Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-30
HAYES.
He vetOes the Army ApprOpria.
tiOn Bill.
His Reasons Given in Full.

lowing is the message of the Presi
dent Of the United States in returning
to the house of representatives the
bill entitled IAN act making appropri.
atians for support of the army for the
fiscal year, ending June 80, 1880, and
for other purposes
To the House of Representatives
| have maturely considered the cues
tons presented by the bill entitled
an act making appropriations for the
support of the army for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1880, and for other
purposes, and l now return it to the
house of representatives, in which it
originated, with my objections to its
approval.
The bill provides, in the usual form,
for appropriations required for the
support o fthe army during the next
fiscal year. If it contained no other
provisions it would receive my prompt
approval. 1t includes, however, fur
Their legislation which, attached as it
is to the appropriations which are
requisite for the efficient performance
of some Of the most necessary duties
of the government, involves questions
of the gravest character.
The sixth section OF the bill is
amendatory of the statute now in
force in regard to the authority of
persons in the civil. military and naval
service of the United States at any
place where any general or special
election is held in any State. This
statute was adopted February %, 1865.
after a protracted debate in the SEN
ate, and almost without opposition in
the house of representatives by the
concurrent votes of both of the leading
political parties of the country. and
became a law by the approval Of Pres
ident Lincoln.
1t was re-enacted in 1874 in the re-
vised statues of the United States,
sections POOP and 5528, which are as
Section POOP. No military or naval
officer or other persons engaged in
the civil, military or naval service of
the United States shall order, bring,
or have under his authority or
control any troops or armed men AZ
the place where any general election
is held in any State, unless it be neces-
sary to repel armed enemies of the
United States or to keep peace at the
polls.
Sec. 5528. Every officer of the
army or navy, or other person in
civil, military, or naval service in the
United States who orders, brings.
or has under his authority or
control any troops or armed men at
any place where general or special
elections are held in any State. unless
such force be necessary to repel armed
enemies Of the United States. or to
keep the peace at the polls, shall be
fined not more than 5000 and suffer
Imprisonment at hard labor not less
than three months nor more than FIVE
The amendment proposed in this
in the bill before me omits
from both Of the foregoing sections
the words or to keep the peace at
the polls The effect of the adop-
ton of this amendment may be con
sldered: First, upon the right of the
United States government to use mill
tary force to keep peace at elections
for members Of congress and second,
upon the right Of the government. by
civil authority, to protect these cleo
tions from violence and fraud.
In addition to the sections of the
above quoted, the following
provisions Of the law relating to the
use Of military power at elections are
now in force:
Sec. 2003. No officer of the army
or navy of the United States shall
prescribe or fix, or attempt to pre-
orfx, by proclamation, order. or
otherwise, the qualifications of voters
in any State, or in any manner inter
fere with the freedom of any election
in any State, or with the exercise of.
the free rights Of suffrage in any
State"
Sec. 1929. Every officer or other
person in the military or naval service
who by force, threat or intimidation.
order, advice or otherwise prevents.
or attempts to prevent any qualified
voter Of any State from freely exer-
the right Of suffrage at any gen
eral or special election in such State.
shall be fined not more than $4,000 and
imprisoned at hard labor not more
than five years.
Sec. $3.50. Every officer of the
army or navy who prescribes or fixes
or attempts to prescribe or fix. wheth-
or by proclamation, order or otherwise
the qualification Of voters at any cleo
ton in any State shall be punished as
provided in special section.
Sec. 553l. Every officer or other
person in the military or naval
service, who by force, threats, intimi-
dation or otherwise compels or at
tempts TO compel any officer holding
an election in any State to receive a
vote from a person not legally qualified
to vote, aud who imposes or attempts
TO impose any regulations for conduct.
ing any general or special election in
any State different from those provid-
ed by law, or who interferes In any
manner with any officer of election in
the discharge Of his duty, shall be
punished as prescribed in section
5G29.
Sec. 1882. Every person con.
yicted of any Of the offences speei6ed
in the five preceding sections Shall. in
addition to the punishments therein
severally prescribed, be disqualified
from holding any office Of honor. profit
or trust under the United States. but
nothing in those sections shall be con
strued TO prevent any officer, soldier
sailor or marine from exercising the
right of suffrage i'm n -elpction d;s