West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-10-02
Troops AT the rolls.

ioes his party--who iavors fcc
ballot and an honest count read the
following extract from speech de-
hvered In the House Of Representa-
tives on April l3, 1880, by Hon.
Thos. Ewing, the late Democratic
candidate for Governor in Ohio.
Alter the inauguration Of the ratri-
otic Hancock, we will have no man
OF the De Trobridnds, or the Rugers
preventing the assembling of our
Legislature, nor viii there be any
occasion to use our gallant soldiers
As police ioroe to keep the peace
at the polls:- Statesman
MI Speaker, as / sat listening for
two days to the speeches on the Re
publican side, and noticed the ca
sernes3 Of one aud all to vindicate
the act OF Congress which sanctions
the use OF troops at the polls, |
questioned the whether the love OF
nberty Is not dying in our midst.
How can that sentiment exist, and
what Is II worth, II we are willing to
see every safeguard OF liberty des-
troyed ? The dread of the use OF
troops at elections was rooted in the
b carts Of OF our lorelathers ere they
they touched the sands of James
town or the rock Of Plymouth. In
reference with elections was one of
the charges which coat Richard the
Second his crown. An act to pro
hlbit such executive interference
was passed in the reign of Edward
the F,rst-6ve hundred years ago.
La l64l, at an election for a mem
Der OF Parliament for the borough
Of Westminster. three magistrates OF
the city, apprehending a riot, sent
ior a detachment Of soldiers and had
them stationed near the pois in
SAINT PauPs church-yard, Ccvent
Garden. 1t was not claimed or
pretended that the tioops were
brought to or in sight OF he oils,
or that rhelr presence in the neigh
5orhooi had the slightest effect on
the election; yet Parliament, then
being IN session. at once declared
the election void and further de-
clared, "tha; the presence oi a regu.
lar band OF armed soldiers at an
election Of members to serve in Par
Lament Is high infringement Of the
liberties Of the subjects, manifest
violation Of the freedom Of elections.
and an open defiance TO the consli-
tuition and laws Of the Kingdom
The house also brought TO it's bar
the three magistrates who sent for
the troops and compelled them, on
their knees, to beg pardon for their
ofense against the majesty of Brit
lsh law. In his lofty and eloquent
rebuke to the magistrates the
Speaker Of the House of Commons,
Mr. Arthur Onslow, said
l3THis country is free because hi, House is
so Wh'ch This House cum ncUe5 be. 6u<
from the Irecdom of cicctio,,s IN it,
Seven years before the deolara-
tion Of Independence at an election
in Boston, Samuel Adams, John
Hancock, James Otis, aud Thomas
Gushing were candidates to repre-
sent that city in the colonial assem-
bly,-There @as a British poet in
Boston commanded by General Mac.
kay. Before proceeding with the
election, the people assembled in
Faneuil Hall, and by resolution re-
quired the seIectmen TO demand Of
the general that be remove his
troops two miies from the voting
precinct, AZ required by The British
constitution, The commanding Of
icer replied that he could not leave
bis post ungarrisoned but that he
would bring every armed man
into The barracks and confne them
there throughout the election dav.
When this answer was made public
The citizens assembled in Fsneuil
haIl. and passed resolution saying
THAT they cannot proceed TO The
election without declaring their
clear and full sense that The resi-
deDce Of an armed force in the town
during an election Of so great au im-
portance is a gross infringement. OF
their constitutional rights
--s ssears.-
The Republican administration
has peusionei two Of the worst rebe.
generals Of The war. Longstrse. and
Mos6y get more yearly pay from tbe
government than a whole regiment
OF wounded Union s5IlIers How do