The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-30

fore. a report, with the alteration Of a single
word, which the lawyers assure me Ii proper
for. which We have eontended SO long, and
Wnieh M "a u SO vital to secure the rights and liber
cured to the people of this country the same
great protection against a standing army which
g2st stsqgsle =, OF soe years ear tos the Commons o.
FIem this brief review Of the f subject % Il sum.
clentlY appears that under the existing laws
tions. No case Of such interferenee has, ID
} fact occurred since the passage OF the act last
referred to. No soldier Of the United States has
appeared under orders at any place OF election
, tn any. State. No complaint even of the pres
ence Of United States troops has been made In
1a any quarter. a,t It may therefore be conldenty
ment Of section of the bill before mo to pre-
yent military interference with elections. The
that end; but that part OF section OF this bill
which is significant and vitality important, is
Is, TIE clause which II ADOPTED Will deprive the
elections. The Congressional elections in every
matter of poea nsres and
.nrouehoat the country, Each State. every DO
lltical party, is entitled to share the power
tiona1 suffrage. It is the right Of every Citizen
possessing the qualifications prescribed BY law
,o Gast ,as a. unintimidatsd vote and to have his
OF this power and the enjoyment of this right
are common and equal. practically as well as
", III
will be accorded Loyalty and cheerfully and all
the departments of the government will feel the
true % %ylgor oI the popular will thus expressed.
Legislation by Congress for the. eauation Of
the congressional elections Section Of article
| l OF the constitution declares.
/ The times. places ana manner OF holding
elections for Senators and Representatives
shall be, prescribed In each State by the Legis-
time, by law. make or alter such r. gnlations
EXCEPT as to places of choosing Senator's
The hfteenth amendment OF the constitution
SECTION L. 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 ac-
! count OF race, eoior or previous condition of
servituds.
SEQ. q Congress shall have the power to en-
The Supreme Court has held thai this amend
ment Invests the citizeus IT the United states
WIZ with the new constitutions. right which is
WITHIN the pIotf citing power Of Congress. That
right the court declares to be exemption
from the Determinations in the exercit 9 Of the
condon q servtas
Congress TO protect this right by appropriate
lsgl;sai9n is expressly affirmed by the court
eaards for rse and honest electons ions
IS necessary MS experience has shown. not only
to secure the right to vote the franchised race
at the South, but also to prevent fraudulent
North. Congress has, therefore, Increased the
power conferred by the constitution. and has
enacted certain laws to prevent Determinations
on account Of race color or previous Condition
OF seryitude. and to punish fraud. violence and
lntim1dation at Fedsral elections.
Attention is called to the following sections OF
the Revised Statutes of the United States, viz:
tie rightt spe Without distinction On On account account
OF race. color Or previous condition of seryi-
tude; sections z o5 and 7ooe, which guarantee to
elimination, To pstfoTm all acts required by /
sesti(n aaaa which lltflIe rizas The Unted states
III los ffs Ek3Svs II
and preserve order at Federal elections ; see-
tlgn ata, which expressly ethcrizes the United
POSSE epmitatus WheheHer They or any OF
ton Of their dutissHffanaer the law Or
violence section 5522, wfieH provides for tho |
plsment =. e Ct , shs ,t crime q ntslfefing gih
fn the discharge of their du les st the elections
OF Representatives ia Congress. These are |
some Ct . the / Laws on this subIae WHICH i is the
ernmsnt to enforce. The extent and effect of |
The sixth section Of this bill is to prohibit all
penalty of fine and Imprisonment. from en-
pleying any adequate civil force for this pur-
pose at place where their enforcement is most
necessary. namely. at tho places whore the con-
gressional elections are held.
Among the most valuable enactments to
which | have referred are those which protect
the supervisors OF Federal elections In he dis
charge OF their duties at the polls. II the pro-
posed legislation should become a law there
government to protect from VIOLENCE the Off
GERS Of the United States engaged ia the dis
charge Of their duties. Their rights and duties
under the Law. will remain. but the national
vii be powerless to enforce its
own statutes. The States may employ both the
military and civil power to Keep the peace and
proposed to deny the United States even the
necessary ciyil authority to protect national
for this discrimination In favor of the
State. and against the national authority. II {
well founded objections exist against the pres {
ent national election laws all good citizens
should unite on their amendment The laws
providing the safeguards of the elections should
oe impartial Just and efficient. They. should if
possible be so non partisan and fair In their I
operation that the minority-the party out OF
2ower-will have no just grounds to complain. {
'bly conduced to the prevention of fraud and t
,iolence at the elections. In several of the I
states mem bers of different political parties ]
lave applied for the safeguard which they fur t
lish. Il is the right and duty Of the national ]
government to enact and enforce laws which t
vii secure free and fair congressional cleo l
'ealed except In connection with the enactment e
# measures which will better accomplish that I
end. d
Believing that section Of the bill before me d
yill weaken, II Il does not altogether take away
he power Of thu national government to pro- :
les. am forced to the conclusion that it ought +
ot TO receive my approval. This section is, +
oWever. not presented to me as a separate and r
tated, attached to tho bill making the usual d
nnuai appropriations for the support OF the o
rmy. L makes vital change In the election 8
aws Of the country, which is In no way CON 4
ected with the use OF the army. 1t prohibits, 9
nder heavy penalties. any person engaged in a
he civil service of the United States from hav- y
pg any force at the place OF any election pre- o
ared 20 preserve order to make arrests. to o
eep the peacs, or In any manner to enforce
10 laws. This is altogether foreign to the pur- 81
ose of an army appropriation bill. b
The practice Of lacking to appropriation bills q
leasures not pertaining to such bills did not Il
revail until more than forty years after tho t.
doption Of the constitution. It has become ri
ommon practice. All parties when in power .
ave adopted it. Many abuses and great b
raste OF public money have In this way crept II
ito the appropriation bills. The public opin- j
IN of the country Is against it. The States o
hieh have recently adopted constitutions have o
enerally provided remedy for the evil by q
DacIng that no law shall contain more than Il
8 title: The constitutions of more than half Of v
le states contain substantially this provision: n
he public welfare will be promoted In many d
ays by return to the early practice Of the q