The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-06-24
A PRESlDEN rIAL VETO.
The DEPUTY Mar.hals' Bill Re.
turned Without the Presi-
DENT. signature.

WASHINGTON. June 15.-President
Hayes returned to the Senate this eve
mug, without his signature, the bill to
regulate the appointment of deputy
marshals, together with a message
stating the reasons why he has felt it
his duty to veto it. After citing the
avs COW IN force npou the subject,
[sectious 2021, 2024, 2O2S, 5521 and
1922, Revised Statutes. and quoting
the recent opinion of the Supreme
Court as to their oonstitutionality. the
President says: The present bill pro-
ceeds upon a construction Of the Con-
stitutiou as to the powers of the Ma
tional Government which is in direct
conflict with the Judgment of the high
est judicial tribunal of our country"
The President then recapituiates in de
tail the duties and powers of deputy
,ud special deputy marshals. as pee
scribed in existing laws, and says:
The functions of special deputy mar
-hais being executive, they are placed
under the authority of we'll known
chief executive officers of the United
States Courts. They are, in fact, and
not merely in name, deputies of the
Marshal. and he aud his bondsmen are
responsible for them. A civil force for
the execution of law is thus instructed
in accordance with long-established
and familiar usage, which is simple and
effective, and under a responsible head
fhe bill before me changes complete'y
the present law, by substituting for the
SPECIAL deputy MARSHALL Of existing
statutes new officers hitherto unkno VI
TO the law who lack the power, respon-
Sibility. and protection which are es-
Sential to enable them to act efficiently
Is executive officers" The President
hen quotes the bill in full, and says:
This bill does not connect the new of
ticers which it cieates with the pxist-
ng laws relating to special deputy
marshals so as to invest the former with
he same powers or impose upon them
the same duties or give them the same
protection by means of criminal la s as
special deputy marshals have under the
resent statutes. The so-called depu-
ty marshals provided for in this bill
will have no executive head, no respon>
Iibllity to any one. and no authority to
call a posse comitatus to their aid if re-
sisted. They are not protected 5v the
criminal statutes in the performance OF
their duty. They cannot keep peace
nor make arrests when crimes are com
mitted in their presence. No oaths of
,flce are required of them. they
give no bond. and they are not punish~
able for neglect of duty or misconduct
in office. In all these respects this bill
makes a radical change between the
powers of the United States officers at
national elections and the power uni-
formly possessed and exercised by the
State officers OF State elections. This
discrimination against tho authority CT
the United States is.a departure from
the usage of the Government establish
ed by precedeuts beginning with the
earliest statutes on the subject. and viz
plates the true principles of the Consti-
tution.",
In conclusion, the President says he
will make no objection to the appoint
ment by the courts of officers to act
with reference to elections, and he fa>
vors their appointment without regard
to party; but the present bill, while
recognising the power and duty OF the
United States to provide officers to
guard aud scrutinize congressional
elections, fails to adapt its provisions
to existing laws sc as to secure such
efficient supervision and protection.
The bill is therefore returned unsigned.