Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-05-12

der strict discipline, as he is, and otten-
times non-partisan, is the last person to
interfere in elections, except to preserve
order. 1t will not do for gentlemen to
say the voters of the South are in the
least intimidated by the presence of one
or more, or any number OF soldiers who
might be present at the polls under Or
ders to preserve the peace. The men who
could meet our soldiers in battle, as they
often did at the cannOn's mouth, are not
the men who are intimidated by harm
less soldier with unloaded musket.
There neye was any force to that
argument, and there never can be,
for it is unfounded in fact or reason.
What, then, is the cause Of their anxiety
to keep away officers of the peace, or sol
diers, who can preserve it? Does quiet
election embarrass them? Does it lessen
their prospects of success. If they are in
the minority, | confess a fair election
would bring them defeat. Do they wish
to allow armed men to surround ballot
boxes break up and destroy them? Ifso
they do not want the presence of soldiers
to prevent them. II they want & fair
election, the greater the force stationed at
the polls for the purpose of keeping order
the more certain they would be to have
it. But there is another reason why [
am opposed to this amendment. And
proposition, whether it be a rider to an
appropriation bill, as in this case, or a
bill standing alone which in any way in
terferes with the President of the United
States in his capacity as Commander-in-
Chief of the Army, made so by the Con-
stitution, or imposes restrictions upon him
in the movement of troops to such parts
of the country as in his judgment he shall
deem for the safety of the people, will
never have my support while l am mem
Der of this House.
To the President is committed trust
more important than all others. He is
the special guardian of the public peace
To him is intrusted the security of the
whole country. The army is placed at
his disposal. They are his police and
should obey his commands. He must be
left free to act and send it where he
will. No rational man supposes the Ar
my will be detailed for police duties at
elections unless the public safety requires
it, and not until every prospect of secur-
ing peace from the local authorities
| has been exhausted. IF in any State it
! be obvious that no election for members
of Congress can be held with safety by
reason of violent opposition, will it be
/ contended that the General Government
may not send a force into that State suf-
fcient to protect these who wish to hold
such elections? If not, the election of a
Congress may be wholly defeated. Shall
/ the Executive witness the overthrow of
the National Legislature by factious op-
! position in the States and the Government
broken up and dissolved because it has
! not the means or the authority from Con-
gress to send troops into such States to
preserve order during the elections? By
this amendment he would find himself
virtually forbidden. Is there danger that
the Executive will violate the trust re-
posed in him by the people? Is it sup
posed he will become the oppressor of the
people because he has an unlimited con-
troll of the Army? We must not forget
he is selected above all others from the
body of the people because of his wisdom
his Judgment, and love of justice, and we
must trust him in the exercise of those
powers with which the Constitution has
clothed him.