This act passed the Senate, after full consideration, without a single
vote recorded against it on its final passage, and, by a majority
of more than two-thirds, it was concurred in by the House of
Representatives.

The purpose of the section quoted was stated in the Senate by one of
its supporters as follows:

Therefore I hope, without getting into any controversy about
the past, but acting wisely for the future, that we shall
take away the idea that the Army can be used by a general or
special deputy marshal, or any marshal, merely for election
purposes, as a posse, ordering them about the polls or
ordering them anywhere else, when there is an election going
on, to prevent disorders or to suppress disturbances that
should be suppressed by the peace officers of the State; or,
if they must bring others to their aid they should summon the
unorganized citizens, and not summon the officers and men of
the Army as _posse comitatus_ to quell disorders, and thus
get up a feeling which will be disastrous to peace among the
people of the country.


In the House of Representatives the object of the act of 1878 was
stated by the gentleman who had it in charge in similar terms. He
said:

But these are all minor points and insignificant questions