The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-05-07

struggle of two hundred years for the COM
mons of England to secure for the British
people.
From this brief review Of the subject it |
sufficiently appears that under existing laws
there 3
CAN BE NO MILITARY INrERFERENCE
and none has in fact occnrred since the passage
United States has appeared under orders ut any
place of election in any State. No complaint
even of the presence of United States troops
han been made in any quarter. 1t may, there
FORE be confidently stated there is no necessity
of the enactment of section 6 of the bill be-
fore me- to prevent military interference at
elections. The laws already in force are all
that are required for that end. But that part
Of section of this bill which is II. E1t{
SIGNIFICANT AND vILALLY IhIpoRTASr
is the clause which, if adopted, will deprive
the civil authorities Of the United states of all
power to keep peace at Congressional elections.
Congressional elections in every district in
very important sense are Justly matter of po-
litical interest and concern throughout the
whole country. Each State, every political
party, ia entitled to q share of power which is
conferred by legal and constitutional suffrage.
1t is the right of every citizen possessing the
qualifications prescribed by law to cast one 7sr
~ ~ y X UNINTlMIDATED BALLOT, ~ g s.
and have his ballot honestly counted. So long
a. the exercise Of this power and the enjoyment
of this right are common and equal, practical
~ az well ss formally, submission to suffrage
will be accorded Loyalty and cheerfully, and all
departments of the government will feel the
true vigor of the popular will thus expressed.
Two provisions of the constitution authorize
legislation by Congress for the regulation of
Congressional elections. Section 4 of article
of the constitution declares the time and place
and manner Of holding elections for Senators
and Representatives shall be prescribed in each
>State by the legislature thereof, but Congress
may at any time by Law make Or alter such reg
ulations except as to places Of choosing Sena-
tors. The ~ .''''. q. 't. 'e1
of the constitution is as follows: viz. ~ .,,.,7
Section /. The right of citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied abridged by the
United States, by any State, on account Of race
color, or previous condition Of servitude. u q
Sec. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation. ~ :.jh
The supreme court has held that this amend
ment invests citizens of the United States with
anew constitutional right which is within the
y PROTECTING POWER OF CONGRESS. ..ni {
The right the court declares to be the ex-
emption from discrimination in the exercise Of
the elective franchise on account of race, color,
or previous condition of servitude. The power
| of Congress to protect the right by appropriate
legislation is expressly affirmed by the court.
National legislation to provide safeguards for
free and honest election is necessary, az ex-
pcrience has shown, not only to secure the right
for all to the enfranchised race at the South,
but also to prevent fraudulent voting in large
cities of the North. Congress has therefore
| exercised the power conferred by the constitu-
ton, and has enacted certain laws to prevent
discrimination on account of race, color, OF
! previous condition of servitude. and to punish
cal FRAUD, VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION
| at federal elections. Attention is called to the
| following section Of the revised statutes of
the United States VIZ: Section 1904, which
guarantees all citizens the right TO vote with
out distinction on account of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude; sections zoos
and 2OG6 which guarantees to all citizens equal
opportunity, without discrimination, to per-
form all acts required by law as prerequisite
| or qualification for voting: section 1920 which
authorizes the United States marshal and his
deputies to keep the peace and preserve order
at general elections; section 2024, which ex-
| pressly authorizes the United States marshal
and his deputies to summon posse commitatus
whenever they or any of them are forcibly re-
sisted in the execution of their duties under
the law and are prevented from executing their
duties by violation; section $500. WHICH pro-
vides for the punishment of the crime o inter-
fcfsng with supervisors of elections and deputy
lnarshals in the discharge of duties AFFECTIONS
| of Representatives in Congress-. hese are
some of the laws on this subject Which it is
the duty of the executive to enford. The
| INTENT AND EFFECT +,
of the sixth section of this bill is tolprohibit
all civil officers of the United States, &uDder a
penalty of fine and imprisonment, from en-
playing any adequate civil force for this pur-
pose at places where their enforcement is most
necessary, namely: the places where Congress
sional elections are held Among the most
| valuable enactments to which I have referred
are those which protect the supervisors Of fed
eral elections in the discharge OF their duties ut
the polls. If the pending legislation should
| become law, there Is no power vested in any
officer of the government to protect FROM VIC
! lence the officers of the United States engaged
in the discharge of their duty. Their rights
and duties under the law will remain, but the
national government will be tpowerless to en-.
both the military and civil powers to keep the
peace and enforce the laws at State elections.
1t ia now proposed to deny to the United States
even the necessary civil authority to! protect
q national election. No sufficient has
been given for this discrimination in favor o1
the State and against the national authority.
Ii well-fOunded objections exist against the
present national election laws, all good citizens
should unite in their amendment! Laws pro
yiding safeguards Of election should be
'''" IMPARTIAL, JUST AND EFFICIENT. ..'..
They should, if possible, be 30 non partisan
and fair in their operation that the minority
party out of power will have no just grounds t.
complain. The present laws have in practice
unquestlonably conduced to the prevention Of
fraud aud violence at elections. In several OF
! the States members of different political par
ties have applied for safeguards which they fur
, nish. 1t is the right and duty of the national
government to enact and enforce laws which
will secure free and fair congressional elections
The laws now in force should not be repealed
except in connection with the enactment oil
. measures which will better accomplish tina
= Important end. Believing that section six o
the bill before me will weaken, if it does no
: altogether take away the power of she nationa
+ government to protect federal elections, by tn
] civil authorities, am forced to the conclusion
: that it ought
al NOT TO RECEIVE NY APPROVAL. f} ) g, .
RI That section is, however, not presented t.
! me as separate and independent: measure
but rs has been stated, it is attached to tn
election laws of the country, which is in no wa
; connected with the use of the army 1t pre-
hibits under heavy penalties any person en-
gagged in the civil service of the United State
: from having any force at the place of any cleo
d ton prepared to keep order, to make arrests
i to keep the peace, or in any manner to en-
r force the laws. This is altogether
y FOREIGN TO THE PURPOSE -.
e of an army appropriation bill. The practice q