Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-18
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Extra Session.
The Senate.
COMING

Extra Session.
The Senate.
yINDIoATIoN COMING.
WASHINGTON, April 17.-l}n the expiration
of the morning hour the army appropriation
bill was taken up, and Senator Morgan said
that hereafter he intended to speak in vindi-
cation of the attitude of the Southern men,
bers of Congress, which had been the object
of much unjust aspersion. The South was
not responsible for the existence of the ques-
ton now agitating the public. He had con
sidered 1t best at present to yield to his
friend from Indiana.
THE TALL SYCAMORE. ..
Senator Voorhees, called attention to what
he feared was not generally realized, namely,
that the federal interference extended not
only to Congressional but to all State and
local elections. American citizens, by thus
having overseers put over them, we're re-
duced to the condition of slaves. The pro-
lection of the ballot-box had been wrested
from the proper local officers and given to
corrupt federal officials. The spirit that die
tated this law was distrust of the people and
their capacity for selfgovernment under
free elections. The whole power of the con-
stitution Was thus perverted. The people
would resent this
INSULTING TYRANNY
when the facts should be clearly presented to
them, and righteous sense of resistance
would spring up in their breasts He hoped
the people would real this law until it should
become an adherence to the public mind.
There was no man who was not liable to ar
rest for no other reason than that existing In
the mind of supervisor or deputy marshal,
thus placing every persons liberty at the
mercy of party malice or hate. Every per-
son acting in such capacity was to determine
a mans rights at the polls. The constitution
plainly guarded the citizen in all his personal
rights, but that instrument was violated by
the arrest and imprisonment of citizens on
insufficient warrant by malicious
SPIES AND INFoRMERRs.
If the constitution sanctioned such
practices it would be proof that those
who framed it were not interested in
free government, and that the faith
ers who achieved our independence had
failed OF their great purposes. The spirit
that produced this law was like that which
the fires of revolution to break out, and
which made every citizen tremble with fear
of blow in the dark. 1t emanated from
the spirit that ruled in Venice, where look
of suspicion was more to be dreaded than q
blow of the dagger and doomed the victim
to walk the
BRIDGE OF SIGNS
to prison and a wretched DEATH Charles I.
lost hig throne and George III. his rule in
America. for less evils than those inflicted by
some of our federal laws. All history showed
the danger and injustice of leaving the
means for usurping liberty on the statute
books. Caesar, Cromwell and Napoleon I.
were not slow to secure sovereign power
when the people left their laws to pave the
way to despotism. We were not at loss to
conjecture what could be done with the laws
to which be had referred, and which had been
enforced over our liberties to an extent
which would force any people to revolt ex-
cept the serfs of Russia.
In order to show the
ASSESSES COMMITTED ON SUFFRAGE,
Senator Voorhees, referred to the city of New
York, where acts had been committed which
brought shame and disgrace to the whole
country. John Davenport was chief super.
visor, the autocrat of the ballot box. He
with his cohorts, inundated voters from
going to the polls, and thousands remained
away rather than place themselves in the
way of lawless persecution. The deputy
marshals and supervisors were federal ku
klux organized to intimidate freemen, and
cheat them of their rights. What happened
in New York might occur elsewhere. NJ
Ikol oL IL -
longer continue in force. He implored The
American people not to forget that their lib.
critics are trampled under foot with scorr
and contempt.
Senator Voorhees, then proceeded to anothe
branch of law on the subject of popula
elections, the President, on certain occasion
being authorized to employ the land ant
naval forces at the polls, under the vagu
pretext of keeping tho peace. The Presi
dent, as commander in chief of the arm
and navy, could give such orders as woul
tend to crush the
LIBERTY OF THE COUNTRY
after the manner of Caesar, Napoleon tn
Great and Napoleon the less. Like them
the President could send out his emissarie
to stir up trouble in the South, and thu
make pretext for employment of the arm
in that section. The President wa
the judge of the numbers of troop
he would employ, and under the presen
laws he might order ships to New York ant
New Orleans ON election days to overcom
the people. simply under the pretense o
keeping peace at the polls.
Senator Voorhees, next alluded to the civ
rights bill of 1869, under which, he said, tn
President could use the army anywhere un
der the pretense of enforcing its provision!
there being placed under the power of th
President range of subjects as extensive q
the rights of man under free constitution
The vast scope of this law placed absolut
power in the hands of one man. There Wa
not phase of human affairs in the State
and Territories that could not be interfere
with by the army. He read other laws t
show ..
TO WHAT BASE USES
the military force might ba applied in con
trolling elections. The vilest reptile of
party, United States commissioner, coul
call upon the military and naval force |
support him in his proceedings. He sal
the Senator from Maine (Blaine) saw n
reason for alarm in the provision which IL
pending bill designed t repeal, but he woul
refer him to what Daniel Webster uttere
1t was: "If men would enjoy the blessing
of republican government they must COVER
by reason and mutual concession, and vii
due regard to the general interest and 6
acquisscence of the minority in the will
the majority, and that the military must
kept according to right in strict subjectie
to civil authority. Wherever these pri
ciples do not exist there can be no polite
freedom"
Senator Voorhees, said that it was
A SATIRE ON FREE GOVERNMENT 4
to say that suffrage should be exercised
the point of the hayonet. He next allud
to the employment Of the judiciary in CO
nection with elections, and condemned 1t
poisoning justice at its source. In recapi
lating his arguments, Senator Voorhees, ST
the laws to which he had referred formed
complete system to withdraw all power fri
the people and States, and to centralize it
the executive department. for revolutions
movement against the constitution, and |
I'll INV, II, &1,1 Ill Il