Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-06-25
Mr.. knott'S Report.

RepreSentlve hnotl oi INC iA""Se
judiciary committee on Wednes-
iay, says the Saginaw Courier, sub
mitted the report of the committee |
on the Presidents veto of the .
interference bill. The Oh
iect Of the document is to present an
authentic statement Of the views
Of the House Of Representatives in
regard to the important question
which Congress and the President
are diometrically opposed in opin-
ion. The vetoes of the army and
Interference bills have
frustrated the intentions of Con-
gress and postponed legislation on
the subject until after the close OF
the terms, both the present execu-
tive and the present Congress.
THE REPORT,
after a line of introduction, pro-
ceeds as follows:
The dangers to be apprehended
from the presence of armed bodies
Of iroops at the ballot box may not
be discussed. They have been re-
peatedly illustrated in the history OF
our own and others countries, II
thew are not sufficiently obvious,
indeed. to suggest themselves in
stantlv 10 the most ordinary capaci-
". The present secretary of war
has laid it down in his work on the
American law Of election as an
automatic truth that an armed
force in the neighborhood of tue
polls is almost of necessity menace
To the voters and an interference
with their freedom and independ-
ence. and even the author of the
message under consideration him
self admits "that any military inter-
I ference, whatever. at the polls, Is
contrary to the spirit Of our insii-
tons and would tend to destroy the
freedom of elections"
APPREHENSIoNS JUSTIFIED.
The circumstances under which
the Legislation of SOS, which is sub
stantially the same as that now in
force on the subject, was enacted
are then reviewed. Reference is
made to the apprehension felt al
the time that the clause authoriz-
ing the use Of the army to keep
peace at the polls would be igno-
rant or wilfully misconstrued as an
attempt by Congress to confer mp
on federal officers authority to per-
form the functions Of conservators
Of the peace at State elections, and
that under the pretext Of doing so
they could effectually destroy the
freedom Of the ballot, and evade
the penalties prescribed by the act
with IMMUNITY. The report adds
In the light Of recent history it
is unnecessary TO enumerate the
repeated and alarming instances in
which their apprehensions in that
regard have been more than justi-
I fed. To remove that preteNt, there
fore, and prevent, IL possible, re-
currence Of such dangerous prac-
tees in the future, the present Con-
greSs, in the exercise Of its un-
doubted right 10 prescribe the pur-
I poses for which the land and naval
forces Of the government shall be
used, saw proper in making appro'
priations for the support Of the
army for the ensuing year 10 strike
those words from the statutes, s
that il should not only he clearl!
unlawful but penal offense 70
any federal official 10 employ troop
or armed men at State election
for any purpose whatever exeep
to repel the armed enemies Of th,
United States.
The fate Of this measure is thel
J reciied aud the reasons given b.
the President for returning it with
; out his approval are discussed.
METHODS OF LEGISLATION.
In answer to the Presidents oil
} lection 10 the manner in which tn
; repeal was proposed, the repoI
says:
IL may not be improper TO suc
/. gest here that the conStitntio
4 authorizes each House to determin
the rules Of its own proceeding
and without psusing 10 consid,
whether an unsolicited and censo
ious suggestion hy the executive
Z either Of them as 20 the propose
e mode Of procedure in accordanC
q with such rules should not he n
garded as an impairment interfel
ence with the constitutional priv
leges Of the Legislative departmer
e Of the government, IL is perhaI
o sufficient 10 say that the mann'
a IN which congress chooses to repe
the clause in question was not on
in strict conformity 20 the consi
tuition and the rules Of the ~
Houses respectfully, bot justifis
, bv numerous presidents In the al