Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-04-29

time of peace. The Senate has already Gu.
ceded what they called, aud Whist wo might &C.
ccpt, as tho principle. but they had stricken out
the penalty, and bad stricken cut the word
Expressly. SO that the army might be used 10
all cases where Implied authority might be iu-
ferred. Tho House committee plated them
selves firmly upon tho d0ctIlDe that rather
than yield this fundamental principle. for which
three years this House had struggled, they
for would allow The bill TO misunderstanding
the reforms which no had ssoured-regerdiDg
these reforms as Of but liltlo consequence
ALONGSIDE the srea. principle that the army ct
the United States, 10 time OF pasc,, should
bo under the control of Congress, aud ohodions
to its laws. After long aud protracted pego-
tiatiop, the Senate committee have conceded
that principle 10 oil lis length and broatt,
including the pcDalty, which the Senate had
strickened out. We bring you back, therefore,
report, With the alteration OF single word,
which the lawyers assure mo is proper to be
made, restoring 10 this bill the prIrcIplo for
whiah we have coatcuded so lcug, and which
is 80 vital to secure herighs and liberties ofthe
people.
"Thus have We, this day, secured to the
psop!c of this country the same great proteo.
ton against a standing army which COST .
struggle of two hundred years for tho Com.
mons Of Eoglaud to s:crr' for the British
people"
From this brief review OF the subject, it
sufficiently appears that, under existing laws,
there can be no military Interference With the
! elections. No case Of such intclt :renco has,
10 fact, occurred siues the passage OF tho act
last referred to. No soldier OF tho United
States has appeared under orders a. any place
of election in auy State. No compliant tveu
Of the presence OF U0ited States troops has
been made in aoy quarter. 1t may, therefore,
bo confidently stated that there is no ueces
sity fer the enactment Of section SIX OF the
| bill before me to prevent military Interference
with the elections Tho laws a;r.ady ia fulce
| arc all that is required for that end.
But that part Of section Fix of this bill which
is significant and vitality Important il the clause
| which, if adopted, will deprive the civil au.
| thorities of the Usitod States OF all power to
keep the pcac, at the Congressional elections.
The Congressional elections in every district,
| 10 very important s,Dss, are Justly matter
Of political interest and concern tarcughou!
| tho whocRcountry. Each State, every polit.
oal party. is entitled 70 The share Ct power
which is col fired By the legal and consliu
tlOual suuIbSe. L. II VIZ ileu' vi esti1
ci,iz 20, possessing toe qualifications preacrb.
cd by law, to cast one ubiotimihatcd
ballot, and to have bis ballot honestly counted
So org as. the exercise of this power aud tho
endowment Of this right ara c5mmon and (qlal,
practically as we'll s formally, submission to tho
results of the suffrage will be acsorded loyal
and cheerfu|ly, aud all the departments Of Gov.
erpment will feel the true yiecr 9th, popular
will thus expressed.
Two provisions Of the Constitution GuthGliZ
| legislation By Congress Tor the regulations Ct
the Congressional elections.
Section OF Article Of tha Constitution H.
clares--
Tho time, plac, and manner Of holding
elections for Sepators ard Representatives
shall be prescribed in each State by the Lagi'
Ialure thereof but The Congress may st any
| time, By law, mako or alter sush regulations,
! except ns to the PLACES Of ohooing Senators"
The fifteenth amendment o! thu Constitution
is as follows:
"SEc. |. The right Of c;t,z,us Of the Untel
States to vote shall not b, deaied or abridged
by the United States. or By any State on &C.
count Of race, color o. precious condition OF ser
| vilude.
"SEc g Ihs Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate Legislation"
The Supreme Court has held that this amend.
mentinyests theeitizens ofthc United States With
now constitutional right Which is within the
protecting power of Congress. That right the
o:u.t declares to be eXem Dton from dscrimi.
nation in the eyarcs, Of the elective franchise
on account of race, cclor, or previous coalition
Of servtude. The power Of Congress to protect
this right by appropriate legislation is expressly
affirmed by the court.
National legislation to provide safeguards Tor
free and honest elections is necessary, as expo.
rience has shown, not only to secure tho right
to vote to tho enffanchIscd race OF tic South,
but also to prevent fraudulent voting in tho
large cities of the North. Congress has there
fore exercised the power cOrferrcd By the Con.
stitution, and has enacted corlau laws 10 pre-
won't Determinations on account OF race, cjor
or previous condition Of servitudo and to pun.
| ish fraud, violence and intimidation ut Federal
elections. Attention is called to The following
sections of the revised statutes OF the U. s., viz
Section 2004, which guarantees to all citizens
| the right TO vote without distinction on account
CT race, color or previous condition OF sarvludc.
Sections zoos ard 2006, which guarantee TO
all citizens equal opportunity, without discflm.
| nation, to perform all the acs required by law
as prerequisite or qualification for voting.
Section 2022, which authorizes the u. 5.
Uars1al aDu HIS uepulles W kGep llu pSaCS aud
preserve order ct the Federal elections.
Section 1924, which expressly authorizes Tho
U. S. marshal and his deputies to summon a
posse oomtatus whenever they or any Of them
arc forcby resisted 10 tho execution of their
duties under The Law, or arc prave aei from
executing such duties by violence.
Section 1922, which provides for the punish.
meut of the crime Of Interfering with tho gu
pervsors of elt ctions AID deputy marshas in
the discharge of their duties at the elections Of
representatives in Congress-.
These arc sone of the Laws on this subject
which it is the duly Of the Executive Depart.
ment of the Government to enforce. The III.
tent and effect Of the sixth sc:ion Of this bill IS
to prohibit all the civil Officers of tho u. s.,
under penalty of fine and Imprisonment, from
employing any adequate civil farce for this pur.
pose at the place where their enforcement isnost
necessary namely, ct tho places where the
congressional elections arc held. Among The
most valuable cnactments to which | have re-
ferred are those which proecf the supervise.
of Federal elections in the discharge Of their
duties at the pclls. If the proposed legislation
should become the law there will DO 30 power