Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-21

EIroRT OF THE MINORITY OF rHH HOUSE yuDIcI-
AIRY COMMITTEE.


AIRY COMMITTEE.
The minority OF the House committee on the
judiciary, having considered the President .
veto messages, have submitted their statement
OF the reasons why they cannot concur with
The views OF the majority OF said committee.
tenpts TO make It appear that any right Is
cl3tmed 10 interfere with the freedom and law
ful conduct OF any elections. The aight OF
federal supervision contended for applies TO
congressional elections only, and this tact is ig-
noTed IN the majority report. No claim OF SUI
peryision beyond this Is made In the messages,
taIy interference with the freedom or any cleo
Tons. The text OF the Presidents first message
Is quoted IN proof OF this. IL is historically
tary Interference during the war OF the rebel
lon, AID General McClelians we'll known order
OF October % 1851, from the headquarters OF
tDe army OF the Potomac, directing the army
70 supervise the Maryland elections is given
ID iull as proof OF this fact. Before the close
OF me war, and while denouncing It as
now demanding this repeating iegislation,
selected the author OF that order as
It's candidate fer the presidency. II III
II duise In fmputations and criticisms upon the
PRESIDENT wpose administration has been
marked by such great forbearance toward the
states lately In rebellion. IL was such orders
ss this OF Gen. McClellans, which led TO the
enactment OF tie law OF 1865, prohibiting the
use OF the army In time OF election, except TO
repel armed enemies or preserve peace at the
polls. Since Its enactment, the report SAYS, we
do not believe there has been any well-grounded
cause OF complaint OF military interference with
elections. The monstrous frauds perpetrated
Ia the elections I'm New York In 1s6s, became
the subject OF congressional investigation, and
II is believed that this was IN great measure
the origin OF the act OF 1870 10 secure freedom OF
elections, and the subsequent enforcement act
OF ISL. These acts, the report claims. had q
most wholesome tendency To secure free ana
honest elections. In the Presidential and Con-
gresslonai contest or 1916, their enforcement
purged the canvass OF all successful attempts &C
fraud In that city, where outrage upon the bal
lot-box ran riot In the canvass OF 1s6s. In proof
or this The report quotes the well-known
Language OF the committee OF the Forty fodrth
Congress, a majority OF which were dem
Ccrats, upon the subject, and concludes that o
statute which has proved TO be the agent or
s s,a ALAG, factor In working out such benign re.
session, however. opened with a bold avowal
that its repeal should be forced upon the execu-
ss the case Of ana
months OF failure the design Is stlll apparent
| In some way TO thwart the operation OF this
pous me e to render Il Se1E sS
aomfssibly Ia not TO be repealed, and It is the
Presidents constitutional duty 70 see that its
| provisions are enforced. Why should the at
tempt be made to cripple the law I'm its most
| important features? This the report denounces
| as puertle, and deserving the Jeers and con-
ment Of the laws Of the tinted States s on any
particular day, such as election day, would b
/ 10 set a false precedent for disorder. Tho
| reasoning OF the majority OF the commit
tee, says the minority report, eliminates IN
/ the unconditional avowal that all elections
l are state elections and that no law OF Congress
can control or interfere with the officers OF the
| state at any time unless the state authorities
| invoke such aid Ia the manner provided By tho
| Constitution. This Is asserting the pernfcioO
/ dogma OF state supremacy In its most obnoxfou.
| form. What the President has already said on
this subject is quoted with approval, and q -
| contended that the President must be governed
f,x S,.Asr <Ros
the veto power, without regard to the pressure
| OF opinion In either branch OF Congress. Tho
| minority say that they cannot conclude their
| disrespectful tone OF the majority report !" to-
wards the chief magistrate OF the nation"
They compliment the President highly upon
| his views and language, and concur with tho
| majority In asking to be discharged from fur
Their consideration OF the subject. The report
Is signed BY E. g. Lapham, Geo. d. Robinson,
VIM. Mckinley, jr., Charles g. WILLIAMS and
Edwin Willis.