Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-03
!. s. MARSHALS.
What Their Duties VIII be at
the Coming Elections.
Circular Letter From the At
torney General.

The Communication is Also Addressed to
the District Attorneys Throughout the
United States -WrOngdoers Who Int"r-
fere with These Officers Wiu Sutfor Sc
verely.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3.-Attorney Cen
eral Miller has issued circular letter
to all United States marshals and dis-
trict attorneys throughout the United
States, clearly indicating the limo OF
policy which the department OF justice
will pursue in tho coming elections for
congressman in relation to the appoint
ment of United States supervisors of
elections and special deputy marshals to
watch the polls.
The attorney general quotes an order
Issued by Cleveland to Attorney Gen
eral Garland in 1886, in which that Off
Ger was requested to take general
charge and direction of the execution of
the statutes of the United States touch
ing the appointment Of supervisors OF
election and special deputy marshals,
and the performance OF thoir duties and
their compensation, 30 far as these sub
iects are by tho constitution and laws
under the supervision and control of the
executive branch of the government.
Attorney General Miller says the au
thority thus given has never been TO-
voked, and he follows it up by quoting
with approval the Instructions issued on
the 18th of last month by G. NJ. Den
nison, chief supervisor OF elections OF
the northern district Of New York, in
reply to an inquiry whether 'speci !
deputy marshals have right to be in
side the place of registration during the
PROGRESS Of registration, and whether
they can be inside tho polling place on
election day outside of the guard rail"
Mr.. Dennison cites two cases where
convictions were had for obBtructing a
special deputy marshal in the execution
OF this duty and says the decision OF the
supreme court of the United States
clearly established the constitulOnallty
of the law of congress, and the further
facts that the authority OF the national
government il paramount in the election
Of representatives, and that "the ma
tional government has the right to use
physical force in any part of tho United
Stahes to compel obedience TO its laws
and to carry into execution the powers
conferred upon it by the constitution"
Further, that the provisions of the
federal election laws are In force when
ever representative in congress is
voted for, and whenever any OF the pro
visions of the federal law are in conflict
with the atate statute tho federal
statutes must be followed.
In addition to tho foregoing inStruc-
lions the attorney general adds the toll
lowing: "Iu the language of the statute
of the United States, Section 20l9, It Is
the duty of tho supervisors i'll thoir re-
spective election districts or voting pre-
cincts, to be present on the day of regis
tration, and on election day to take, oc-
cupy and remain in such position, from
time TO time. whether before OF
behind the ballot-boXes, ~ will,
In their Judgment bost en-
able them to SEQ each person offering
himself for registration or offering tC
vote and rs will best cOnduce to their
scrutinizing the manner i'll which the
registration or voting Is being conduct
cd; and Mt the closing of tho polls, FOL
the reception of votes they are required
to place themselves III such position III
relation to the hallot-boxes for the pur
pose of engaging in the work OF canvass
sing the ballots rs will euablc them tt
fully perform the duties IN respect lc
such canvass provided hefelN, anu Su"l
there remain until every duty in respect
to such canvass, certificates, roturn'
end statements has been wholly com
pleted." :,
BY Section 2O92, tho deputy marshal'
are authorized to arrest, with or with
out process, any person who commits o.
attempts or offers TO commit, any of tht
acts or offences prohibited horoln, o.
commits any otfeuse against the laws O
the United States, bat no person shnl
be arrested without process for an,
offense not committed in the presence o
the marshal, or one of his general o
special deputies, or one Of his super
yisors of election. And the supervisor
have like power to make arrests
ANY attempt 80 interfere with the su
pervlsors or deputy marshal IN IN
proper discharge of their duties is VIC
istion of the law and subjects tn
wrongdoer to n severe penalty
The attorney general concludes wit
n request that the expenses Of supervl.
ors and deputy United States marshal
appointed to put in force these Pre-
visions of law may he kept down to eth
lowest point consistent with the proG
discharge of their duties"