The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-29
To-Dav's Dispatches.
ANOTHER VETO.
Free Elections" no part of
the Republican programme
Contempt for the Constitute and dig
regard for the spirit of Republican
Institutions.

WASHINGTON. May 29.-Tne following
IS the message of the president, and was
delivered to the house of representatives
to. day:
To Ne House Of Representatives.
SIRS:-After mature consideration of
the bill entitled IAN act making appropri- |
atoms for the legislative, executive and
judicial expenses of the government for
the fiscal year ending June 30th. 1880, and
for other purposes" herewith return it
to the house OF representatives, in which
it originated, with the following objections
to its approval. The main purpose of the
bill is to appropriate the money required
to support, during the next fiscal year,
for the several civil departments OF the
government. The amount appropriated
exceeds in the aggregate $lS,000,0 ,000
This money is needed to keepIn operation
the essential functions of all the great de-
partments of the government-the legis
lative, executive and judicial. If the bill
contained no other provisions, no objection
to its approval would be made. 1t em-
braces, however, number of clauses re-
lating to subjects of great general interest,
which are wholly unconnected with the ap-
preparation which it provides for; with my
objections to the practice of tacking gener-
al legislation to the appropriation bills, es-
pecially where the object is to deprive a
coordinate branch Of the government of
its right, to the free exercise of its own dis
cretion ard judgment. Touching such
general legislation as was set forth in the
special message in relation to the house
bills, no one of which was returned to the
house OF representatives on the 29th of
4 L. kLnk L. -,
which were then expressed to this method
of legislation, have not seemed to congress
of sufficient weight to dissuade from this
renewed incorporation of the general en-
actment in an appropriation bill, and that
my constitutional duty in this respect and
the general legislation thus placed before
me, cannot be discharged without seeming
to delay, however briefly, the necessary
appropriations by congress, for the support
of the government Without repeating those
objections. | respectfully refer to that
, message for & statement Of my views on
the principle maintained in debate by the
advocates of this bill, viz: That TO with
hold appropriations is a constitutional
means for the redress Of what the majority
of the house OF representatives may regard
as a grievances bill and contains the fol,
lowing clauses, viz: And it Is provided
further that the following section Of the
revised statutes of the United States,
namely: Sections 2,0l6; 2,0lS and 1920,
and all of the succeeding sections of the
said statutes, down to and including sec
| ton 2,O27 and also section 1922 be anC
the same hereby repealed, and that all th'
other sections of the revised statutes anC
ali laws and parts Of laws, authorizing tht
appointment of chief supervisors of elec
ton, special deputy marshals OF elections
or general deputy marshals having
any duties to perform or in any respect Il
any election and presenting their dutle
and powers and allowing them C0upensa
lti)ns, be and the same are hereby re
, pealed. 1t also contains clauses amending
sections 2, OF, 2,0l9, 2028 and 2,03l, Q
e the revised statutes of the section Of tht
revised statutes, which the bill, III approved
would repeal or amend and are part 0
= an act approved May 30, lS7O,and amend
ed February o. 1871, entitled: An aC
TO enforce the right of the citizens OF tn
United States, to vote in the several state
of this unioD, and for other purposes. All {
the provisions Of the above named act!
which it is proposed in this bill to repeal c
J, modify, relate to congressional elections II
maining q portion of the law which wi
continue in force after the enactment {
this measure, is that which provides fC
the appointment by judge of the circu
court of the United States, OF tw
supervisors OF elections, in each electlo
. district at any congressional election, 0
!, due application of citizens who desire IN tE
language Of the law to have such election
| guarded and scrutiDiZed. The duties
the supervisors will be to attend at th
polls at all congressional elections and
:. remain after the polls are open until ever
vote cast has been counted. But the
will have no authority TO make arrests
to perform other duties than to be IN II
immediate presence Of the officers holdlr
n election and to witness all their procee
lipgs. including the counting Of votes al
making a return thereof. The part Of Il
q election law which will be repealed by ii
in approval of this bill, includes those section
which give authority to supervisors
d election TO personally scrutinlze, count al
le canvass each ballot and all the section
= which confer authority upon the Unite
States marshals, and deputy marshal
in connection with COMPRESSION
elections. The enactment of this bill W
= also repeal section 5,522 of the Grimm
statutes of the United States, which "
enacted for the protection of United Stat
" officers engaged in the discharge OF The
duties at congressional elections. III
section protects Supervisors and marsha
10 the performance of their duties, by Il
making Of obstructions or the assaultiI
. of these ohicers or any interference WI
ses them. by bribery or solicitation or othe
Of wise, crimes against the United State
I'd The true meaning and effect of the pI
ri. r . posed legislation is plain, that superY
ow ors with the authority to observe and W
ness proceedings at congressional eietlo
will be left out, but there will be no pow
WA TO protect them or to prevent lnterteren
. with their duties or to punish any violati
. of the law from which their powers a
derived. Ii this bill is approved, only
shadow of the authority of the Unit
States at national elections will remaln,t
substance will be gone. The supervise
of elections will be reduced to mere
spection without authority on the part
supervisors to do any act whatever
make the election fair one. All u
will be left to supervisors is the permlssl
to have such oversight of elections as
litical parties are in the habit OF exercise
without any authority of law, 10 order
Y prevent their opponents from obtain
unfair advantage. The object OF the Dill
to destroy any control whatever by the