The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-30
protect this right by appropriate legislation

OF servituds. and to punish fraud, violence and
intimidation nj Federal elections.
Attention Is called to the following sections OF
the Revised Statutes Of the United States. VIZ.
section 1904. which guarantees all citizcns
the right to vote, without distinction on account
tude.
sections zoos and 2OoG, which guarantee to
all cit zeps equal opportunity. without discrim-
inntion, TO perform all the acts required by law
as n prerequisite or qualification Tor voting.
Section 2.022. which authorizes the United
States Marshal and his deputies to keep the
peace and preserve order at the Federal alec
section 202l. which expressly authorizes tho
United States Marshal and his deputies TO sum
mon posse comtatus whenever they. or any Of
them are fOrciby resisted in tho execution OF
their duties under the law. and are prevented
from executing their duties by violation.
mont of The erin q of Interfering with the super
visors of election and deputy inarshas in the
discharge Of their duties at the elections OF
Representatives in Congress.
These are some Of the laws on this subject
which Il Is the duty OF the executive department
The intent and effect Of the sixth section Of
this bill is to prohibit all the civil officers Of the
United States. under penalty OF fine and i'm.
force for this purpose at the place whore their
enforcement In most necessa airy namely at the
held.
Among the most valuable enactments to which
/ have referred are those which protect the
supervisors OF Federal elections in tho dis
charge Of their duties at the polls. III the pend
INK leElslulOn tuhulu btfOue lnt law tnefe IL
no power veetsd In officer OF the Govern
ment To protect from violence the officers OF the
United states engaged ia the discharge OF thoir
duties. Their rights and duties under the law
Will remain. but the national Government will
be powerlcss to enforce it's own statutes The
states may employ both military and civil power
To Keep tho peace and to enforce tho laws ut
state elections. II IL now proposed TO deny TO
The United States even the necessary civil Au-
thority to protect the national elections. No
sufficient reason has been given for discrim
ination in favor Of the state and against the
NAL n dali iona
exist against the present national election
laws all good citizens should unite in
safeguards OF the elections should bo
impartial, Just. and efficient They should II
possible, be- so nOn-pattisun and fair in their
operation that the minority uhe party out OF
power Will have no lust grounds TO complain.
| The present laws have. Ia practice. unquesuon-
aby conduced 10 The prevention OF fraud and
violence ut the elections. In several of the
States members Of the different political parties
have applied for the safeguards which they fur
nish. II is the right and duty OF the national
government to enact and enforce laws which
VIII secure Tree and lair Congressional clec.
tions. The laws now In force should not
be- repealed except In connection with the
enactment Of measures which will better
H SS pnas seeton " t6s III beore me- S S
weaken. II 1t does not altogether take away.
the power OF the national Government TO pro-
tect the Federal elections by the civil authori-
ties. am forced TO the conclusion that IL ought
however not presented to me as a separate and
independent measure. but IL. rs has been
stated. attached TO tho bill making the usual an
nuhl appropriations for the support OF the
army. IL makes a vital change In the election
laws of the country. which is In no way CON
nected with the use OF the army II prohibits
under heavy penalties. any person engaged la
the civil service OF the United States. from hav
ing any force at the place OF any election pre-
pared to preserve order. to make arrests. to
Keep the peace or In any manner to enforce the
laws. This is altogether foreign 10 the Pur-
practice Of lacking 10 appropriation bills
measures not pertinent 70 such bills did not
prevail until more than forty years after the
adoption OF the Constitution. II has become a
| common practices all parties. when in power,
have adopted II. Many abus,s aud great waste
| OF public money have in this way crept into
appropriation bills. The public opinion Of the
country is against IT, The States which have
recently adopted Constitutions have generally
| provided a remedy for the evil by onacting that
| no law snail contain more than one subject.
which shall be plainly expressed in its title.
States contain substantially this provision. The
| public welfare viii be promoted in many ways
by q return to the early practice OF the Govern
ment. and to the true principle OF Legislation,
| which requires that every measure shall stand
understood that 10 attach to an appropriation
| Il measure irrelevant to the general object OF
| the bill. would imperl and probably prevent It's
| final passage and approval, a valuable reform In
the parliamentary practice ofCongress would be
| accomplished. The best justification that has
been offered Tor attaching irrelevant riders 10
! appropriation bills is that II is done for con-
venlence sake. TO facilitate the passage OF meas
| urea which are deemed expedient 10y all the
| branches OF Government which participate in
| legislation. II cannot be claimed that there is
| any such reason for attaching this amendment
| OF the election laws 10 the Army Appropriation
| bl The history OF tho measure cOntradlcis
| this assumption. A majority Of the House Of
! Representatives in the last Congress was in IA
| vOr of section OF this bill. IL was known that
majority OF the Senate was opposed 70 II, and
not be adopted IL was attached 10 the
| Army Appropriation bill 10 compel the
announced TO the senate that the Army Appro,
| prlatiun biil would not he allowed 10 pass un-
| less the proposed amendments OF the election
| laws wore adopted with H. The Senate refused
10 assent 10 the bill on account u TINS irrelevant
section. Congress thereupon adjourned with
| out pass ng an appropriation hlll Tor the army.
and the present extra session Of the Forty sixth
| Congress became necessary to furnish the
| means 10 carry on the Government
The ground upon which the action Of the
| House Of Representatives is defended has been
distinctly stated by many OF lis advocates; A
week before the close Of the last session Of Con-
| grrss the doctrine in question WIS stated by one
| OF It's ablest defenders as follows:
It's our duty to repeal these 1t Is not worth white %
attempt The repeal except upon an appropriation bill
The kepunlean senate would not agree Ia nor woud the
ever objections to Hesitation upon appropriation bllls
Tree eiscton. and tie liberty 81 he cn are cocsrnci
W. have The power g. vote MONEY le, rs annex con
By another distinguished member Of the
House IL WIS said:
TIE rslt the representative; Of the people to with.
numerou, instances Where the common feeling that The
people oppressed by laws that the lors would not
Obtained redress at LASTLY refusing uprAuOns unless
| accompanied by relief measures
That question Of the gravest magnitu and
now ia this country, was raised by this course
| Of proceeding. WIS fully recognized also 10y It's
defenders IN tho Senate. IL was said by dis
| tinguished senator:
Perhaps GREATER question in the form brought
TO consider H. considered 10y the American Con.
gress in time Of pence, Tor II involves not merely the
merits deme rits Of the laws which tie House hi
poses 10 repeal but involves the rlhts. the privileges,
the powers the duties OF the TWO branches OF Congress
and NJ the President NJ the UnWd states It's vast
question Its question whose Importance ctn scarcely
be- estimated II u question that never yet has been
brought sharply before the American Congress and
| tie Amercan peop" As II my he now. ltlsa question
ci,ion dets what the powers the lious -
of natives under the Constitution, aud what Is
the dut O nat HOUSE ia the view nt the trainers that
ton-ttuuOi, according tO ts ltter aud It, spirit Mi.
! President Should approach This queston II were IN
| the hest possible condition To speak aud TO argue
| IT, with very grave thidrnce, and certainly
| with tie utmost Huxirty tor think Of II
seeing that the beginning perhaps strug.
gle that may last ~ 0uS M th,s country similar
struggle lasted m what We accustomed 20 call the
mother laud There the struggle lasted tor two cen
tuuos before u ultimately decided II u not likely
90 last long here, hut II last until In
tins Chamber Is ~ his grave II D, the question whether
uo the House OF Representatives has right To sAY
We Will grant supplies only upun condition that grew.
aucr, We the Trprr~ natives OF the
| taxpayer. Of tie republic. We, the House IT RepTe
sutakrs. alone have the right To originate money bills
We. the House Of Representatives. have sion" the right
to urillnar bills WHICH grant the money OF tie people.
| The Seuate represents States We represent The TAX