The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-06
Ctr laiip Ara,,s,
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p1Cencluded from second page.l
ing that all the record required had been
made by the clerks. and if it had not il
was no fault or the children who had
become naturalized, and that be could not
be deprived of his rights by reason of the
failure of clerk TO do his duty. Dayen
port. however. accomplished his object and
by his arbitrary and illegal scts prevented
and deferred thousands Of lawful voters
from casting their votes. The scene be-
forethis chief supervisor and commissioner,
Davenport, has been thus described:
From every morning till after the polls
we're closed his rooms were packed and
TANNED with mass of prisoners and
marshals. Not only were they crowded,
beyond their capacity, but the halls and
corridors were. throneed by those who
were unable to obtain admission, SO that
the counsel representing the prisoners and
the bondsmen who were offered to secure
their release had the greatest difficulty and
we're frequently unsuccessful in obtaining
entrance. In addition to all this was that
delectable iron pen on the upper floor, in
which men were crowded until il resem-
bled the black hole OF Calcutta. and where
they were kept for hours hungry. thirsty.
and suffering every way, until their eases
could be reached. With scarcely, an ex-
ception, these men had gone to the polls
expecting to be absent but short time.
There were carmen who had lett their
horses standing 10 the public streets, men
whose situations depended on their speedy
return. Every. imaginable vexation,
injury, and wrong which
the mind can conceive existed 10 their |
cases. And over all this pushing, strug.
Cling, complaining crowd, Mr.. Commits |
sioner John |, Davenport sat supreme |
with a sort of oriental magnifnence, calm |
" Indifferent TO everything, but the single
tact that no man who was arrested was allow
ed to vote" Call you an election conducted |
under such auspices free. fair or honest |
And TO pay all these marshais and SUPER
visors and for these unlawful arrests the
peoples money is used. One hundred
and eighteen thousand. nine hundred and
eighty-nine dollars d, and =. thirty-six
cents was thus used ia the CITY
Of New York alone. in connection
with the election Of 1878. Some OF this
money went to pay for the rent of room
carriage hire, and like purposes. What
think you, fellow citizens. of being. taxed
TO pay the vagabonds. thieves, aud penl-
.eptiary convicts employed by federal
to see that your elections are1
honestly conducted? IApplause You
may be surprised that such acts as were
by Davenport and his deputies
q New Z ork should have seen submitted
o by free people, but you must not for
ret that by an order from the war depart
nent.
THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, ID
luder Gen. Mcdowell was placed at the
disposal of Davenport and the United
States marshals. At the last session of
congress bill was proposed in the Ian
yuage Gen. Garfield had offered as an
amendment, on a previous occasion. which
provided that these deputy marsh ais
,hould be taken in equal mum bers from the
different political parties, and be appointed
1y the circuit and district courts. IN regard
% the election law Gen. Garfield had said
There charge made by the other side
ection to the law. II was that the law had been
lsed, capable Of being used, TO fill electioa
precincts with men of one party whose time might
,e emplo ed at the public expense for parry cleo
ioneerinG purposes say that in so fur that
aw can be used to that extent it is unjust, and at
Ill times and at all proper occasions have de-
Jared and now declare myself willing to modify
he law 90 that tn alleged abuse can not take
did not offer my substitute as a compromise on
he question OF what L believe just and right. |
hat it strengthens the election law TO free it from
very ground of charge that Is partisan, or can be
Used Tor merely partisan purposes. 1 /
The bill 10 the 'terms it had been once
proposed by Garfield passed congress, but
his Just measure was vetoed by President
Hayes. and Gen. Garfield did not have .
he moral courage to heipthe Democratic
members pass it over the veto, when bis
,arty domsbded that the Law should
e main az il wsss.s 10 be used by ii TO fill
'leciIon preeints with Rspn bliean deputy
narshais whose time might be employed !
It the public expense for party election !
eFins l-arplaess~ sfg~7rre : e7= f.
The eloquent speaker also gave detail
d account Of The presidential nbroelia oi
876 aud made some telling points. The
peech was mastery effort and We regret
hat want al space does not pere,it os its
publication in full There is 600 man in
he country butter able to handle the !
political questions OF The day that Hon :
lyman Trumbull. nor Que whose utter
.nccs Command more reject, The Damcc-
rats chose wisely III making him their
bearer and the people viii elect
lin on Nov. 2 By . HANDSOME majority.
~--e--rrz- sgs----4-- r
Wicked tor Glergymop.
II believe il to be all wrong aud even /.
r. =