Feliciana sentinel., 1879-05-17
THE VETO.

fresIdent would veto the new army
bill. In consequence of these
warnings the public have been pro
pared for Mr.. Hayes decision
He has vetoed the bill. He has
vetoed it, probably, under the
pressure of solicitation from all of
the prominent leaders Of his rarty
in Congress and throughout the
and of the demands Of the
representative es of Re-
publican opinion. His reasons and
arguments are not of much conse-
quence. What is of Importance is
the proof which is given by the at
titade thus assumed by the Repnb-
iican party that they are resolved
to use the military forces Of the
United States for the purpose of
maintaining their hold on tho Pres
idency, of retaining the control
Of the Honse Of Representatives
and perhaps, of everthrowing the
governments Of several of the
Southern States. When a party
make up their mind to such a course
as this, they are very apt to deride
the force of public opinion. and to
rely solely on torco of audacity for
the maintenance of their power.
There IS not a Republican of note
in the country that does not assert
a strenuous disapproval of military
interference in elections, and vet
the Republican party have not hes
itated to profit by the results OF
military interferences, admitted on
all sides, to nave been fragrant
violations Of law.
The President takes care to tell
the country that, speaking for him>
self and administration, there has
been no military interference at ell
ections. and that there never will
be any such interference. But he
claims the right, which he insists
rests on many precedents, to employ
the army on election days at elec-
tions, at polling places, for what
he calls the enforcement of the con-
s,ituticn and laws Of the United
States. I'LL of which, not to pu,
too tine a point on it. is simply
twaddle. The bill itself contains
an exception in faver of such uses
OF the army, anywhere and at any
time, as may be permitted or re
quired by the constitution of the
United States.
But 1.-The laws of the United
States" says tho President; the
laws Of the United States clamor
the Republican orators "the laws
Of the United States" howl the Re-
publican newspapers-:hese mus.
be enforced, and they must be en-
forced, and they must be enforced
by military methods. President
Washington put down the whiskey
insurrection by the use Of the army,
says the President Mr.. Jefferson
suppressed the incipient Burr con-
spiracy by the nse of the army
says the President. Gen. Jack
son stifed notification by the use
Of the army, says the President.
Very true. But there is no record
that President Washington, in put
ting down the wh;skey insurrec-
tion, o. Mr.. Jefferson in SUPPRESS
ing Burr's conspiracy, or Gen.
jackson in sitting notification.
found it necessary to march the
army from poll to poll on election
days, or that elections were at all
an element in those cases. Those
were cases Of quasi war. and were
treated as cases of quasi war. No.
body would ask the United States
army to delay fighting a battle, or
putting down an insurrection, or
sitting a revolt, because it might
happen to be election day. Ali OF
the Presidents talk on this subject
is simple drivel. 1t has no appli-
cation to the question at issue,
which is whether or not the army
of the United States shall he en-
ployed at election polling places for
any ether purposes than those pro-
vided for by the constitution. To
listen to the President and his CO..
adjntors one would suppose that
elections were reasonable. gather
ings, and polling places camps Of
fragrant enemies of the Govern.
mept, instead of being what they
are, by the theory Of all free gov
ernments, the basis and support of
the Government-the foundation
on which all authority reposes.
Grimes against the election Jaws
are punishable by statute. like oth :