Speech #450117271

I say. sir. that the members on this floor are elected from districts of a State and it is a State election heldunder State laws. under State registrars. and under State inspectors of registration to elect Representatives who are to perform a Federal function. and this power intended to he exercised by the Government of the United States. to supervise it and to call out an indefinite number of marshals for the purpose of overawing the citizens at the polls and conducting it in the interest. as was well said by the gentleman from Wisconsin. of the party in power. whatever it might be. is one that ought to be denied. I apply this not only to the party in power or the party that was in power in 11 and 1672. but I would oppose it if any party would propose to supervise the State elections in any State for Representatives upon this floor. We know. sir. in the city of New York extraordinary scenes occurred. that arrests have been illegally made by supervisors of citizens claiming to be possessed of the power and authority to vote. of the arrest of nativeborn and naturalized citizens when they presented themselves in the last election in New York. of naturalized citizens who. as such. were clothed as effectually and completely with the powers and rights of citizens as if theyhad been born on our own soil and to the manner born. I say this is an attempt and has been a successful attempt. not only in Now York but in many of the Southern States where they have called out under the provisions of this law. in elections held there. an indefinite number of marshalsand when they were not able even then to control the polls they absolutely. in violation of statutory law. which makes it a high penal offense to station a soldierwith arms in his haudwitbin one mileof the polls. have called troops from their encampment to sustain these marshals at the polls in the exercise of an authority which they claimed to have under the laws now sought to be repealed. I say therefore these provisions of law are contrary to the spirit and genius of our institutions. that they are in the very face of the Constitution itself. and that they are in the face of the regulations which the several States of the Union have made in reference to elections held in their midst. and that these elections are held by the States under State laws and State regulations. and it is not within the power of the Congress of the United States to do that which has been claimed.