Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-29

Is significant and vitality important is the clause
which, # adopted, viii deprive the civil author
| tiles OF the United States Of all power to keeI
the peace at the Congressional elections The
! Congressional elections in every district, In
very Important sense, are justly matter Of
| political interest and concern throughout the
whole country: Each state, every politica
| party, Is entitled TO the share of power which
Is conferred by the legal and constitutional suf
ing the qualifications prescribed by law. to cas-
ore unlh1'midated ballot, and to have his bal
lot hoEes ~ counted. SO long az the exercise
| of this power and the enjoyment OF this right
are common and equal, practically as well a
formally. submission to the results Of the snf
frage will be accorded loyalty and cheerfully
ana all tie departments Of government vii
1eel the true Vigor OF the popular viii thus ex
pressed.
Two provisions Of the constitution autnoriz,
legislation by Congress for the regulation OF tn.
Congressional elections
Section OF Article Of the constitution de
''The times, places, and manner OF ho,d,ne
eiectlons for senators and Representatives shall
De prescribed In each state by the IepiSIatur,
L5nereoI; 5d put the Congress may at any time, by
!aW, make or alter such regulations except a.
to the places OF choosing Senator's o.
me nIteenth amendment OF the constitution
"Sec i. The right of citizens Of the 1rn,te5
states to vote shall not be denied or abridgeG
Dy the United States, or by any state. on ac
count OF race, Color or previous condition OF
"See 2. The Congress shall have power to
enforce this article by appropriate legislation
the supreme Court has held that this amend
ment men invests the citizens of the United State:
with a new constitutional right which is within
the protecting power Of Congress. That righ,
the court declares to be exemption from dis
elimination In the exercise OF the elective fran.
cnise on account OF race, color, or previous con.
dit1on OF servitude: The power Of Congress to
project This right by appropriate legislation Is
expressly affirmed by the court.
National legislation to provide safeguards for
free and honest elections is necessary as expe.
r1ence has shown, not only to secure the right
70 Vcte 10 the enfranchised race at the South,
puI , aiso 10 prevent fraudulent voting fn the
large cities Of the North. Congress has there.
fore exercised the power conferred by the Con-
Stltutlon, and has enacted certain laws to pre-.
vent determinations on account Of race, color.
or previous condition OF servitude, and to pun
lSh fraud, violence, ard intimidation at federal
elections. Attention is called to the following
sectons OF the Revised Statutes Of the United
States viz:
Section 2C04 which guarantees to all citizens
the right to vote without distinction on account
tude. - S0i VI
Sections zoos and 2oO6, which guarantee IN al,
citlzens equal opportunity, without dtscrtmina-
tlon, 10 perform all the acts required by law as
E1d E1et1eduislte site or qualification for voting.
States marshal and his deputies to keen the
t1OnS. WV
Section 1924, which expressly authorizes tho
mon posse-comitatus whenever they or any OF
them are forcibly resisted In the execution Of
fne1r sron Guees under the law, or are prevented
SECTION b622, which provides for the punish
ment OF the crime OF interfering with the SUPER
i SisoIs OF elections and deputy marshals in the
fesentatfveS fn Congress
These are some Of the laws on this subject
which it IS the duty OF the Executive Depart
Ment OF Inc government to enforce. Thefntent
and erect of the sixth section of this bin ia to
prohibit all the civil officers OF the United
states, under penalty OF fine and imprisonment,
purpose at the place where their enforcement
is most necessary: namely, at the places where
me CONGRESSIONAL elections are held. Among
referred are tose Mhich 70 which have
visors OF federal elections In the discharge OF
their duties at the polls. II the proposed iegis-
nnr IIon saoaad necome i the law there will be no
TO protect from violence the Officers OF the
Hnted states engaged In the discharge of their
dg,les: e,1 i The rights and duties under the law
will be powerless. to enforce its own
aaly "a and rta1da civil power to keep the peace,
II IS now proposed to deny to the United
States even the necessary civil authority to
protect protect tn the nat national elections. No suficient
IN favor of the state and against the national
authority. II well-founded objections exist
against the present national election laws, all
good citizens should unite In their amendment.
The laws providing the safeguards OF the elec.
uonS should be impartial, lust and eficient
They should, possible, be so nom partisan and
party out OF power-wtll have no Just grounds
to complain. The present laws have. In prac-
tice, unquest10nably conduced to the preVen-
% uon OF Irald m @ ana violence at the elections. In
Htical parties have applied for the safeguards
Whlch tney furnish. 1t Is the right and duty of
the national government to enact and enforce
laws which Will secure free and fair Congress
sional elections. The laws now In force should
not be repealed except in connection with the
enactment OF measures which will better ac-
section six OF the bill before me win weaken m
It does not altogether take away, the power of
ehs naIohai @ to protect the federal
to the conclusion that it ought not to receive
my approval.
This section is, however, not presented to me
as has been stated, attached to the bin making
me tne usual Isl M annual appropriations for the sup
holI OF Tue army. IL makes vital Change ia
the election laws Of the country, which is In no
way connected with the use Of the army. It
PROMPTS, under heavy penalties, any person
engaged In the civil service of the United States
i rom having any force at the place OF any cleo
Clpn prepared to preserve order, to make ar
lests, 70 keep the peace, Or In any manner to
enforce the laws. THIS is altogether foreign to
Tue Ine purpose s OF M an army appropriation bul. the
sures not pertinent to such bis aid IiS not mea n1
vail until more than forty years after the s9Ron-
ton OF the constitution. It has become a c0,pp-
mon practice. All parties when in power have
adopted it. Many abuses and great waste of
public money have in this Way crent
Into appropriation bills. The public opinian
Of the country is against it. The states
which have recently adopted constit1. s
tions have generally provided remedy
for tie evil by enacting that no law
shall contain more than one subject, which
shall be plainly expressed in its title. The
constitutions OF more than half of the states
contain substantially this provision. The public
return to the early practice Of the government,
requires that every measure shall stand or fall
according to its own merits. II 1t were under
stood that to attach to an appropriation bill
measure irrelevant to the general object Of the
bin would imperil and probably prevent its
final passage and approval valuable reform
in the parliamentary practice OF Congress would
be accomplished. The best Justification that
has been offered for attaching irrelevant riders
to appropriation bills Is that it is done for
convenience sake, to facilitate the passage
OF measures which are deemed eXpe-
dent by all the branches Of govern
ment which participate in legislation. It
cannot be claimed that there is any such reason
for attaching this amendment OF the election
laws to the army appropriation bill. The his
tory Of the measure cOntradictS this aSSump-
ton. A majority OF the House OF Representa-
tiyes In the last Congress was In favor Of Sec
ton six of this bill. 1t was known that ma
jOrttv of tho senate WAS OnDOSad IT, and that