Daily globe., 1879-04-30
interfered with. TheIHouse committee plant
ed themselves firmly upon the doctrine that
rather than yield this

ed themselves firmly upon the doctrine that
rather than yield this
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE
for which for three years this House has strug
| gled they would allow this bill to fail, not.
withstanding the reforms that we had secured
| regarding these reforms, of but little conse-
quence alongside the great principle that the
| army of the United States in time of peace
should be under control of Congress and obe-
dient to its laws. After long and protracted
negotiations the committee have conceded
| the principle in all its length and breadth,
including the penalty which the Senate had
| stricken out We bring you back therefore, a
| report with the alteration of single word,
| which lawyers assure me is proper to be made
restoring to this bill the principle for which
we have contended SO long and which is so
! vital to secure the rights and liberties of the
people. Thus have we this day secured to the
people of this country the same great protec-
tion against standing army which cost a
struggle of two hundred years for the COM
mons of England to secure for the British
people.
From this brief review of the subject it
sufficiently appears that under existing laws
there
CAN BE NO MILITARY INTERFERENCE,
and none has in fact occurred since the passage
of the act last referred to. No officer of the
United States has appeared under orders at any
place of election in any State. No complaint
even of the presence of United States troops
has been made in any quarter. It may, there
fore, be confidently stated there is no necessity
of the enactment of section of the bill be-
fore me, to prevent military interference at
elections. The laws already in force are all
that are required for that end. But that part
of section of this bill which is
SIGNIFICANT AND vr.AILY IMPORTANT
is the clause which, if adopted, will deprive
the civil authorities of the United states of all
power to keep peace at Congressional elections.
Congressional elections in every district in a
very important sense are Justly a matter of po-
>litical interest and concern throughout the
whole country. Each State, every political
party, is entitled to share of power which is
Conferred by legal and constitutional suffrage.
1t is the right of every citizen possessing the
qualifcati ons prescribed by law to cast one
UN1NTIlIDATED BALLOT,
and have his ballot honestly counted. So long
as the exercise of this power and the enjoyment
of this right are common and equal, practical
ly as we'll as formally, submission to suffrage
will be accorded Loyalty and cheerfully, and all
departments of the government will feel the
true vigor of the popular will thus expressed.
Two provisions of the constitution authorize
legislation by Congress for the regulation Of
Congressional elections. Section of article l
of the constitution declares the time and place
and manner of holding elections for Senators
and Representatives shall be prescribed in each
State by the legislature thereof, but Congress
may at any time by law make or alter such reg
ulations except as to places of choosing Sena-
tors. The
FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT
of tho constitution is ao follous.
Section l. The right of citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied abridged by the
United States, by any State, on account Of race,
color, previous condition Of servitude.
Sec. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation
The supreme court has held that this amend
ment invests citizens of the United States with
new constitutional right which is within the
PROTECTING POWER OF CONGRESS.
The right the court declares to be the ex-
emption from discrimination in the exercise of
or previous condition of servitude. The power
of Congress to protect the right by appropriate
legislation is expressly affirmed by the court,
National legislation to provide safeguards for a
free and honest election is necessary. as ex-
pcrience has shown, MT only to secure the right
for all to the enfranchised race at the South,
| but also to prevent fraudulent voting in large
! cities of the North. Congress has therefore
| exercised the power conferred by the constitu
! ton, and has enacted certain laws to prevent
| discrimination on account of race, color, OF
| previous condition Of servitude, and to punish
FRAUD, VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION
at federal elections. Attention is called to tht
| following section of the revised statutes Of
the United States, viz: Section 2O04, which
guarantees all citizens the right to vote with
out distinction on account of race, color, o
previous condition of servitude; sections 2OOi
and 2O06, which guarantees to all citizens equa
opportunity, without discrimination, to per
form all acts required by law as a prerequisite
or qualification for voting: section 2O2O, whicl
authorizes the United States marshal and hi
deputies to keep the peace and preserve orde
| at general elections; section 2O24, which ex
pressly authorizes the United States marsha
whenever they or any of them are forclbly re
sisted in the execution of their duties unde
the law, and are prevented from executing thei
duties by violation; section 5522, which pre-
vides for the punishment of the crime of intel
fering with supervisors of elections and deput
marshals in the discharge OF duties at election
of Representatives IN Congress. These ar
some Of the laws on this subject which it
the duty of the executive to enforce. Th
INTENT AND EFFECT
of the sixth section of this bill is to prohib
all civil officers of the United States, under
penalty of fine and imprisonment, from en-
ploying any adequate civil force for this pu
. pose at places where their enforcement is mo-
, | necessary, namely: the places where Congre
sional elections are held. Among the mo
8 valuable enactments to which have referr
t are those which protect the supervisors Of tie
a eral elections in the discharge OF their duties
g become a law, there is no power vested IN a.
Q officer of the government to protect from "
II lence the officers of the United States engag
IS in the discharge of their duty. Their rlgl
and duties under the law will remain, but
national government will be powerless to
is force it's own statutes. The State may emp]
lie both the military and civil powers to keep
'r peace and enforce the laws at State electio
9t It is now proposed to deny to the United Sta
- -. even the necessary civil authority to prot!
d a national election No sufficient reason
to been given for this discrimination in favor
Mt the State and against the national authori
~ If well-founded objections exist against
&C. present national election laws, all good citiz
n should unite in their amendment. Laws p
x, * viding safeguards of election should be
IMPARTIAL, JUST AND EFFICIENT.
They should, if possible be so non parti
H. and fair in their operation that the minor
at party out of power will have no just ground
of complain. The present laws have in prac
hv unouestionably conduced to the prev entiol
~ fraud and violence at elections. In severa
OF the States members of different political
by ties have applied for safeguards which they
. I nish, 1t is the right and duty of the natio
.sv government to enact and enforce laws wi
M. will secure free and fair congressional electi
he The laws now in force should not be repe'
en- except in connection with the enactment
ec. measures which will better accomplish
,ut important end. Believing that section 81
ere the bill before me WILL "eakeh' l. ~ uoes
lis altogether take away the power OF Cne hat1
be government to protect federal elections, by
or civil authorities, I am forced to the conclu
aid that it ought
ems NOT TO RECEIVE MY APPROVAL