The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-05-01
Ire Presidents Reason for Not
Sign Hg the Army Ep2ropris-
ton Bill.
4 long and Exhaustive Document,
;e'siiing the Lawful Reasons
For his Course.
iie Closes by Exhor,ins Congress to
Take Course Winch Viii Re.
store Prosperity 10 the
Country.

is the message of the President, rsturning
to the House Of Representatives the bill en-
titled: IAN Act mskiog appropriations
for The support of the army for the fiIcsl
year ending JuIe 80, 1850, AID for other
purposes :"
10 the House of Representatives.:
have maturely considered the impor-
tant questions presented by the bill emit
tied An Act making appropriations for
the support OF The army for the fiscal year
ending June so, 1850, and for other pur-
poses" and | now return it to the House
OF Representatives, in which it originated,
with nv objection to its approval.
The bill provides, in the usual form. for
the appropriations required for the support
OF the army during the fiscal year.
If IT CONTAINED NO OTHER PROVISIONS,
i; would receive my prompt approval. 1t
includes, however, further legislation,
which attached as it is to appropriations
which are requisite for the efficient per
| f0rmance Of some of the most necessary
duties Of the government, involves ques-
tionS OF the grayast char 'ct r.
The sixth section of the bill is amenda-
| tory Of the statute now in force in regard
to the authority of persons in the civil,
military and naval service of the United
States at a place where any general or
special election is held in any State, to use
-uch force as may be necessary to repel the
armed enemies Of the United States, or to
keep he peace at the polls.
This statute YVES adopted February %,
1860, after pro:racted debate in the Sen
ate. and almost without opposition in the
House Of Representatives. by the
| CoSCURRING VOTE
Of both of the leading political parties of
the country, and became law by the APP
prevail of President Lincoln. 1t was re-
enacted in 1874, in the revised statUets OF
| the mite S.stes (sectious , 002 and 5,52S).
which are a. foilnws:
! SECTION 2002 No military or naval
| officer, or other person engaged in the civil,
1 military or naval service of the United
States shall order, brig, keep or have uu-
der ilis authority or control any troops CT
armed men a: place where any general or
special election l. held, in any State, unless
it be Necessary 10 repel armed enemies Of
the United States, or TO keep the peace al
the polls.
| 'iSECTioN 1928. Every officer Of the
army or navy, or other person in the civil,
military or naval service, who orders,
brings, keeps or has under his authority or
control any troops or armed men at any
place where P general or special election Is
held, in any State, unless such force shall
he necessary 10 -epel armed enemies of the
| United States or TO keep peace al
the polls, shall be fned not more
than 5000 and suffer imprisonment al
hard labor not less than three months nor
| more than five years"
The amendment propo7ed to this statute
| in the bill before me, omits from both OF
the foregoing sections the words ''or TO keep
the peace at the polls"
THE EFFECT
OF the adoption Of this amendment may
be considered Fir-t, upon the right OF
the United States government TO Use the
military force to keep pesce at elections
tor members Of Congress, and second, upon
| the right OF the government, by civil au-
thority to protect these elections from vio-
lence and fraud, and the addition to the
sections of the statute above quoted.
The following provisions OF the law re-
lsti0g to The use Of military power al cleo
| lions are now in force:
SECTION 2003. No officer of the army or
navy of the United Slstes shall prescribe
or fix, or attempt TO prescribe or fix, by
proclamation or order, or otherwise, the
qualifications of vct,rs in any
| State, or in any manner interfere
with the freedom OF any election
in any State, or with the exercise Of the
free rights OF suffrage in any State.
SECTION 5529. Every officer or other
in fh.. \ rsar MP
who by force, Unrest, intimidation, or 9TH
erwise. prevents or attempts to prevent any
qualified voter of any State from freely ex-
ercisiug the right of suffrage at any general
CT special election in such State, shall be
fined no, more than 5000 and impri.on.
ment al hard labor not more than FIVE
years
SECTION $3.50. Every officer of the
army or navy, who prescribes or fixes, or
attempts to prescribe or fix, whether by
proclsmsti order, or other use, the quail
ification of votes at any election, in any
State, shall be punished as provided in the
preceding section.
SECTION 1881. Every officer, or other
person 10 the military or naval service,
who BY force, threats, Intimidation or
otherwise, c0mpels or attempts to compel
any officer holding any election in any
State to receive . vote from a person not
legally qualified to vote, or who imposes or
attempts to i'm pose any regulations for con-
ducting any general or special election in a
State, different from those prescribed by
law, or who interferes in any manner with
any officer Of election in the discharge OF
his duties. shall be punished as prescribed
in section j, 229.
SECTION 5532. Every person convicted
of any Of the offenses specifisd in the five
preceding sections, shall, in addition to
the punishnents therein severally pre-
scribed, be disqualified from holding any
office of honor CT trust under the United
States; but nothing in these FectioLs shall
be construed 10 prevent any officer, soldier, |
sailor or msriue from exercising the right |
of suffrage in any election district to which |
he may belopg, if otherwise qualified, &C
cording To the laws OF the State in which
he offers to vote"
The foregoing enactments would seem to
be sufficient to pre- snt military interfer-
ence with elections; but the last Congress,
TO remove all appreciation of such inter |
ference, added 10 this law, by adding to /
section Is, by sn act entitled IAN act max |
ing appropriations ior the support Of the |
army Tor the fiscal year ending June 80,
1879, and for other PURPOSES" approved |
June Is. 1873 which is az follows:
SECTION 15.-From ard after the |
passage Of this ac', i; shall not be lawful |
to employ any part OF the army of the
United States as pass cOsRmitotus, or other
wise, for the purpose oil executing the laws,
except in such csses and UIdsr such cir
"a such emnloyment
Of said force may be expressly
BY the constitution, or by an act
Of Congress. No money appropriated
by this act shall be used to pay any Of the
expenses incurred in the employment of
any troops in violation Of this section and
person willfully violating the provisions of
this section shall be deemed guilty Of
ard upon conviction thereof
shall be punished by fre not exceeding
$40 600, orby imprisonment not exceeding
two years, or both such fine and imprison-
meut"
This act parsed the Senate after full
without a single. vote recorded
against it on its foal Iasaee, and by q
msJority OF more than Two thirds, il was
in BY the House of Representa-
tivee.
TIE PURPOSE OF THE sc TIoN QUOTED
<as stated in the Senate BY ore of euppor-
err. n follow:
Therefore, hope, without getting into
my controversy about the past, bat scsing
wisely Tor the future, TINT We shall take
way TIE idea that he amy en- b used
p ssnszal q Qelial dsDuiy nasuhal. ri
~ unelhn1 nn1k - 49, - pooaaL :.