Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-13
paiIp Asmnebet Journal.
Augusta, Thursday Mon'g. Feb. 49, 1879.
Revolutionary Measures.

The proceedings of the congressional
democratic caucus last Monday evening,
were of character SO revolutionary that
Mr.. Bayard made a notable speech in OPP
position to the measures proposed and
adopted, contending thatthey would alarm
the Northern section of the country. The
proposition was to attach to the Sundry
Civil Bill a section repeating the Jurors
test oath, and another repeating the Fed
eral Supervisors law. This was agreed
TO, and it was further agreed TO stand for
resulted in the defeat of the bill. The
purpose of this is to throw down the legal
safeguards to fair elections in the South,
and give the democrats free course in their
fraudulent and violent methods OF con-
trolling the suffrage. If the republicans
oppose the repeal proposed an extra SEES
sion Of Congress will be necessary to pass
the legislative bill, and the democrats will
at once enter into possession of the Sen
ate. There is no doubt that the republic
cans will stick. Their constituents will
sustain them in such a course To the last
extremity.
The sections of the revised statutes in
regard to test oaths for Jurors are three in
number. and are numbered $50, S2l and
S22. The first two of these sections pro-
vide that 10 have given voluntary aid or
comfort to the rebellion shall he cause
of disqualification for grand and petit .iu-
rors of the courts of the United States :;
and they give to the District Attorney, in
any trial before United States Court, the
right to challenge grand or petit juror
who cannot take the iron-clad oath. So
far as these two sections are concerned the
republican party would not oppose their
elimination, unless proposed in the men
acing form now indicated.
But the ease--the third section, s22. is
far different, and, as a matter of principle,
the republican party will offer to its re-
peal an uncompromising resistance. This
section reads as follows:
'.No person shall be a grand or petit juror
in any court of the United States upon any in
quiry, hearing. or trial of any suit, proceed
ing, or prosecution based upon or arising nm
der the provisions of title ''civil rights and OF
title ''crimes" for enforcing the provisions Of
the Fourteenth Amendment Of the ConStit'I-
ton, who is, in the Judgment of the court. in
completely with any combination or conspira-
10. n ,,I ~.
petit Juror shall before entering upon any
sach inquiry. hearing or trial, take and sub
scribe an oath, in open court, that he has new
er, directly or indirectly counseled, advised or
voluntarily aided any such combination or
conspiracy"
The repeal of this section would only
make the indictment OF the bulldozers n
farce. Though they have carried on their
nefarious business in spite of it, they pre-
fer to have it repealed and out of the way,
fearing what might happen if tits let alone.
The Federal Supervisors law makes no
distinction between North and South in It's
operations Where elections are fair and
free however It Is not necessary. The on
ly reason for its repeal is that it is II check
upon fraud and violence at elections
hence the demand for its repeal by demo-
Gratis.
In the adoption of these measures the
democrats give the country warning of
Of what their course will be if they sue
coed in getting full control of the admins
tvafion of tSe government