The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-08
sentatiyes.

under orders at any place OF
election in any State. No complaint
even of the presence of United States
troops has been made in any quarter. 1t
may, therefore, be confidently stated that
there is no necessity for the enactment of
section 6 of the bill before me to prevent
military interference at the elections.
The laws already in force are all that is
required for that end.
FEDERAL AUTHORITY AT ELECTIONS.
But that part of section 6 of this bill
which is issignifcant and vitality important
is the clause which, if adopted, will de-
prive the civil authorities Of the United
States of all power to keep the peace at
Congressional elections. The Congress
sional elections in every district in very
important sense are justly matter of
political interest and concern throughout
the whole country. Each State and
every political party is entitled to the
share of power which is conferred by the
legal and constitutional suffrage. 1t is
the right Of every citizen possessing the
qualifications prescribed by law to cast
one unintimidated ballot and to have his
ballot honestly counted. So long as the
exercise of this power and the enjoyment
of this right are common and equal,
practically as we'll as formally, submis-
sion to the suffrage will be accorded 10y
ally and cheerfully, and departments of
government will feel the true vigor of the
popular will thus expressed.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORIZATION.
Two provisions of the constitution au-
thorize legislation by Congress for the
regulation of The Congressional elections.
Section 4 of article of the constitution
declares:
The times, places and manner of hold
ing elections for Senators and Represen-
tatives shall be prescribed in each State
by the Legislature thereof, but the Con-
gress may, at any time, by law make or
alter such regulations, except as to the
places of choosing Senators.
The fifteenth amendment to the con-
stitution is as follows:
SECTION 1.-The right of citizens OF
the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States
or by any State on account of race, color
or previous condition of servitude.
SEC. 2.-The Congress shall have power
to enforce this article by appropriate leg
islation.
The Supreme Court has held that this
amendment invests the citizens of the
United States with a new constitutional
right which is within the protecting
power of Congress. That right the
Court declares to be exemption from dis
elimination in the exercise of the elec-
tive franchise, on account of race, color
or previous condition Of servitude. The
power of Congress to protect this right
by appropriate legislation is expressly
affirmed by the Court. National legisla-
ton to provide safeguards for free and
honest elections is necessary, as expert
ence has shown, not only to secure the
right to vote to the enfranchised race at
the South, but also to prevent fraudulent
voting in the large cities of the North.
Congress has, therefore, exercised the
power conferred by the constitution, and
has enacted certain laws to prevent dis.
ordinations on account of race, color OF
previous condition of servitude, and to
punish fraud, violence and intimidation
at federal elections.
EXISTING PROVISIONS OF LAW.
Attention is called to the following
sections of the Revised Statutes of the
United States, namely
Section 1904, which guarantees all
citizens the right to vote, without distinc.
ton on account Of race, color or previous
condition of servitude.
Sections zoos and 2006, which guaran-
tee to all citizens equal opportunity,
without discrimination, to perform all the
acts required by law as prerequisite OF
qualification for voting.
Section 2,O22, which authorizes the
United States Marshal and his deputies
to keep the peace and preserve order at
federal elections.
Section 2,024, which expressly author
ICES the United States Marshal and his
deputies to summon posse comitatus
whenever they, or any of them, are for
chilly resisted in the execution of their
duties under the law and are prevented
from executing their duties by violence.
Section 5,522, which provides for the
punishment of the crime of interfering
with the supervisors of election and dep
uty marshals in the discharge of their
duties at the elections of Representatives
in Congress.
These arc some of the laws on this sub
ject which it is the duty of the Execu-
tive Department Of the government to
enforce.
The intent and effect of the sixth Sec
ton of this bill is to prohibit all the civil
officers of the United States, under pen
atty of fine and imprisonment, from en-
ploying any adequate civil force for this
purpose at the place where their enforce
mcnt is most nccessary-namely, Mt the
place where the Congressional elections
are held.
Among the most valuable enactments
to which have referred are those which
protect the supervisors of federal elections
in the discharge of their duties at the
polls. If the pending legislation should
OeCOLlc luC idW lHSIS 10 III pOMCi NSoISu
in any officer of the government to pro-
tect from violence the officers of the
United States engaged in the discharge Of
their duties. Their rights and duties
under the law will remain; but the ma
tional government will be powerless to
enforce its own statutes. The States
may employ both military and civil power
to keep the peace and to enforce the laws
at State elections. 1t is now proposed
to deny to the United States even the
necessary civil authority to protect the
national elections. No sufficient reason
has been given for discrimination in ia
vor of the State and against the national
authority.
PREMoNITIoNs OF ANOTHER VETO.
If we'll founded objections exist against
the present national election laws all
good citizens should unite in their
amendment. The laws providing the
safeguards of the elections should be
impartial, just and efficient. They should,
if possible, be so non-partisan and fair in