The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-03-26
FREE ELECTIONS NOW AND FOR
EVER.

Senator Beck very clearly e1-
pressed the Democratic position
then he made his report as one Oh
tho conference committee to the last
0s Mo. desiring to revive any politl- i
ool animosities or any discussion at
this late hour, l will only state very
briefly what seemed to be the comb,
lion Of things. The House insisted
that the armed soldiers of the Uni-
ted States shouly not be allowed TO
snproach the polls for the mere pur-
bose of keeping the peace; that there
should be an honest jury obtained In
the courts of the United States in
all cases where the rights and lsber.
ties of citizens were involved; that
the States should be allowed to con
dnct their own elections in their own
way, free from all Federal lnterier-
once. and the Democratic conferees
on the part of the House seemed ae-
termined that unless those rights
were secured to the people IN tGe
Mills sent to the Senate, they wouio
refuse under their constitutional
r RIGHT to make appropriations TO car
} nv on the government if the aoml ),
nant majority in the Senate insisted
; mon the maintenance of these laws
and refused to consent TO their re
] peal. They seemed further to agree
A and / agree with them, that II an ex.
! tra session must be called, much as
r. it is t, be regretted, the very mo
;. ment it is called the committee o !,
" both Houses would be organized
and separate bills will be framed an'
= nassed as soon as possible, asking
r. the President of the United otase
to agree with the representatives Q
he the States and people in repeailn
: all laws that authorize the soldier
of the Republic to be sent by 40
mr. authority whatever TO the polis
State elections under the pretence
keeping the peace, and in repeailin
:, all laws that prevent men VINO are !
" intelligence and interest IN inc pu
Lie welfare at and competent TO {
ins,ice between citizens and betwe,
our The limited States and citizens IN u
up. inry box from exercising that rig'
thus depriving the courts OF tue De
are eft Of fair Jurors; and they "
ing promptly pass another Dill aes e, ],
that the United States shall n
ri either through Supervisors, M
,rs shals or Deputy Marshals, interf'
=, with the States in conducting
iec' elections held within the States
I'VE insist that those matters pert
solely to the States, and are a p
fa- of their absolute right, and that u
! at are perfectly competent to attend m
them fairly and honestly. WI
these three laws are submitted to
llful President for his approval as t
neg. will be and are approved BY hin
they ought to be, the next cong
will, in my opinion, be ready to !
:, everv appropriation bill just as
:, now, adjourn and go home witt
i attempting before next Decemoe
emu perfect any further legislation.
however, the President of the I'm
States in the exercise OF the pe
CEN vested in him should see nj 70
; A. the bills thus presented to
q 600 which I repeat, simply are to
soldiers from the polls, and to ,
proper jurors to serve who VII
,,,on cases honestly and allow the >
"e0n To control their own elections, {
usana have no doubt those amendn
d con- will be again made part of to
u nropriation bills; and it will I
the President to determine wh
ms his he will block the wheels of the
ss;ens eminent and refuse to accept :
Won . sary appropriations rather tins
fifteen NV ~" ~ r.neal odious laws which
regard as subversive Of their
and privileges. We have tn!
Schools doubted right to repeal them
mt, for form and on any bills we 9
Town Most of them were imposed up
- III, country as parts Of the approp'
'no Nj" hills. Whether that course is
or wrong it will be adopted,
have no doubt, adhered to, n
YET tue ter what happens with the apl
lVision, alton bills.
lions OF This is the position now
flee in tanned by the Democratic par
onslder those who still abuse it, and
this position viii be departed
~ y. mistake the stuff of which 4
Wood, Blackburn, Morrison,
n n pa hon, Cox and the other lea'
the House, and the stuff Of
=, Thurman, Bayard, Beck, Hill
!, ,ps Az aolph, Pendieton and the 9th
w 'A ers are made of in the Senate
majority of the people intend
E. North ern this country and they are
late Re- Gratis. They mean to end thu
red suit of abomlnation, come wha
9 sum of aAll bills for raising reven'
.ding the originate in the House OF X
+ aounds tatiyes., saws the Constitu