Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-05-07
Mobilization bv Statute,

If the Democratic rider TO the deficiency
BILL providing that no money shall be paid
for the subsistence, equipment and compen-
salion of troops employed to keep peace at
the polls within any State. except when their
presence shall be demanded by the Legisla-
,ure or Governor, becomes law, with its
distinct notification of the constitutional
requirement that the President shall
take care that the laws are faithful
| " executed will not be the fault of the
Republican members of the United States
Senate. They first moved that the rider be
stricken out. Every Democrat present voted
| in the negative, and the motion was lost
Then Mr.. Blaine moved to insert clause
making it felony for anybody TO go TO the
polls armed. The Democrats raised the
point that the proposition was not germane
and the chair ruled it out.
Then Mr.. Kirkwood offered an amend
ment to the effect that the rider" should
not take from the President authority to use
troops to overcome resistance TO Federal
officers in the discharge of their duty, but
\
this was voted down by the same partisan
majority. Again Mr. Edmunds moved that
the rider should not be held to apply to Ger
tain sections of the statutes authorizing the
President TO use the militia, or land and
naval forces, to enforce the civil rights act
and suppress instruction.
We quote Mr. Edmunds's remarks in sup
port of this amendment, and the subsequent
proceedings:
This bill said Mr.. Edmunds. is intended
TO break down the laws of the United States
which protect the citizens of the United
States in elections and other civil acts. AT
the same time do not intend that the Senate
of the United States shall escape from that
responsibility upon any suggestion, which it
is true has not yet been made. that the
amendments already offered were too gen.
eral Therefore, offer this amendment.
do not express any opinion now as to what
| the provision that became q law last year
means But this section as il stands means
| in nv Judgment, in legal effect the utter de
struction of the power OF the President,
through channels and in ways already pro-
vided by law, TO exercise the military power
of the United States on election day 10 en-
force the judicial process of the United
States anywhere in the neighborhood of an
election, or in respect of any crime, great or
small that is committed in connection with
| the elections. 1t carefully proceeds on the
same doctrine that led to what was called
secession by one set of people of the
4 United States, and to what is called, if we
still have right to express it in the old
fashioned way, rebellion" by another part
of the United States which succeeded in
overthrowing it, And that doctrine is that
it is the right of State, and of no other
! power in this country, to take possession OF
/ its relations with the National Government,
/ and the most vital and interesting of those
relations is the election of the National
/ House OF Representatives, as well as Sena-
1 tors This section therefore provides in sub
stance that it shall not be lawful for the
President 10 exert the military power of the
| country in exercising his duty under the
constitution, to take care that the laws be
carefully executed.
The amendment was rejected, yeas 10,
nays 81.
MIR. Edmunds-In order to carry out the,
purpose that | stated, of leaving no possible
| loophole for criticism or evasion about this
business, ] offer this amendment: Nor
shall this section he held TO apply to any case
. L
| has, under the constitution and existing
! laws made in pursuance thereof, the power
to employ the military forces in the faithful
/ execution thereof"
/ This was rejected, yeas 10, nays 90.
Mr. Edmunds-I have one more for the
same purpose, and then | shall have done,
and its rejection will leave the majority in
the position of a person indicted at the bar
| of public opinion, where no demurrer will
allow him to escape: Nor shall this section
DE held 10 apply TO any case in which, under
the Constitution of the United States the
| President may employ the military power of
| the Government in the faithful execution of
| its laws"
THIS amendment was rejected, yeas 10,
nays 90.
The bill was then read third time and
passed, yeas IS, nays Is.
All the votes were partly votes.
These proceedings show how far the Dem
ocracy are willing to go in the encourage
ment of Il new rebellion If the rider be-
comes a law, 1t will leave any State in which
rebels 50 far control the Governor and Leg
stature that they would refuse to apply to
the General Government for aid to enforce
the laws, free to secede and set up for itself.
The President could order troops thither
only ir direct disobcdicncc TO the law of
Congress Ii is no wonder that the rider
had the cordial approval of the rebel briga-
diers in Congress; hut that Northern Demo-
Gratis, protesting TO be patriotic and loyal
men, should allow them thus to enact i'm
punity for future rebellion, is passing strange.