The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-04-23

Mr.. President in nv judgment. the i'm
peTative duty otIthe hour instead of turning
the attention of the. people back into his.
tory, with its animosities to direct it to
the troubled business interests of the
country and the way 20 relieve them. With
the past buried. aud discussions on the
living issues, the people would soon regain
confidence, which is essential in any plan
for relieving the present hard times. 1t
may be that such course would effect the
fortunes of parties, for both parties in
Congress on any question of practical
legislation fall to pieces, but it would have
the most beneficial effect upon the
fortunes of the country. Without in
tending to reflect on the patriotism of
either party, it does appear to me that the
speeches on the pending bill do not rep
resent the wishes or opinions of the mas
ses of the people of either section.
Experience has taught them that legltl-
mate business principles which lead to
wealth and social happiness require
cessation from agitation OH the past pro-
jects and that sound policy dictates culti
walton of peace and good will between sec
tions. The country. Mr. President, can
not be prosperous so long as the old con-
each recurring Presidential election as an
instrumentality Of party success, and the
statesmen who shall rise equal to the Oc-
caslOn and put it at rest will receive the
gratitude Of the suffering people The
bill before US is for the support of the
army for the ensuing fiscal year. 1t is at
tacked because the sixth section alters two
provisions OF the revised statutes, Section
4 nf fhnan OF A. p-Il
NO military or naval officer. or other
person, engaged in the civil. military or
naval services of the United States shall
order, bring and keep, or have under his
authority or control, any troops or armed
men at the place where any general or
special election is held. in any State, unless
1t be necessary the repei armed enemies
OF the United States or to keep the peace
at the polls" Aud section 5,52S in these
words; Every officer of the army or
naval service of the United States who
orders. brings or keeps, or has under his
authority or control any troops or armed
men at any place where general or
special election IS held in any State, unless
such force be necessary to repeal the arm
ed enemies of the United States, Or to
keep the peace at the polls, shall be fined
not more than $1,000 and suffer i'm
prisoDment at hard labor not less
than three mouths nor more
than five years" These sections,
though widely separated in the revised
statutes, are parts Of general law passed
on the 18th of February, 1865, to prevent
officers of the army and navy aud other
persons engaged in the service from inter
fering in elections in States (13 statutes at
large page 437.) The first section de-
nounced the use of troops at the elections.
oBd section provided penalties for disobe-
: dience. The two excepted cases are, troops
we're necessary to repel armed enemies OF
the Y ni.ed States, or TO keep peace at the
polls. The Sixth section Of the Appropri.
; alton bill proposes to strike from both
sections the words, ''or to keep peace al
] the polls, and nothing NOR, SO that the
army cannot be used herea:ter at elections
for any purpose, was an abstract of the
proposition. Could there be any rationa
objection to this? Ough. the army to bt
: used at the polls? When there has beer
profound peace for II re than a decade
does any one believe su>h a law would eveI
have received the approval OF the Ameri
can Congress ii it had been brought for
h ward in time of peace? 1t was passed
when formidable civil war was in pro
gress, taxing to the utmost the resource;
5 of the country. In the opinion uf patriots
Il of that date, the state OF feeling in certai!
: parts OF the country was OF such a eharac
n ter as to endanger peaceful elections while
y the war lasted, unless a mighty force Wa
It kept in readiness for any popular outburs
e of popular commotion. This was the con
IS viction that prompted legislation, but
IT venture to say no one of the eminent me
E. who voted tor it intended or expected
Re would remain part Of the permanent la
g Of the land. They were too well read i
er the lessons OF history and the traditions {
lg the aDglo.saxOn race, to believe a fre
at people would tolerate it, except iD grea
of emergencies, like a war waged for th
y maintenance of the Union, the interference
A OF the military in civil concerns, and the
of were men of principle and did not wish
9r otherwise.
es 1t will require some one now living I
BIT write accurately the history of these time
in for the future historian will be slow to b,
er leve that there was any basis on whIc
en- to rest such an inquiry in the Congress
er the United States during the latter part
I'd the nineteenth century. Why then shouI
n. not the law of 1865 be altered 10 the maj
ed ner proposed by this bill. 1t is said thI
d, President Lincoln signed it and the infe
I'd ence is it would reflect on his memory
We change it. To say the least this is pref
,ss strong presumption from such predicat
ed No man loved Mr.. Lincoln better than
les do, nor had any one greater opportuniti
"a to learn the constitution of his charact
n and thought. He was large hearted, wis
be than those associated with him full of syI
of pathy for struggling humanity. witho
ms malice, with charity for erriDg men, lovil
lal his whole country with devotion and
ri tensity, anxious to save it, believing as
ny do that he was raised up by providence {
ire a great crisis of war and rebellion. | ha
or equal belief that had he lived, we wou
zee have been spared much of the trouble
rn- latter days, and that We would be on the BIZ
'ur road to prosperity. Such a man, hating
in forms of oppression and deeply imbu
te with principle that Induced men Of II
On, to resist the stamp tax, would ney
in have willingly entrusted power to anyo
he unless war was fragrant TO send troops
it. oversee an election. Why then | repe
les should not the proposed measure pas
ate There is no rebellion nor any domestic U
uc roar anywhere. fbe Union is cement
not by blood that was shed 10 defence of
Jan integrity. The laws are obeyed NoI
on and South, East aud West, and our OF
nee real differences relate to the administrati
he of international affairs of the governme
of The construction Of the human mind is su
i've that there will be Of necessity div