The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-05-07

lions.
Section 4 Of article ! of the Con
stitutiou declares The times, places
and manner Of holding elections fol
Senators and Representatives shall
be prescribed 10 each State by The
Legislature hereof Bat Congress
may, st any time, by law, make or
alter such regulations. except AZ to
places Of choosing Senators The
fifteenth amendment Of the Constitu'
ton l. ss fellows:
SEC | The right of citizens Of
the United SAFES to vote shall mol
be denied VI slridged by the United
s a,es, or by agv State, oD ccoun Of
race, color, or previous condition Of
serpitude.
SEC 2 The Congress shall have
power to enforce this article by ap
propriase Legislation.
The Supreme Court has held thai
this amendment invests citizens Of
the United States with a new Con
stilutionsl righr, which is within the
protecting power of Congress. Thai
right the Court declares 10 be exemp-
ton from discrimination in the exer
else Of the elective franchise on &c
count OF rsce color. or previous con
dition Of servitude TIE power Of
Congress TO protect this right by
appropriate Legislation is expressly
affirmed by the Court. National
legislation TO provide safeguards fo'
tree aud honest elections is necessary
as experience has shown, not only to
secure the right TO vote TO the en-.
f~raDchised race at the South, bul
also TO proven; fraudulent voting 10
the large cities Of the North. Con.
gress nss therefore exercised the
power conferred by the Constitution
and has enacted certain laws to pre-
vent discrimination on account Of
race, color, or previous condition 81
servitude, and to punish fraud. rio'
lence aud intimidation at Federal
elections. Attention is called to The
following sections of the Revised
Statutes of the United States, viz:
SEC 1904, which guarantees al
ciIizens the right to vote without dis.
iinciion on ACCOUNT OF reoe, COLOR, OF
previous condition of servitude.
SECS zoos. aud , 006, which guar
an'ce 10 all citizens equal opportuui'
Ia, Si.hOut discrimination. TO perform
oil acis required by isw as pre-
requisite or qualification for voting.
SEC. 2O22, which authorizes The
United States marshal and biz depu.
ties to keep the peace and preserve
order OF Federal elections.
SEC. 9 024, which expressly author
ICES the United States marshal arc
his deputies to summon o posse coma
fatus whenever they or any of them
are forcibly resisted in the execution
Of their duties under tie law, D are
prevented from executing their duties
by violation.
SEC $500, which provides for the
punishment of the crime of interferiol
with supervisors Of election and dep
uty marshals in the discharge of theil
duties at elections of Representative
in Congress.
These are some of the lGw VS. on tbi,
suhiecs. which it is the doty Of tb'
Executive Department Of the Govern
ment TO enforce.
TAKES AWAY CIVIL AUTHORITY.
The intent and effect of the sixth
section Of this bill is TO prohibit al
civil officers of the United States, un
der q penalty of Gne and imprison
ment. from employing any adequate
civil force for this purpose, Of a place
X bere their enforcement is most nee
essary, namely, at places where Con
gressiopsl elections are held. Among
the most valuable eDactments t
which | have referred are thos'
which protect supervisors at Fedora
elections in the discharge of their du
ties ct the polls. If the pending
Legislation shoqid become a law. ther'
is no power vested in any officer O
The Government TO protect from vic
lence the officers of the United State
engaged in the discharge of their du
ties. Their rights and duties pnde
the law will remain, but the Nations
Government will be poweriess to co
force its own statutes. The State
may employ both military and civi
power to keep the peace, ard TO eI
force the laws at the State elections
1t is now proposed to deny to tn
United States even the necessar,
civil Authority to protect Nationa
elections. No Sufficient reason ha
been given for this discrimination j
favor Of State and against Nation:
authority. II well founded objection
exist against the present Nations
election laws, all good citizens shout
unite In their amendment. Law
providing safeguards at the ELECTION
: should be impartial, just and efieien
| They should, if possible, be 80 Dol
partisan and fair il their operatio
that the minority party out Of powt
will have no just grounds 70 con
plain. The present laws have ]
practice unquestioDably conduced
! the prevention of fraud and violent
at elections.
In several Of the States menbel
of different political parties baye a,
, piled for safeguards, which they fu
nisb. 1t is the right and duty Of Il
National Government to enact an
enforce laws which will secure FRI
aud fair Congressional elections. Tt
laws now 10 force should not be r.
pealed except In connection with II
enactment Of measures which wi
better accomplish that important emf
! Believing that section 6 of the bi
! before me will weaken, if it does NJ
altogether take away, the power
tht National Government TO prote,
Federal elections by civil authoriiie
| am forced to the conclusion tba.
ought not to receive my approve
That section is, however, not preset
= ted to me as a separate and indepeI
deat measure, but is, as has been stl
ted. attached to the bill making II
usual appropriations for the suppo
, Of the army. Ii makes q vital chang
u 10 the election laws of the eouDts
: which is in no way connected vii