The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-30
VETO OF THE ARMY BILL.

VETO OF THE ARMY BILL
THE PRESIDENT PRESENTS THE REA
SONS WHICH INDUCE HIM TO
WITHHOLD HIS SIGNATURE.
He Argues that the Political Feature o
the Hill II Unnecessary, and that III
Adoption Of the PrlncIple which Die
tated 1t Weuld Really Make the Hous,
Of Representatives supreme over AL
other Branches of the Government.
WASHINGTON, April 29-The following IL
the Presidents message vetoing the army
BILL
To the House of Representatives:
7 have maturely considered, q ID, the importan
army for the fiscal year ending June 80 1880
M ana H dpr ether Rurposas and now return + (
mated. with my objections to Its approval
The bill provides In the usual form for the
appropriations required for the support. Of the
tained no other provisions 1t would receive my
prompt approval. 1t includes. however. further
Wc Tq are feanse or i e y ssDn
|
formanee OF some of the most necessary duties
Ct the government, Involves questions Of the
bill Is amendatory of the statutes now In force
fn regard TO the authority Of persons In the
civil. military and naval service OF the United
States at the place where any general or special
election ls held in any State. This statute was
adopted February 25. 1865. after protracted de-
bate bate n p the he Senate % and almost without opposi
concurrent votes OF both Of the leading political
parties Of the country. and became a law by the
enacted In 1874. In the Revised Statutes 81 the
United States. sections 2oo2 and b52s. which are
SECTION 2oo2 No military or naval officer or
other persons engaged 10 the civil, military or
naval service Of the United States shall order,
bring. keep Or have under his authority or con
trol any troops or armed men at the place where
any general or special election fs held In any
State, unless 1t be- necessary to repel the armed
enemies OF the United states or to keep the
SEQ. $685. Every officer Of the army or navy
| or other person n the civil, military or naval
| brings, Keeps, or has under his authority or
control any troops or armed men at any place
where U,.a general or special election is held in
pei The armed enemies of the United States, or
to keep the neace at the polls, shall be fined not
more than 5000 and suffer Imprisonment at
hard labor not less than three months nor more
than five years.
The amendment proposed to this statute In
the bill before me omis from both of the fore-
peace at the polls The effect OF this amend
ment may be considered. first upon the right of
the.Unlfed States government to use It's mill.
tary force to keep the place az elections for
members OF Congress: and. second, upon the
right OF the government. by civil authority to
protect these elections from violence and fraud.
La addition to the sections OF the statute above
quoted the a. following provisions Of the law
ELECTIONS are now In force:
bEC. zoos No officer o the army or navy Oftfe
United States shall prescribe or fx Or ATTEMPT
+ nv "a fffafr rxr,9or =
q herwise. the qualifications of voters In any
State or In any manner Interfere with the free-
exercise OF the free right Of suffrage In any
State. .r
SEC $3.50. Every officer or other person irl the
military or naval service, who By forea threat
Intimidation. order, advice or otherwise pre-
vent. or attempt 70 prevent. any duallf9 voter
OF sny state from freely exercising the right Of
suffrage at any general or special election iii /
such State. shall bs fined not more than s500D
and impfisoned at hard labor not more than
SEC $3.50. Every officer OF the army or navy
who preseribes or fixes, or attempts to prescribe
or @ hK whether by proclamation. order OF, other
wise. the aualificat ons OF voters at any election
In any State. shall be punished as provided in |
the preceding section.
SEC. 1881. Every officer or other person ia
the military or naval service who, by force |
threat intimidation. order or otherwise. COM |
pels or attempts to compel any officer holding
persons not legally qualified to vote or who |
imposes or attempt to impose any regulations |
for eonductlng ,d any general Or specia election
law, or who interferes In any manner with any |
officer of election In the discharge OF his duty.
shall BE- punished as provided IN section $500
Sec. $685. Every person convicted of any of the |
offenses specified In the FIVE preceding sec
tiots. shall IL, addition to the punishments
from holding any office of honor, profit or
trust under the United States. but nothing Id /
those sactions shall be construed to prevent any
officer. soldier. sailor or marine from exercis-
Ing the right OF suffrage In any election dis
!rict to which he may belong. II otherwise qual-
lied according to the laws of the state in which
be offers to vote.
The foregoing enaetments would seem to be
sufficient to prevent military Interference with
apprehension OF such interference added to
his body Of law section Is OF an act entitled IAN
sct making appropriations for the support Of
1879, and for other PURPOSES approved June
s, 1878. which is as follows
FEC. 49,. From and after the passage OF this
act 1t shall not be lawful to employ any part of
he army Of the United States as q posse GoHni-
atus or otherwise for the purpose OF sxe xecuting
my laws. excep in such cases and under such
as such employment of said
cree may be expressly authorized BY the con-
'titution. By, act Of Congress-, and no money /
appropriated ta BY this at shall be used to pay
,nt Of any troops In violation of this section
~ ang person willtulIy violating the provi- t
nlisdemeanor. and on conviction thereof shall
70 punished by fine not exceeding $4,000 Or |
imprisonment not exceeding two years, or by |
10Th such fine and Imprisonment
This act passed the Senate after full considera-
Ion. without single vote recorded against it s
n ils final passage. By majority Of more than /
Eo,thirds II was concurred in by the Houss /
# Representatives. The purpose of the section |
uoted was stated in the Senate by one Of it's t
dpporters as follows: i
Therefore ihope, without getting into any 7
,lnlroversy about the past. but acting wisely
e.r the future that we shall take away the idea /
lht the army can be used by general or special I
de,uy marshal or any marshal. merely f,r cleo
4. purposes as posse, ordering them about b
j. polls or ordering them anywhere else where I
dite Is no election going on. to prevent dfsor- a
. or p suppress disturbances that should Be 6
Is dressed by the peace officers OF the State: or b
ley must bring others to their aid they Y
3 Md summon the unorganized citizens, aud /
WI ummon the officers and men OF the army il
lsaoosse comitatus to 1uell disturbances and v
andget np 9 feeling which will be disastrous 4
viii ice among the people of the country" e
static House Of Representatives the object of o
,endt Of 1878 was stated by the gentleman who Il
= cas- III charge in similar terms He said: ii
derahese are all minor points and Insignia Z
compared with the great prtuei- v
EhYH ~