Year: 1864

voting population of the district he claims
to represent, it is the duty of this House to
decide against his claim and to send back
both him and bis contestant, and to continue
to do so until the free and unterriied action
of the people Of the district had unequivo-
cally declared who should be their servant
and Representative. The principle I have
announced shall regulate my vote, and if
the claimant shall be able to make his facts
conform to that principle, then will sup
port his right to his seat upon this floor -
There can be no other ineligible mode Of
coming to just and honorable conclusion
shall presume, sir, that the claimant will
thus undertake to establish his claim, be-
cause will not presume that he would ac-
cept seat procured by violence and not as
free gift of his people. The honor would
be plucked from the place, and self-respect
would cease to be his possession. Distant
[ hope is the day when many of our promi-
nent and leading men shall be so selfish, SO
unpatriotic, so destitute of honorable senti-
ment, as to seek posts of trust and honor by
the aid of the bludgeon and the club, or by
an appeal from the ''ballot to the bullet"


But, sir, notwithstanding his eloquent
exhortation here in favor of free ballot, I was
surprised to find the chairman of the Com
mittee of Elections Mr.. Dawes claim for
the Executive of this country the tremend-
Gus power and right of interfering by mill
tary force or other contrivances with the
elections in the States. l know there are
some prominent gentlemen who will concede
or contend for any power for the Executive,
no matter how dangerous to the liberties
and rights Of the people, provided it will
aid in advancing their ambitious prospects
or in gratifying their mercenary hearts. ]
feel confident that the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts Mr. Dawes takes counsel from
no such motives, but l must meet his asser-
tions of such power as [ have mentioned
for the Executive with a most emphatic de-
nial. He considers it the duty and right
of the President to enter the States on election
days with military power exhibited at the
polls to see that a pure, fair, and honest
result is obtained, and also to keep traitors
from the ballot box. Now, sir, though
a bath Is qf thess t4inGs NE4 are extremely desira-
the Executive Of the 6n1tsd # sthras is Gle
last agency that should be adopted to ac-
complish them. The remedy is worse than
the disease, or rather would generate new
disease more dangerous than the one which
it is attempted to cure Sir, [ deny his
right to enter the States from any such pur-
pose of interference, and whenever he does,
he is not only traitor to the constitution OF
the State, but violator of the great princi-
pie which lays at the foundation of our COM
mon Government Can any one suppose
that our forefathers, as jealous as they were
of Executive power, would ever think OF
comforting upon the President power SC
easily abused, and when abused so difficult
of amendment and control? Never, sir,
never! They designed to leave the en-
tire management of elections with th1
the State authorities; and with them, if the
people of this country are wise. they will
insist upon its being left.


But, sir, the President must see that trai-
tors do not contaminate the polls with theil
presence. Why is it that traitors are al
lowed to 60 at large until the day of cleo
ton? This is an astonishing fact, or the
"Ordcr No. 53' from the headquarters o
of the Middle Department.. dated October
27, 1868, contains a falsehood. I read It


at is knonn that there are many evi-dis
posed persons, now at large in the State o
Maryland, who have been engaged in rebellion
against the lawful Government. or have G ven aie
and comfort or encourag cement to others so engag
ed, who Go not recognize their allegiance to th'
United States, and who may avail themselve
Of the indulgence Of the authority which tole
rates their presence to embarrass the approach
ing election, or through it to foist enemies O
the United States into power. 1t is therefore
ordered:


81. That all provost marshals and other mil
itary officers do arrest all such persons found a
or hanging about, or approaching any poll O
place of election on the 4th of November, 1863
and report such arrest to these headquarters


Why Isl ask again, that hno,on trai
tors are at large, and that too, by the IN
diligence Of the authority which tolerate
their presence, and that all that indulgence
is to be suddenly withdrawn on election
day? Can traitors do no mischief to th,
country except in the matter of elections
and on that particular day? And why is i
there are SO many TRAITORS" arrested OF
the morning of the election, before the poll
are opened, and most uuaccountably released
after the election is over? This looks I
little mysterious. Sir. it is all a false pre-
tense it is the trick of the tyrant, adopted
in order to involve those who honestly diff
fer with them in political opinions in th'
pretended net of suspicion, SO that by ar
rests, by various annoyances which tyran
knows so we'll how to manufacture. he may
keep the honest voters from the polls. ane
thus secure the election of brother conspi
rator. Thus it is that this great right o
free ballot, which is the protector of al
other rights, and that, too. when all othe1
rights, are nearly crushed to the earth. has
been hrutally assailed by brutal military
| tyranny.