Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-01

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thus became means for intruding it's
mailed hand at the polls. Nothing but
the abnormal condition of the country
In 1865 and since could have produced
the excrescence that we now propose TO
remove.
The bill as originally introduced 4 /
have il before mel had no words author
izing troops to be present either to re-
pei the armed enemies OF the United
States or to keep the peace at the polls
As introduced the bill was guarantee
of the right that existed in the State,
and restriction upon the power of the
Federal Government, which was then
being used wrongfully and oppressively
upon the people of the border States
The bill was sent to the Committee on
the Judiciary of this body, IA Republi
can committee. II slumbcrcd there for
IA number of months, and then came
back with report by Mr.. Howard with
II negative recommendation. He holds
that that the right To exercise the war
power in 1864 to prevent men who were
not loyal from voting WAS n just and
proper exercise of power. Senator Po.
well, desiring to relieve his people from
wrongful oppression, pressed the bill
again and again, until June, 1864, it was
put upon its passage, and then he
agreed to the amendment that troops
might be used TO repel the armed enc.
mics of the United States. This Was
adopted without dissent.
Then Mr. Pomcroy, OF Kansas, Re.
publican Senator moved 10 add the
words "or to keep the peace at the
polls Upon that amendment. the
yeas and nays were called. Every
yea vote was given by Republican
and every Democrat voted "nay."
Reverdy Johnson, John 7. Hale, and
Senator Hicks. Of Maryland, voted with
Democrats. This provision which is now
proposed 10 be eliminated, "or 10 keep
the peace ut the polls" was adopted by
IL vote OF l6 Republicans against Is
Democrats and Others. Then the qucs.
ton came upon the passage of the bill
rs thus amended, and the Senator from
Kentucky, desiring TO protect bis people,
was willing TO take anything to save
them from the pressure that was upon
them, and accepted the bll in that
form but even then they were scarce.
ly willing to pass II. Nowhere else in all
the history of this Government had
this claim of power appeared. Here,
and here alone, the only instance of
the iron.clnd arm of the Federal power
appearing at the hhllot.box.
Mr.. BLAME. VIII the Senator per.
nit me to interrupt him just at that
point?
Mr.. WALLACE. Yes, sir.
Mr.. BLAINE. Does the Senator pres.
ent the idea that the amendment put
on that bill by the Republican Senators
was to control voting at the elections IN
Kentucky by Democrats who had
right to vote or will the Senator &C.
ccpt the suggestion that it was to keep
the rebel army that had gone from Ken.
tucky to fight In the confederate ranks
from coming back and controlling the
elections? In other words they were
confederate soldiers when the fighting
vas going on, and they voted in Union
State when elections were held. That
was the whole Of the provision.
Mr. HoAh They were Democratic
voters.
Mr.. BLAINE. They were Democratic
voters who were fighting against the
Union under jeff. Davis and who came
back to control the elections Of the
State of Kentucky.
! Mr.. WALLACE. The Senator from
Maine has interjecte speech into the
body Of what was saying. lie has not
asked n question, but in his usual man.
ner he has injected his thought into the
midst OF my argument. lie may have
that opinion or not. just as he plcases.
Ny assertion was, and it il, that the use
/ OF this power by the Federal Govern.
/ ment was simply tho exercise of the
war power, and that Senators, includ.
| ing himself who undertake to sustain
1t follow legitimAtely to its conclusion
the argument that the war power fifteen
/ years after the end of the war ought still
to control the rights and liberties of
this people. That is my answer 10 the
Senator'S injected speech. Manifesto.
tions OF applause in the galleries.
The presiding officer. Mr. MCMILLAN
in the chair.l Will the Senator from
Pennsylvania suspend momentl The
galleries must not applaud under any
circumstances. The SergeantAt. Arms
will see that the rules Of the Senate are
enforced.
Mr.. WALLACE. We are done with the
abnormal condition that came from the
war. This people ask 10 be restored
/ 10 thelf normal rights, whether ~ be IN
the South or in the North. just here
| will tell the Senator from Maine that
at the election in 1869 for governor Of
Pennsylvania. in the third precinct Of
the fifth ward of the city 'ol Philadel.
phia, an armed body of marines were
brought 10 the polls; that they took
possession thereof and closed and kept
them closed for an hour until they saw fit
10 open them and permit those to vote
whom they thought ought TO vote. Sir,
the mailclad arm of the Federal Gov.
ernment has shown itself in Broad
street, Philadelphia, within three years
The people of our State want no more
of this. / speak for my own people.
They want free elections, without either
the shadow or the substance of military
power, either State or Federal. They
want the very essence OF the provisions
of our own Constitution recognized in