Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-11-12

tary law OF Maryland In the matter OF Suffrage
That our readers may have the evidence of tb,
way in which the election was !" managed" we sub
join the following statements:
We have before us an official copy Of the orig
nal orders promulgated by Gen. Seaenck, duly Ger.
titled by the written signature Of "W. M. Este,
Major and Aide-de-Camp." -As copy contain.
IN full The first order, ,ohick the President lad an
mulled. Endorsed on it is the f,llowipg address
ed by Capt. John G. Holland, the military candi-
date for Congress in the Fifth District, to the de-
putty provost marshal charged with the delivery Of
the "orders y
SIR You viii please deliver this circular to the judges
Of the election 10 your district and soc that their proUi-
SlOns are complied niM. JOHN G. HOLLAND,
capt. and Prov. Mar. 9th Dist Md"
The circular, in this shape, was delivered to the
judges in Bladensburg, and we invite the atten.
tion of our readers to the following certificate the
original Of which, with the proper signatures Of
the parties, is in our possession
"We certify that the foregoing are the only instructions
given US by the Deputy Provost Marshal.
BENEDICT YosT,
JOHN BOWIE,
" BASIL Z. RYAN,
Il SHAW, Judges of Election
IF A. FILL,
CLERKS OF Election"
In addition to this we give the following certi
fcate
We certify that Provost Msrsha Wright (the Deputy
OF HOlaI said n presence that he delivered the
judges of the election all the papers to him by John
G. Holland Provost Marshal Of the 5th Cong
trict Of Maryland BENEDICT YosT,
JOHN BOWIE, jr.
BASIL 4. RYAN,
~. SHAW, Judges Of Ele cton
"F, A. FILL,
Clerks OF Election"
Thus it will be seen that the mandate of the
President was, whether through neglect or design,
not suffered to prevail. The rescinded and an
mulled orders Of the military commander at Balt
more allowed to hang over the judges as their
imperative rule of military duty, under the
threats and intimidations contained in the third
Of Gen. Schenck's original injunctions, command
ing all provost marshals to report to him any
judge of election who failed to "carry out this
order"
We offer no comment on these facts, and raise
no question, in this statement, as to which there
can be any difference of opinion. We simply
siguaize to the notice Of our readers the legitimate
fruits Of oil arbitrary and lawless power. Those
who contend for the authority of Gen. Schenck to
override the laws Of Loyal State will not contend
for his right to disobey the commands Of the Presi
dent Of the United States Having, without au-
thority from the President, issued orders which, in
one very essential respect the President instantly
countermanded, for reason the most selfevident,
Gen. Schenck was bound, by every consideration
Of military honor and duty, to see to it that the
Presidents countermand was made co-extensive in
its distribution with his own original and unsu.
thorized proclamation. But as he trusted the ex-
ecution Of this duty in the Fifth Congressional
District to the Provost Marshal, ,oho ,oas caadi-
date for Congress, and whose only hope Of success
depended the strict enforcement Of the original
orders in all their provisions" We need not be
at all surprised to learn that there was much less
promptitude in communicating to the judges of the
election the wishes of President Lincoln than the
wishes Of Gen. Schenck.
We place these statements before our readers
with unfeigned sorrow, because they carry with
them condemning record which will be read in
the light Of history with even more distnctness
and breadth than at the present day, when tie
fumes Of political passion obscure the vision Of
many. And it is for this reason that we have to-
day confined our animadversions to such military
delinquencies as can be perceived and condemned
by all who have any respect we will not say for the
dignity Of Maryland, but for the lawful authority
of the President of the United States. All candid
persons will cheerfuy aoquit the President of any
intention to disfranchise the loyal voters Of Mary
land. He took no initiative in this unfortunate
affair." and his only intervention in the matter was
prompted by desire to repress part at least Of
the caprces Of his subordinste and he sought to do
SO by promptly annuling the most obnoxiou, Of
Gen. Schencks "orders." But this military
minc was sprung upon the people at such late
day, and placed in charge Of sappers so much more
interested in carrying out their own partisan pur-
poses than the will of the President, that it was
impossible for him to procure even the measure Of
justice he essayed to enforce.