Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-05-22
Veto Message of the "Act to
Prohibit Military Interference
at Elections"

at Elections"
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE President
to-day returned to the House of Represen.
tatives tho "Aot to prohibit military inter.
teronco at elections" with his objections to
its approval. The President says:
"Holding, as do, tho opinion that any
military interference whatever ut tho polls
is contrary to the spirit of our institutions.
and would tend to destroy the freedom of
our elections, and sincerely desiring to
concur with Congress in all it's measures, it
Is with very great regret that am forced
to the conclusion that tho bill before mo is
not only unnecessary to prevent such inter
ference, but is q dangerous departure from
long settled and important constitutional
principles.
"Ihc true rule as to the employment Of
military force at the elections is not doubt
fol. No intimidation or coercion should
he allowed to control or influence citizens
in the exercise of their right to vote,
whether it appears in the shape of combi-.
nations of evil-disposcd persons or of armed
bodies of the militia of State or of the
United States. The elections should be
Tree from all forcible interference, and, as
far as practicable, from all apprehension of
such interference. No soldier either Of
the Union or of the States militia should be
present at the polls to take tho place or
perform the duties of the civil police force
There has been and will bo no violation of
tho rule under orders from me during this
administration. But there should be no
denial of the right Of the national gevern-
mont to employ the military force on any
day and at any placo in case such employ
ment is necessary to enforce the constitu-
tion and laws of the United States"
Quoting the bill. tho President SAYS:
'lt will bo observed that tho bill excmpts
from the general prohibition against the
employment of military at tho polls two
specified cases. These exceptions recop-
nizc and concede the soundness of tho
principle that the military may properly
and constitutionally be used ut the place Of
elections when such is necessary to enforce
tho constitution and tho laws; but tho
excepted cases leave tho probition 30 expen.
Five and far reaching that its adoption will
seriously impair the efficiency of the exec
utive department"
The President then proceeds to quote
Wy "o'o VI eSD dutnOrI2lDg the use or
military power to execute the laws, the
provisions of which were approved by
Washington and Jefferson, and atil later
by Lincoln. Referring thereto tho Presi-
dent says:
CAT the most oriticul periods of our
history my predecessors in the Executive
have retired on this great priuoiplc. IT
was on this principle that President w ash
iington suppressed tho whiskey rebellion in
Pennsylvania in 1904. In 1905, Oh the
same principle, President Jefferson broke
up tho Burr conspiracy by issuing orders
for the employment of such PORTIONS either
OF tho regulars, or of tho militia as might
DO necessary, and by such proceedings . Of
tho civil authorities as might enable them
to suppress effeotually tho further progress
OF the enterprise; and it was under tho
same authority that President jackson
orushed notification in South Carolina and
that President Lincoln issued his call for
troops to save the Union in 1861. On