South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-06-20
Mr.. Knotts Report.

The report Of the Judiciary committee
OF the House of Representatives. OF
which Mr.. J. Proctor Knott is chairman,
was submitted TO the House yesterday.
This report, which has been promised
for some time. criticises the various
messages OF the President vetoing The
several appropriation, bills sent him on
account OF the repeating clauses con-
tanned in them. The report is temper.
ate, but at the same il is severe. Ii dis
cusses The several points raised in the
different veto messages in the light OF
history, and aims to establish the point
that the President has not only been not
well.infor,ned in regard TO the particu-
lar issues in controversy, hut that he has
also, at different times, held different
opinions in regard to what was required
OF him in the premises. The President
himself is quoted rs admitting that any
military interference whatever nj the
polls is contrary 10 the spirit of our in.
situations, and would tend TO DESTROY
the freedom Of elections Tho report
makes it evident that the net OF Con-
gress Of February ~, 1865, which has
been frequently adduced as al argument
in favor OF the excessive federal authori.
ty exercised at the polls, was really an
act intended TO restrict that supposed
authority, which was naturally strained
to the utmost during the war, upon the
theory OF war power outside OF
the constitution. The report claims
that the words or to keep pcaco ut
the polls were not in the original
hat
spite OF the strenuous protests of large
number Of the friends of the original
measure at the time tho bill was pass.
ed, who pointed out the dangerous prac.
tices which might be rcsorted to i'm con.
sequence of misapprehensoins in that re-
gard. These acts, the report claims, have
been committed, and the repeating
clauses to which the President objects
have been introduced solely with n Wow
to prevent n continuance Of these mis-
constructions ami the misdeeds founded
on them. The report contends that
Congress is to be tho sole Judge Of the
propricty OF its proceedings, and that
the criticisms which the President has
directed against them are at least in bad
taste. In regard to the substance ofthc
clauses, the report says that the entire
argument against the necessity Of the
DILL is therefore left TO rest upon the
Presidents reiterated assertion that
troops have not hecn and will not be
used TO interfere with any State cleo
ton during his administrations That
assertion was no doubt sincere. but un-
fortunately for its validity az a reason
Tor refusing to approve o bill designed
for the protection OF future generations.
as well as this, the official term Of the
present Executive is limited. and he NAV
be succeeded in the exalted position he
occupies by one who will feel less scru-
pulons regard for the freedom and puri-
ty of the ballot than he processes him
self to entertain. Moreover, he is hn.
man and liable to change, and no one
but himself can know to what extent
the partisan debates in Congress have
influenced bis opinions even upon the
questions involved in the vetoes under
consid ration In despotism, the re-
port says, the subjects must depend
upon the goodwill Of their master, but
free people, If they would remain free.
must insist upon the guarantees of pos
tive Law - is not upon Mr.. Hayes's
intentions, IN o'her words, but upon the
correction and revision OF the statutes.
that Congress wishes to rest the purity
OF elections in the future. The report
meets the President at every point upon
constitutional and historical grounds,
and its value as a public document must
be measured by the accuracy with which
1t discusses these important legal and
technical issues. It's temper md Judi.
cial balance are unquestionable. and are
worthy Of the highest commentator
Boh San, May 2.