress ~ failure. the party now
demanding this legislation ert-d tne author "
oruer above quoted as Its candidate for the Presi-
These and similar orders undoubtedly exercised an
influence IN securing the enactment OF the law OF $50
and place OF any general special eecti in any Sa
except necessary o. repe enemies OF
United states or % keep the peace &C The polls, ana also
prohibits military navu officer from prescribing
the qualifications Of voters. or IN any manner nterfer NJ
with exercise the free right Of suffrage in any
Tuis law, with rate pena ties or its gio
laon was approved by President Lincoln and since IL
enactment do not believe there has been any we'll
grounded cause Of complaint Of military interference
with elections No such instance Il cited IN the report
majority It refers, IL IL true 10 the military N
terferencr during che rebellion aud especially IL 1903
All else Is mere assertion without Instances OF truth
Inc monstr2us frauds PeIpetrtLed IN me state OF
"A
Congressional Investigation az the ensuing session Of
Congress, and followed by a report suggesting
such frauds u election members or the
House OF Representatives.. The act or 1870 entitled
An Act % enforce the right OF citizens Of TIE Uned
% vote the several states OF this Union, and
for other purposes, was To considerable extent tue
OutCrOwth Of Investigations The enforcement OF
tine provisions OF this act amended n ISL has had
most who esome tendency 10 secure free and honest
elections. Ia the Presidential and Congressional con-
test or 1876 intel sely exciting any our history
ITS enforcement purged the canvass OF al successful
"a
the baot-box and in counting the votes riot In the
Alter weary months OF failure to accomplish
peal The design is now apparent m some way 20 tnwart
state supervision in al elections. The present
pr0Dlu0us time 10 attempt Interference with ls opera
ton No effort Is 20 De- spared To rn err imperative
The gravity OF the situation Is sufficient warning Ter
the exercise o. the utmost caution. When IL is more
than lutlmated thtt ne execution OF ts Is 10 re
fOrcby resisted IA the next National contest unless n
il III Jc -lie ltlfe'' We CIilo' C'lIsehs
evil officers OF the United states enforce pro
visions. II remain the Ia or the land An efforts
for us repeal have oeen for the present abandoned IL
is tue constitutional duty Of the President 20 that
faithfully executed. Many Of its provisions are ap-
plcdDle TO- aAd Ohy 10 ne rhiofced on me LAY an Tec
ton neld. Why should the authority 10 al law
or crippled on th,t dav Z The laws should be
executed all days and at All times and
places. To abdCdte the authority of The Government
ier-lon oui he a f,t,I nstake and constitute pr
cedent OF the most dangerous character
The reasoning OF the report OF The majority ulm-
mates at in the unconditional ayOwal That all elec
tons state ELECTIONS, ana chat no law OF Congress
can control interfere with the officers OF the state a.
any election unless tue state authorizes invoke the AID
OF the genera verDmr Mt, as provided IN the COnsttu
ton. TINS ) asserting fhe pernciOu' dogma OF state
suBreHac IN most obnoxious form.
DeeuIug these suggestions. contained rs well IN the
MESA r referred the committee u tue early one
commented by the major -, upon the main fca
lures uc and touching Jbe improperly OF IncOrpc
rating genera leg sisOn into Appropriation bills, emil
uenty wise harmony with the course 81 iegsia-
ton practice OF many OF the states tae MI
nority cannon conclude Tner without placing on
record an phatc and unqualified protest agans the
uudignihed and disrespectul tone aug IN the ma
orty report toward Official Communications from the
Chief Magistrate OF the Nation. COucurrlng We 90
with tie views well expressed, and so strongly ell
forced message under cOnsIdeiatou, We DO not
deem 10 advisable or necessary 10 dWeA at greater
len xtH the subject.
concur conclusion o. the report ~ the ma
orty that the committee be disc ared from lis further
considerations 4. C. LAPHAM,
GEORGE ID. kOBINsOS,
WILLIAM MCKINLEY. JR.,