Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-04-09
CONGRESSIONAL.

In the National Senate, Thursday, the de-
ficiency bill was passed, after two hours de-
bate, in the course of which Mr. Edmunds
forcibly opposed the rider, providing that
| the special deputy marshals of elections shall
be appointed by the Circuit Courts, in equal
numbers from the different political parties.
Several Republican Senators had announced
their intention to make short speeches upon
the question, but at last it was decided that
Mr.. Edmunds should represent the party on
the floor, and that the remaining Republican
Senators should confine their efforts to the
casting of their votes
sTEoNG SPEECH By ME-. EDMUSDs.
Mr.. Edmunds's speech was dspassionatc
review of the attempts of the Democrats to
clog the wheels of government by withhold
ing the pay of its executive officers, and
very destructive criticism of the present
rider. 1t was his duty, he said, TO show its
scope and tendency, in order that its sup
pOrters could not hereafter say that they
voted for it in ignorance of the fact that they
were detrOying the supreme laws of the
United States and delivering the Govern
ment into the hands of fraud, anarchy, and
violence. After showing how the Demo-
Gratis had endeavored to paralyze the election
laws at the end Of the Forty fifth Congress
and in the extra session, he analysed the
laws, in order that it might be plainly seen
what they now sought to sweep away. The
rider under consideration was. he declared,
merely an expedient to enable the Demo-
Gratis TO carry on their battle against the laws
and the President an expedient whose pro-
visions were so absurd and inconsistent that
its passage would break down the laws as
| etfectually as an absolute repeal could do il.
| The marshals and their deputies were the
eyes and hands of the chief executive, but if
the deputies were to be appointed by the
courts they could neither be commanded nor
| removed by the marshals. The latter would
have no authority over them, and the whole
scheme of the Government as to the separa-
ton of the judicial and executive
powers would be upset. In how many
cases would the sessions of the
Circuit Courts be held at the proper times
| for these appointments? But the Democrats
| cared not at all for these difficulties, because
their sole object was to nullify the law.
There was Just as much sense in requiring
each regiment to have two colonies, one OF
each party, as in requiring party division
| of executive officers of the Government. IL
the rider should become a law deputy could
not take a man to prison if the prison was
outside of the precinct in which the arrest
was made, for his power would cease when
he reached the boundary. In closing, he re-
ferred to the many bills introduced by Demo-
crafts and now awaiting action, which pro-
posed to overthrow just laws, TO remove the
safeguards of the ballot-box, and to
throw open the United States Treas
ury to those who had been active
in rebellion against their country.
There was not one statute for the preserva-
ton Of liberty, the execution of justice, and
the maintenance of equal rights passed dur
ing the last 10 years, which the Democrats
had not tried to destroy. Since the fathers
framed the law, the widest dreamer has
never once entertained the thought OF taking
away from the executive the power which
the constitution vests in the executive, and
transferring it TO the judiciary. How long
would the gentlemen on the other side, II
they should come into possession OF all the
departments of the government, allow such
law to remain? Only long enough, !
fancy, to go through the form of repeating it.
This rider was only one of the revolutionary
methods by which they were endeavoring to
prevent the exercise of lawful authority for
the preservation of the freedom and purity
of elections. He wished to see good order,
peace, and fraternity, but these must be
based on justice, equality before the law,
personal security, and fair elections. 1--WE
don't intend" said he, ito allow the laws
which preserve these blessings to be broken
down if we can help it, and think We can. "