Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-01-09


execution Of the Oriier. Those Instructions
were promptly carried into effect by the
appointment OF enrolling officers for each and
every hundred in the State aud by the appoint
meat also Of u commissioner surgeon aud
commandant for each county, and by the
recommendation by me to the War department
Of persons TO be appointed Provost Marshals for
the respective counties, none Of whom,
however, were appointed.
In The performance Of this duty, had much
trouble and difficulty in finding suitable persons
who would accept the appointments, and in
Baltimore Hundred l could not find a person
who would act as enrolling officer, though
continued to send commissions 10 different
persons until the order for the draft was revoked
by the War Department. With the exception Of
this hundred, believe the enrolment was made
in every hundred in the State, and the commits
sioners for the respective counties had nearly
completed the duties assigned to them, acting in
conjunction with the surgeons appointed for the
purpose Of their assistance, when the Secretary
of War announced the fact that the draft in
Delaware was dispensed with the whole NUM-
her of militia and volunteers required by the
Presidents previous order having been raised by
volunteers.
These officers performed arduous and unplea-
SAINT duties, for which they have not yet been
compensated. The assurance was given by the
Secretary of War that the expenses would be
borne by the General Government, and If the
State paid them in the first instance il would be
reimbursed by the Government The amounts
have been approved by me, as suggested by the
instructions Of the War Department, aud
presume they will be paid by the Government
if so, you will not be troubled with them deem
il proper, however, to direct your attention to the
subject, that it may not be entirely neglected
and, If the Government should fail to meet its
engagement, which is not to be supposed, some
] 10, l.. -.
Assembly Of the State for remuneration to those
officers. These amounts have been presented to
the proper department at Washington, aud you
will be advised at the proper time of its action
10 reference to them.
The subject first in importance to which
shall invite your attention, more vitality affects
the interests rights, privileges and liberties of
the people Of Delaware than any other, perhaps,
which ever eng8ged the attention and delibera-
tions of the General Assembly Of this State since
the formation Of the Government, and the future
existence of the Government itself is not less in
volvcd in the issues-a new and novel use of
Of the military power Of the Federal Govern
ment which, if tolerated, and carried out in
practice, will most inevitably result in the per-
version of the principles and power Of ihe Gov
ernment and its ultimate and total destruction.
| allude TO the unwarrantable and unconsti-
| tutional arrests Of our peaceful and loyal cili-
zens, whereby thep are deprived Of their liberty
and made inmates Of loathsome forts and com
mon jails, without any charge preferred against
them in q legal form being made known to them,
aud denied the privilege of being heard and of
confronting their accusers, or even of being in
formed who they are and of the nature and
character Of the charges, if any, against them.
also refer to the unlawful aud unprecedented
interference on the part of the General Govern
meni, with our peaceful aud law-aoiding cit-
zens, in the constitutional aud rightful exercise
OF their elective franchise, by the Introduction
into the State of large number of United
States troops, on the day Immediately preceding
the day of the late general election, amounting,
as nearly as eau be ascertained, to about three
thousand, consisting of artillery, infantry and
cavalry, accompanied by Major General John E.
Wool, Of the United States Army, and by him
distributed and statioded on the day OF the ee6-
tion at allthe polls in Kent and Sussex Counties,
except two and at some of the polls in New
Castle County, under the command and control
Of Provost Marshals, who, it is said, were ap-
pointed for that purpose for each and every
hundred-an Office entirely unknown to tho
constitution aud law of tue land. All of these
persons claiming to be Provost Marshas, and as
such having command and control of the United
States forces, were violent political pariizans,
and some OF them, at least, men of very low
order, without respectability or character, and
utterly UNFIT in every respect, to have the con-
troll OF any portion Of the United States forces
for any purpose whatever, and more especially
at such time and on such an occasion.
No possible exigency could arise, except re-
sistauce to the lawful authority of the General
Government, which would authorize or justify
such action and interference, and il is not and
can not be pretended that any such resistance
has ever been made, contemplated by the
State or the citizens thereof. On the contrary,
we have been recognized and treated in other
respects as loyal State by the Government.
called upon by it for troops to aid in the sup
preston of the rebellion and the maintenance Of
the Government To these calls we hayo
promptly responded, and it is conceded by the
Secretary Of War that we have furnished our
full quota Of troops by volunteers, and having
done 80, we are entitled to be protected by the
Government in oil our constitutional rights and
privileges, and no arm of 1t has right to raise
itself against us in the enjoyment aud exercise
of any right guaranteed to us by the Constitu-
tion.
To say that these troops were sent here to
keep the peace and preserve order is no sufficient
justification or excuse for their introduction In
our midst, for they bad no right TO be here for
such purpose. The laws of the State Of Della
ware have ever proved amply sufficient FOR the
preservation of the peace and protection Of our
citizens against any aggressions in the exercise
of their elective franchise and there were no
reasons to apprehend any breach of the peace
or disturbance of any sort at the late election,
more than might have been entertained nt any
previous ones, nor could such npprehensions or
fears have existed in tho minds Of any intelli-
gent person. The citizens of Delaware are q
peaceful, orderly and law abiding people, and
the laws of the State are quite sufficiently strin-
gent for all the purposes of their protection not
only from assaults and other breaches of the
peace, but for ample protection in the exercise
and full enjoyment of their elective franchise.
1t was not therefore only an infringement upon
the rights of our citizens TO thrust in their
midst on the day of the eleetio aud OF the polls
portion of the United States army, but it was
q sauder upon the character Of the State and
our citizens to say that any necessity existed for
their introduction among us,
1t is hardly to be supposed that the Sec
retarp Of War intended that these troops
should be used as they were, or that
he sent them here for the purpose of interfering
with the people in the peaceable and lawful ex-
ercise OF their elective franchise. Il is more
probable that he was imposed upon and deceived
by designing politicians, who, in their zeal, and
prompted by their desire for a result of the cleo
ton favorable to their interests, made to him
representations which bad no foundation in truth
But if such was the fact it ought to be known as
we'll as to the country as to the President and
Secretary of War, and the people Of Delaware
should be informed Of the nature aud character
Of the representations and by whom they were
made, and whether they induced the Secretary
OF War to send General Wool into the State with
the military forces of the United States on the
occasion referred to.
These grievances are Of no trifing character.
and such as the citizens Of loyal State ought
not to be subjected 10, and which no legitimate
ro.sa. nndar mis- GoveYutnant nF hoas tod lthprfv