Year: 1871

The employment Of United States
troops at elections without the consent
of the local and State governments,
has recently received considerable at
tention and reprehension. Itis regard
ed as an interference with the sovereign
rights Of the States, which was not
contemplated by the founders of the
general government, and, if persisted in,
must lead to results disastrous to peace
and harmony. The practice is one so
serious in its character, and so injuri-
Gus in its tendencies, as to merit prompt
consideration and decisive action, not
only by the General Assembly but BY
Congress. One Of the complaints
of the colonists against the Brit,
ish king was the oppression growing
out Of the assumption OF this power


They say, "He has kept among Us in
times Of peace, standing armies, with
out the consent Of our legislature; 4"
and, what is especially pertinent to the
case in point. HE has effected TO rem
der the military independent Of and
superior to the civil power" The al,
legged authority for the use Of troops, at
the State elections, is derived from the
tenth section Of an act Of Congress, ap,
proved May 81, 1870, entitled AN Act
to enforce the right OF citizens Of the
United States to vote in the several
States of the Union, and for other pur.
poses" which authorizes United States
Marshals TO call to their assistance,
such portion Of the land and naval
forces OF the United States, or of the
militia, as may be necessary 10
the performance of the duty with
which they are charged, and
to insure a faithful observance OF the
Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the United States" But it
must be a forced construct Of this
law that will justify the presence Of
armed national forces at our places OF
election when no necessity exists there,
for, and where their presence is calcu-
lated to provoke collision. With q
good President, the exercise of the
Iower referred to might have no in,
furious results, but in the hands of a
bad man, governed by national ambi.
ton, it might prove exceedingly calami
tous. Unconsciously y good President
might he induced to employ it wrong
fully; a bad one would be almost GER
tain to use it for his own advance
ment. Under any circumstance, in
Imy opinion. it is unsafe, and
antagonistIc to the principles that should
govern our Republican institutions AT
the last October election United States
troops were stationed in Philadelphia
for the avowed purpose of enforcing the
election laws. This was done without
the consent or even the knowledge OF
the civil authorities Of either the cit,
or the State, and without any expressed
desire on the part of the citizens; and
as far az can be ascertained without
existing necessity. From consci
entious conviction Of its import
ance, | have called your atten
ton to this subject. A neglect Il
have done so might have been con-
strued as an Endorsement OF a measure
that meets my unqualified disapproval
The civil authorities of Pennsylvania
have always been, and are still, compe
tent to protect its citizens in the exer
else of their elective franchise, and thu
proper and only time for United State
military forces to intervene will b
when the power Of the Commonwealth
is exhausted and their aid is lawful!
required.