The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-05-07
The Message Of President Hayes to the
House Of Representatives, Setting
Forth His Reasons fer Disap-
prcral.

1850. aud for other purposes, and 4
now return il to the House of Rep
resentatives. 10 which il originated,
with my OH ctions TO It's approval
Tie bill provides. ia the usual form,
for appropriations required for the
support OF the army during the Dext
fscsi year. II it contaiGed no other
provisions it you'd receive nv
prompt approval IL includes, bow
over, further Legislation, which, at
tsched, as it is. 70 appropriations
which are requisite for The perform
soee Of some of the most necessary
duties OF the Government. involves
questions of the gravest character.
The SIKH section of the bill is amend
atory Of tbe stature now in force in
regard TO The authority OF persons 10
The civil, military and naval service
of The United States st the place
where any general or special election
is held in any State.
EXISTING LAW.
This statute was adopted February
20, 1868, after . protracted debate
in The Senate, aud almost without
opposition ia the House Of Represen-
taIives, By the cOneprrent yote OF
both Of the leading P lisical parties
If the country aud became a law by
the approval Ct Presiden, LIncoln.
IL was re enacted In 1874, 10 the Re-
yised Statutes Of the Uoiled States,
sections 9 0e2 and ) 52S. which are
as follaws: "SEo 2,002-No mill
tary or naval officer, or other person
engaged 10 lbe civil. military or
naval service IF the United STATES
shall order. bring, keep, or have IN
der his authority or control, acy
troops or armed men Of q place
where any general oil special cleo
don is held in any State, unless
when II be necessary TO repel The
armed enemies Of the United States,
or 10 keep peace at the polls.
"SEE 5,52s Every officer of the
srmy or navy, OIL other person in the
civil, military, or naval service of the
United States who orders, brings,
keeps, or has under bis authority or
control any troops, or armed men at
any place where general or special
elections sre held, 10 any State, nn-
less such force be necessary TO repel
armed enemies of the United States,
or to keep peace at the polls, shall
be incd hot more than SIS. 600 aud
suffer Imprisonment b. bard labor not
less than three mouths nor more
than FIVE yeers."
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
The amendment proposed in this
statute in the bill before me, omits
from both Of the foregoing sections
TIE words "or to keep the peace at
the polls" The effect of the adop.
ton Of this amendment may be con-
sidered:
Firs,-Upon the right of the Unit
ed States Government To use military
force to keep peace at elections Tor
members of Congress.
Second-UpoG the right OF the
Government, by civil authority, u
protect these elections from violenct
and fraud. 10 addition 10 q sec
lions Of the statute above quoted
the following provisions Of the Law
relating 10 the use OF military poweI
at elections are how 10 force:
"SEc 1908. No officer of The
army or navy Of the United States
/ shall prescribe or fix, or attempt Il
! prescribe or fix, by proclamation
, order, or Otherwise, the qualification
of voters in sny State, or in an,
manner interfere with the freedom o
! any election Ia any State, u With tn
exercise Of free rights Of suffrage il
any State.
"SEc. 5.52s. Every officer or othe
; person 10 tie military or naval ser
vice, who, by force. threat, intimids
ton, order, advice, or otherwise pre-
vents, or attempts TO prevent, sa,
qualified voter of any State fron
freely exercising the right of sui
age at any general or special eleC
5 ton in such State, shsil be fined no
D more than S., 900, and imprisoned a
6 hard labor not more than five years
= SEC $3.50. Every officer Of th
, army or navy who prescribes or fixes
or attempts TO prescribe or fix
whether by proclamation, order o
e otherwise qualifications of voters a
e any election in any State, shall b
: punished Us provided in the proceed
ing section.
; "SEc. 1881. Every officer o
+ other person in the military or NAYS
0 service, who, by force, Unrest. il
I timidation or Otherwise compels c
ettempts to compel any officer hole
ing 60 election in any State, TO II
Q ceire a vote from q person not legaI
y ly qualified to vote, OF who imposes
S or attempts 10 impose, any regula
e lions for conducting any general @
; special election ia any State diferen
from those prescribed by Law. or wh
e Iuterferes in any name with an
G o!S Ger of election, 10 the discharge Q
his duty, shall be punished as pr.
q scrihed in sections 1929.
"SEN. 5,532. Every person C I
, yicted Of any VI the ofenses speci6e
b ia the Eve preceding sections sbsl
u 10 ADDITION TO the punishment Their.
@ in seyeralIy prescribed, be disqual
fed from holding say Office of bonoI
profit or trust under the Unite
e States, bat nothing ID these section
shall De construed to prevent an
il officer, soldier, sailor or marine frol
exercising the right Of suffrage !
|. any election district to which be ma
belong, if otherwise qualified, o
cording to the laws Of the STATE
which be offers 10 vote"
q PEACE AT THE POLLS.
It But that psst OF section 6 of th
e bill, which Is ~signiacsRt and vital
b important, is the clause WHICH,
Adopted, viii deprive the civil authol
9 tiles OF the United ststes Of all pow
er TO keep peace ct CoEgfessionl
elections. Congressional electist
IN every district, in every importaI
4 sense. sre justly a matter Of politie'
interest sud concern throughout Ii
c country. Each State and every pr
e ~liticaf party isentitled to The shar
OF no ser which Is conferred by lsgl