Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-30

in their results. In the large cities, under
their provisions. the elections have
been comparatively peaceable and
honest. Even the opponents of these
Lawn have borne testimony to their value
ana efficiency, and acknowledged the nee
0lity for their enactment. A COMMITTEES
efsthe 44th congress, composed of men Z
majority of whom were opposed to these
laws, in their report on the New York cleo.
ton of 1876, said the committee would
commend to the country and to other cities
this remarkable system developed through
the agency Of both local and federal author
ity acting in harmony for one honest pur-
pose. In no portion of the world and in
no era of time where there has been an ex-
preston Of the popular will through the
plete and Thorough endorsement Of republi.
can institutions. Whatever may have been
the previous habit of the conduct Of cleo
items in those cities, or howsoeyer they may
conduct themselves in the future, this cleo
ton Of 1876 will stand - . monument of
what good faith, honest endeavors Of a loyal
and Just party may do for the protection of
theelectoral franchise.
This bill retains the authority and duty Of
the United States to appoint supervisors to
guard and scrutinize congressional elections,
but it denies to the government of the Unit
ed States power to make its supervision eff
fective. The great body of the people Of
all parties want free and fair elections; they
do not think that q free election means
freedom from the wholesome restraint of law
or that the place Of an election should be
sanctioned for lawlessness and crime. On
the day of an election peace and good Or
der are more necessary than on any other
dAS Of the year., On that day the humblest
and feeblest citizens, aged and intirm, should
be protected and should vote and have
reason to feel that they are
safe in the exercise of their most RESPONSE
BILE duty and their most sacred right as
members of society-their duty and their
right to vote. The constitutional authority
to regulate congressional elections which
belongs to the government Of the United
States and which it is necessary to exert to
secure the right to vote to every citizen pos
sessing the requisite qualifications ought to
be enforced by appropriate legislation. So
far from public opinion in any part of the
country favoring any relaxation Of the au.
thority Of the government in the protection
of elections from violation and corruption
I believe it demands greater vigor in the
enactment and execution Of the laws framed
for that purpose: Any oppression, any par
tisan purpose which experience may have
shown in the working Of existing laws may
we'll engage the careful attention both Of
congress and of the executive in their res.
spheres Of duty for correction
of the mischief. AS no congressional
occur until after the regular
of congress Will have been
held, there SCENE to be no public
exigency that would preclude the consider
alton at that session of any administrative
that might improve the method de.
signed for the protection Of ell citizens in
complete and equal exercise of the
right and power Of suffrage at such cleo.
ns. But with my views both ofthe con.
and of the nature of existing
laws I cannot approve any measure for
their repeal except in connection with the
of other legislation which may
reasonably be expected to furnish wiser
and more efficient safeguards for free and
honest congressional elections.
ISigned RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
Executive mansion, Nav 20. 1879.