The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-05-30

provisions the elections have been compare
lively peaceable, orderly aud honest. Even
the opponents of these laws have borne testi-
mony to their value and efficiency and to the
necessity for their enactment. The committee
of the 44th Congress, composed of members
majority of whom were opposed to these laws,
in their report on the New York election of
1876 said:
"The Committee would commend to other por-
lions OF the country and to other cities this remark
the local and federal authorities acting in harmony
for an honest purpose. In no portion of the world
and in no era OF time, where there has been an ex
preston of the popular will through the forms of
law has there been more complete and thorough
illustration of republican institutions. Whatever
may have been the previous habit or conduct Of
elections in those cities or howsoever they NAV CON
duet themselves in the future this election of 1876
will stand as a monument of what good faith, hon
est endeayor, legal form and Just authority NAV do
for the protection of the electoral fanchse.
This bill recognizes the authority and duty
of the United States to appoint supervisors to
guard and scrutinize the Congressional cleo
tons, but it denies to the government of the
United States all power to make its supervision
effectual. The great body of the people of all
parties, want free and fair elections; they do
not think that free election means freedom
from the wholesome restraints of law, or that
the place of an election should be sanctuary
for lawleSSneSS and crime. On the day of an
election peace and good order are more neces-
sary than on any other day of the year. On
that day the humbleSt and feebest citizens,
the aged and infirm, should be, and should
have, reason to feel that they are safe in the
exercise of their most responsible duty, and
their sacred right as members of society, their
duty and their right to vote. The Constitu-
tional authority to regulate the Congressional
elections which belongs to the government OF
the United States, and which it is necessary to
exert to secure the right to vote to citizens
possessing the requisite qualifications, ought to
be enforced by appropriate legislation. So far
from public opinion in any part OF the country
favoring any relaxation OF authority
of the government in the protection
of election from violence and corruption.
1 believe it demands greater vigor both in the
enactment and in the execution of laws framed
for that purpose. Any oppression, ANY partisan
partiality which experience may have shown
in the working of existing laws may well en-
gage the careful attention both of Congfess
and the Executive in their respective spheres
of duty for the correction of mischiefs. AS no
Congressional elections occur until after the
regular session of Congress will have been
held, there seems to be no public exigency that
would preclude seasonablc consideration at
that session of any administrative details that
might improve the present methods designed
for the protection of all citizens in the COM
power of suffrage at such elections. But with
my views both of the constitutionality and of
the value of the existing laws cannot approve
any measure for their appeal except in connec-
ton with the enactment of that legislation
which may reasonably be expected to afford
wiser and more efficient safeguards for free
and honest Congressional elections
(Signed) RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
Executive Mansion, May %, 1879.