The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-13

sr-res Soaring ufoS THE eoEs auS.
r ~ PRESIDENTS "sRAVE OBJECTIONS
70 rus DLL"
-. following is President nayes's veto
~ p.1n sen, to the House OF Representa-
m Yesterday, with his objections to the
W IN cn,;,led can act TO prohibit military
. ''a at elections .:
l y, mr House Of Representatives,:
' ,rcr careful consideration of The bill en-
Al's. va, act to prohibit military interior
Tile" r,cc,ions." return 1t to the House
snc ,,n~n.rrseu,q,iycs, in which 1t originated,
Oh pr, mn The following objections 10 us appro-
val: .,o communication seat to the House
- ."r,cssnfa;jyes on the 29.h OF last month,
OF n.r 70 the House without my appro-
Ff,a"' Mi entitled San act making appro-
VI! ~, .;>rs for The support OF the army Tor the
pF'a'..' "a.r ending June 80. 1850. and for
hsS". 3orpc>es." I epdeavored TO show by
otns .s,ion. from the statutes OF TIE United
9uo'a''or.ow in force, and by brief
s .S.n,on, Of facts in regard to recent cleo
ssatHi :, The several States, that no adj
uo .;sr,i legislation was necessary to prevent
a i'o.". with the elections by the mill
in'ei'., ava, forces Of the United States.
taiF w., :" was, was presented in that communica-
Nc ,,,ot q. the Time o! the passage OF the act
Non ,r" "a lS1S. in relation TO the employ
81 u', NJ the army as a posse comstGsuS or
l.e"r 81 il was maintained by its friends
., u would establish vital ana
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
u,;.h would secure to the people protection
,ro,ns, \ standing army. The fact was also
.o,s-red 10 that since the passage OF this act
CORRESPOND, State, and .muulclpal ciec-
,nny have been held throughout the Union,
snS ,hlt in no instance has complaint been
ra,da n, the presence OF United States SOL
d;ers At the polls. -.
TTolding as do the opinion that any mill
.,rr interference whatever at the polls IS
con,rory TO The shirt OF our institutions,
end would tend to destroy the freedom OF
err,ious: and sincerely desiring to concur
win Congress in all its measures. it is with
very great regret that am forced TO the con-
cIu:iun that the bill before me is not only
unnecessary to prevent any such inter
ference. hut is 4 dangerous departure from
long-sctlled and important CONSTITUTIONAL
principles !,
military force Mt The elections is not doubt
,nl No intimidation or coercion should be
slowed to control or influence citizens in
The exercise Of their right to vote, whether
Il aupnars in the shape Of combinations Of
fyl.diSpnscd persons, or OF armed bodies or
,bc militia OF State, or Of the military force
o! the United States. ..s.. 3.
THE ELECTIONS SHOULD BE FREE
from all forcihlc interference, aud. as far rs
practicable, from all apprehension OF such
Interference No soldiers, either OF the
Union or OF the State militia, should be
wcsent at the polls 10 take the place or to
psrform The duties Of the ordinary civil
Police force There has been. and will be,
no violation Of tins rule under orders from
NE during this administration. But there
should La no denial OF the right OF the MI
iional Government TO employ its military
force on any day and at any place in case
such employment i necessary 10! enforce
the Constitution and laws OF the United
States.
The bin before me is as follows:
"Bc Il enacted, DC, That il shall not be
hwiul 10 bring 10 or employ at any place
where a general or special election is being
ted in State any part OF The army or
navy Of the United States, unless such
force be necessary to repcl the armed enc
mics Of the United States, or 10 enforce
section 1, article 4, OF the Constitution OF
the United States, and the laws made IN
pursuance thereof. on application OF the
legislature or Executive OF the State where
such force is TO be used; and so much OF
all laws as is inconsistent herewith is here
BY repealed"
II win be observed that the bill eXempts
from the general prohibition against the
employment OF military force ut the polls
two specified cases. These exceptions re.
cagnze and concede the soundnesS OF tho
principle that military force may properly
and cOn>titutionally be used at the place oil
elections when such use is necessary to en-
force tue Constitution and the laws. But
he excepted cases leave the prohibition SO
extensive and far-reaching that its adoption
Ill seriously impair the efficiency OF the
Las""utive Department Of the Government.
lc first act expressly authorizing 49,.
iHE Use nP THE MILITARY POWER TO Exc.
CCTE THE LAWS &........ -'...
vas passed almost IL, early as the organiza.
lion Of the GovernmeH under the Cons,i.
luton, and was approy.d bv Plesiden.
Washington May 3, 1892. his as follows
Section 2. And be ii .furth.,, enacted
That whenever the laws Of tia United
Sales SHALL be opposed. or the EXECUTION
thereof obstructtd, in any State, by cambi-
/ nations 100 powerful to be suppressed by the
ordinary course OF judicial proceedings, Or
py the powers vested In the marshaIs by
Ms Del, the same being notified to the Pre-.
Hoeht o. the United States by an associate
!u'Iicc or the district judge, it shall be law
.ui icr the President of the United States
10 call forth the militia OF such State to
suppress such combinations and TO cause
'ae laws TO be duly executed. And
the militia OF a State where such
"MDinatIons may happen shall refuse,
De insufficient TO suppress the same, 1t
'.aa be lawful for the President, if the le-
q s>"'ure OF the United States he not in ses-
9h, 10 call forth and employ such numbers
The militia OF any other State or States
Aost convenient thereto as may be neces-
sff; and the use of militia so to be called
HFth may be continued, II necessary, until
luz expiration Of thirty days after The COM
ITacemtnt OF the ensuing session"
IN 1875 this provision was substantially
nchaeied in a law which repealed the act
" i'S2. In 1907 the following act became
80 u" by the approval Of President Jetter-
mar IN all cases OF instruction or
y'stflction TO the laws, either OF the United
SrSes or Of any individual, State, or Terri
%%!,~here il IS lawful for the President OF
t.e ouiled States 10 call forth the militia
VI Tue purpose Of suppressing such insur-
'|tOn, or II causing the laws to be duly