Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-10-14

Snoulu Dc communicated, and It Is
difficult for en- honest voter to see
wherein his rights are outraged by
the obtaining and forwarding of
such information.
For fraudulent voting, obstrueting
others in voting, resisting election
officers in the discharge Of their
duty, and various other offences
against the United States election
laws, the statutes of the United
States impose penalties.
The above statement, emitting
matters Of detail which could not be
included within reasonable limits, is
all that there is in the federal elees
ton laws in regard to the appoints
ment and duties of supervisors of
election. 1t is easy to see that a
man, who desires to perpetrate a
fraud upon his felloW-citizens,
might object to these proyisions-it
is not easy to see what objection an
honest man could make.
But, the democrat exclaims.
"there are the marshals-We object
to the presence at the polls of
United States marshals." Well, let
us see for moment whether there
is in the federal statutes anything
that an honest man should object to
on this score.
AS the people of the whole United
States have an interest In the honest
and fair election of representatives
to congress in every district, it
would certainly seem reasonable
that they should have something to
say as to the manner in which
those representatives should be
elected and the precautions to
be taken to secure fair election.
Accordingly, it is provided in the
constitution of the United States
that "the times, places, and man.
ner Of holding elections for sena-
tors and representatives shall be
prescribed in each state by the leg
islature thereof; but the congress
may, at any time, by law, make or
alter such regulations, except as to
the places of choosing senator's
Under this constitutional pro-
vision congress has made, as it was
its duty to do, certain regulations
for the conducting of congressional
elections, and has provided penalties
for violation of its laws concerning
such elections, just as the state of
Tennessee or any other state has
provided penalties for infractions of
its election laws. If the state may
and does have its officers In attend
ance at the polls to enforce its laws
and protect its citizens in their
rights, is there any reason why the
United States should not be pres
ent, by its officers, for a similar
By the United States laws the
marshal is required, pending a CON-
gressional election in any city of
10000 people or upwards, upon ap-
plication to him by two or more
citizens, to appoint special deputy
marshals, whose duty it shall be,
when required, to assist the super
visors of election in verifying lists
of voters, ETC., and to attend at the
places for registering votes and at
the polling places.
The marshal and his deputies are
required to keep the peace and sup>
port and protect the supervisors of
election in the discharge of their
duties, preserve order at such places
of registration and at such polls,
prevent fraudulent registration and
fraudulent voting thereat, or fraudu-
lent conduct on the part of any of
fcer of election, to arrest and take
into custody, with or without pro-
cess, any person who, commits or
attempts or offers to commit any Of
fence against the United States
election law: 'but no person shall
be arrested without process for any
offence not committed in the pres
ence of the marshal or his general
or special deputies or either Of them,
or of the supervisors of election or
either of them: and for the pur>