The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-12-18

SutAeJ Va viz PCoplCs luNOhc tuc
diligent and serious attention of
Congress to the consideration of
these and such other measures as
may be presented, having the same
great end in view.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, Washington,
d. c., Dec. 8, 1889.
ATTORNEY GENERAL MILLER
Says That Elections Are illegally
Held and United States Witnesses
Inundated.
The annual report of Attorney
General Miller was made public to.
day. During the year 1927 civil
suits and l4,56S criminal prosecu-
tions we're terminated and there
are pending 1850 Of the former and
1872 Of the latter class. Mr.. Miller
recommends that provision be
made for United States peniten-
tisry and United States reforma-
tory, the latter being intended to
confine the milder class of crimi-
nails. 1t Is also urged that a prison
bureau be established in the De-
partment of Justice, where could
be gathered, collated and recorded
in a permanent form the criminal
statistics of the United States. In
a chapter on law business, the At
torney General says:
Every soon after the 4th of March
last it was brought to my attention
that at the then recent cogl essional
elections there were very numerous
and far reaching violations of the
Federal laws relating to such cleo
tions. 1t was charged that by in
timidating Of voters, by Selling and
destroying ballot boxes, by substi-
tuting Of false ballots, by false re-
turns, by the bribery of voters and
election officers and by various
other means, well known to those
engaged in this nefariOus business,
the popular will was stifed and
falsified, and returns obtained
wholly at variance with what
would have been the result of a
free and fair vote honestly counted.
In every case where such charges
were brought to the attention OF
this department, instructions were
given to the District Attorneys t.
investigate and prosecute to the
utmost Of their power every person
implicated in such violation of Fed
eral laws, and I am happy to report
that in u number Of States such
prosecutions have been successful
A large number of indictments
have been returned, upon some Of
them trials have been had; in @
number of cases convictions have
been obtained, and in some cases
the culprits have pleaded guilty
and asked for mercy at the hands
Of the court. A large number Of
these cases are still pending, ant
the instructions to the District At
torneys are sill to push them t.
the end. 1t is proper to say that
in some cases the effors have beer
made, some of them very recently
to prevent and cripple these prose
cutions by attempts to intimidat'
the Marshal from serving processes
and witnesses from giving their ties
timony, such intimidation going t.
the extent of actual assassination
But it must not be supposed tina
, hostility to the United States court
and United States officers is col
fined to election matters. On TIL
contrary, the records of the Depart
ment of Justice show that in SOM
districts the civil proceedings o
! these courts and criminal prOsecu
lions wholly disconnected with tn
elective franchise cannot prOcee
because the lives of necessary wit
nesses are in such danger that
would be simply inhuman to en-
force their attendance, and the Civ
ing of their testimony; while tn
evidence is abundant that in Ger
! tain localities no occupation is 81
dangerous as a faithful Performance
of duty by United States Marshals
OF course such lawlessness canno
be tolerated. In every case the in
structions to proecute have bee1
coupled with the assurance that m
. means within the power Of this de
. partment will be spared to prOtec
: officers and witnesses in the dis
. charge of their duties, and to brin
to punishment every man who lille
\ . L.. l.