The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-23

natc,e.
class Of FEDERAL officfsls who have been cen spawn.
ed upon the country through the degenerating
oensive to frssmen mem than are moye anv
ous, to which they may Be nkeRed IlEss
electionsr The dictionaries cali them over
seers. Overseers of elections! A most apt and
sidered! The American people going to the
polls and voting under ove7seers would indeed
SO they win deserve their fate. Let ms examine
the sources whence these oyerseers come and
I'M oriaied powers. By virtue OF sectsoe ai ~
the revised sta.utes any two citizens of any
ants, or any 10 citizens of any county or parish
Of any congressional district in the United
states who may from any motives however
SINISTER, desire to have registration OF voters
or an election s'guayded and sorutinized, are
empowered 10 open and to keep open the cir
cult court OF the United Statesewherein such
city or town, county or parish issituated and
there begin their work. The next 1--WE sections
the judge and the seal of the courtare used in
manufacturing supervisors of elections.
chief of this band OF fntruders upon the rights
OF ireemen is also provided for in section 2p2o,
as follows:
"The circuit courts OF the United States for
each judicial circuit shall name and appoint,
on or before the LIST day of May in the wear
lofi, and thereafter as vacancies may from any
cause arise, from among the circuit court
commissioners for each Judicial district in
each judicial cirouit, one OF such officers wno
under this title as the chief supervisor of cleo
tons OF the judicial district for which he lisa
commissioner, and shall, so long faithful
and canable, discharge the duties in this title
imposed" n
The Supervising force, being organized and
stationed at every precinct where the people
vote for member or delegate in Congress,
and its chiefs, its generals of departments be-
ing appointed and placed in command, we are
next 10 examine and ascertain how complete
~ the ballot box is torn from the hands of.tne
local authorities and given over TO the clutches
of Federal officiais In States which have reg
istrat1on laws the supervisors Of elections, or
overseers, as Webster defines them, by. virtue
of section 2Di6, take absolute control OF the
whole subject. making the lists to suit them
selves, putting on or striking OFF names or
marking ther,s for challenge, as they please
The American citizen must find favor in the
eight OF the ovesseer, or his name will not ap-
pear on, the list of voters election day. .
Whfle such an enactment as this is in exist
ence the state which adopts a registration law
its elections TO the officers of the Federal Gov
ernmept. 1t is the election itself. however,
in their most repulsive and dangerous light.
In betng authorized to control elections for
have the entire control of the pailot for all
Other officers, State, county and municipal.
who are candis,ates at the same time and
place and on the same ticket. Let us anaiy re
section 20l7. 1t reads as follows:
"fhe supervisors of elections are authorized
and required to attend at all times anu places
for holding elections of representatives or
| delegates in Congress, and for counting the
votes cast at such elections; 10 challenge any
vote offered by any person whose legal qualifi-
cations the supervisors, or either of Them, may
doubt; to be and remain where the ballot
boxes are kept at an times after the poIls n re
op2R til every vote cast at such time and
place has been counted, the canvass of all the
| votes polled wholly completed, and the proper
l and requisite certificates returns made,
| whether the certificates or returns be required
] under any law of tine United states, any
STATE. territorial or municipal law, and to per-
sonally inspeot and scrutinize. from time TO
the manner In which the voting is done, and
| the way and method In which
taes po OF eSees boogs ywhetser se ahs the
same are required by any law of the United
states. or any State, territorial. or municipal
| The duties here prescribed are mainly those
| Of spy, spy upon the people as they come
% =. esey voi,hg Psa9d ~ ,s ,ne
/ ore of total distrust OF the American people; q
distrust of their virtne and their intelligence,
the instrumentality OF free elections what
| a spectacle is here presented! The Federal
the polls "to challenge any vote offered by any
| person whose legal qualifications" may be
could not ee ine To
| their own challengeys! These officials are also
charged to keep watch and guard, with un-
be and remain with them all the time,
"and to personally inspect and scrutinize
ner in which" the American citizen exer.
cises his dearest right and most sacred privi-
lege. This whole enactment proceeds upon
the assumption that the officers OF elections
| under State authority are predetermined fell
ons, bsllot,box thieves, forgers and the ike,
| and that the local communities which select
| them are accessory to their viilainies. On this
false and scandaious pretext the Federal au-
| thority has been made to overthrow the most
| vital and cherished principles of local self
government. The entire theory of the consti-
OF power In the hands of the Federal Govern.
ment over the local rights of the people and
would have startled Alexander Hamilton in
his day, although he believed I'm a monarchy.
under state laws are not permitted even u
count out the ballots lat have been cast by
their nelghbors. section aels provides that; at !,
of them Is, required to personally scrutinize
count, and canvass each ballot in their eiec
tion district or voting precinct cast, whatever
: may be the Endorsement on the ballot. or In
, whatever box 1t may have been placed or be
FOUND"
i | all parties everywhere to take note of thi
provision, and 10 make answer whether In
! State, ofding State, county, township, ant
: city eiections, are UNIT to count and canvas
pie consented to such an unspealabie degrada
: ton as thisf Have they In fact become slave
n sP ana wns ss % do nst believe ins yHke
, the contrary, believe thai the minds ant
= hearts Of a brave people; IN love with liberty
: Insulting tyranny when the whole subject
: fairly placed before them.
/, and shame grow worse, however, If possible
! as we proceed. Who can read The nexs sec
;, tion-section 2li9-withouf righteous sens
: : OF resistance springing up in his breast
Hear IT. ~
e 1.-The better to enable the supervisors of cleo
: Non TO discharge their duties, they author
e lied and directed, in their respective election
districts voting preciuc on the day of regh
d Iraiion, ON the day when registered voters ma
h | be marked to be challenged, and on the day {
= election, To take, occupy, and remain In sue
l. | position, from time 10 time. whether before Q
It behind the baiot-boxes, as will, In their jude
N lnent, best enable them 70 see each perso
IS offerng himself for registration, or Offering
:, vote, and will best conduce to their Acrut
II nizng the manner in which the registratio
e or voting Is being conducted: and at the clio
ing of the polls for the reception OF votes, the
d | are required to place themselves In such pos
g ton, in relation to the ballot boxes, Sor III
81 ! purpose OF engaging in the work Of cazyasi
n Ing the ballots. as viii enable them &c full
is perform the duties In respect to such can va
" provided herein. aud shall there remain uut
"a every duty I'm respect TO such CANVASS, ceril
d Gates. returns and statements has been who'll