Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-09-13

buu we u6to uO IlSuL " oApCSe suOih "
admit that they were false to their con-
vlctions of duty in asserting and main
tanning the alleged right of secession.
But / assert that there Is not one man
from the south in either house of con-
gress who does not accept the decision
Of the war as the final settlement of that
question, or who does not agree that all
the amendments of the constitution
made to give permanent effect to that
settlement shall be respected and obey
ed and executed BY appropriate legisla-
ton. In view OF this it Is mean and un-
patriotic in the republican leaders to
keep up the senseless clamor against
the south and prevent the restoration OF
harmony and good will. without which
the sacrifices Of the war we're allin vain.
Ia Neither Mr.. Schurz nor MIR. Sherman
has a word to say justiiying the use of
troops at the polls, for which they and
tho administration fought SO vigorously.
They know that it is power and an
alien and q foe to our republican sys-
tenn of government, and that the deter
mination OF the administration to retain
that power will meet the disapprobation
of the people. i-f'.2-'' eaj ."
But Mr. Schurz attempts to ridicule the
stern demand of the democracy to have
that odious power wiped from our stat
ute books. He says: Does any sane
man think this administration capable
of sending the federal soldiers to the bal.
lot-box to overawe the freedom of the
electors? =" The president withdrew
81 foAo.oI .oJI;o,o frov,, n otivo
halls OF the southern states if@f'
Yes, that was when the president was
playing his role of conservative; thai
was when he had just been put into
|ipower by track and dicker arrange
ment, got up by Mr.. Foster; that was
when both of them were crying Out
against federal interference with state
legislatures and state elections, and were
anxious for the flag to float over states
not Provinces But change has come
over the spirit of their dreams. Mr.
Foster pleads the baby act,' and tn,
president has taken up all low fellows il
the southern states whom he trampet
down in getting to power, aud givel
high stations and good salaries. He is
stalwart now has made up with a
whom he offended by withdrawing fed
eral soldiers from the Legislative hall
OF the southern states;' and is as lion
mettled as Zach Chandler. But whethe
he would or would not abuse the power
as Grant did. is not the question. Tn
question is whether any president cal
constitutlonally be given, or should hav
the power to send troops to keep th
peace at the polls, or to, in any way. in
| \ al
Mr.. Sherman does not attempt to jus
tify the marshals and supervisors law a
either constitutional or expedient. 1t
nconstitutionality is demonstrable t
any man of common intelligence, whett
er lawyer or layman. When the const
tuition was framed the whole control {
elections OF members of congress wa
reserved to the states but congress wa
given power to alter the state reguls
tions as to the time. places and name
OF holding such elections, because it ws
thought probable that II might be in
portant to the general government t
have those elections all on one day, {
to have them held in single district
Then it was suggested. at the very clos
OF the debate, that possibly some stat'
. might refuse altogether to elect men
bers OF congress and in such evel
: congress ought to have power to NAL
all necessary provisions tor electin
members of congress in such state
Solely to provide Tor this contingency,s
Mr., Madison says, the clause was final
5 amended so as to read as follows:
J Sec. 4. The times, places and mann,
OF holding elections for senators and re-
/ kak ot,an IN
state by the legislature thereof. but tt
congress may at any time by law NAL
!. or alter such regulations. except as
> the places Of choosing senator's
Now. here is the constitution of Obi
!. It provides that every white male eli
zen of the United States of the age
: Fl years, who shall have been reside
!. !. OF the state one year next preceding Il
y election. and of the county, township
ward in which he resides such time
may be provided by law, shall have Il
!. qualifications OF an elector and be enl
u tied to vote at all elections.' ,
: Here is the election law of the sta
: providing for the election of members
. congress and other officers 1t provid
n how long a person must be resident
y the county, township and ward prior
= the election to have the right to vote !;
. provides how persons may gain or 10
u q residence; it provides for dividing t
,. state into election districts. for furnis
. ing ballot boxes, fixing places of ele
= :, ton. selecting judges from residents
II the election precincts and providing t
whole manner of conducting the ole
tlons, and OF making returns and pr
Il claiming results. All the officers so a
thorized to conduct elections are sta
= officers. They derive their authori
under and are sworn to obey the sta
u u constitution and law. No one disputes
" authority OF the state to conduct the
u elections, or denies that this whole ele
d ton machinery, thus conducted a
Z. managed by state officers, is valid and
u tull force and operation.
u The republican party. by its fedel
election law, has provided that two fe
l. erai supervisors may be appointed
D. each one OF these election precincts, wi
~ power to inspect the ballots of electc
and determine what votes shall be
ceived and what votes rejected; and
g. any state election officer refuses to 81
sr NIT his judgment to that OF the fedel
10 supervisors, the supervisors may sci
10 such election officer aud drag him fro
Of the ballot box to federal PRISON, to
l. indicted and tried tor the felony of dis
y. bedience to these federal interlopers
J. mans vote be challenged, and the ST.
II Judges. in obedience to the state law, {
T. termine, on the facts presented, that
m is entitled to vote, the federal supervis
So may selze the elector before his bal
I. is put in and drag HIM off to fede