The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1863-08-13
New York World August 3D..
General Burnside and the kentucky
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General Burnside. has declared the State
of Kentucky under martial law on the eve
of its State election which takes place to- day.
Considering who it is that makes this proc
lamation and how it is timed, the whole
proceeding looks suspicious. The pretext
is rebel invasion; but how happens it that
our first and only knowledge of an invasion
formidable enough to justify SO extreme a
resort come from the proclamation that pro-
fesses to be founded on it? Considering the
feebleness to which the rebellion has been
reduced in the Southwest, an invasion dan
gerous enough to require the whole State of
Kentucky to be suddenly put under Martial
law, is, to say the least, surprising; as is also
the circumstances that, if really nothing has
been heard of it through other and less sus-
picious channels. Military Interference by
the federal administration with regular
election in State and for the avowed pur-
pose of controlling its result, carries on Its
face strong presu mpt!Ve evidence of intended
foul play; it challenges strict inquiry and
and the most rigorous scrutiny. The coun-
try will demand to know what part or parts
of Kentucky are invaded; by whom and with
what force it is invaded, that martial law is
suddenly proclaimed throughout the State,
and tremendous engine of military terror
ism erected just time enough in advance Of
an election for a knowledge of it be difused
through the State.
We demand to know wh ether the prece-
dent now set in Kentucky is to be followed
in Ohio, which is also within the limits of
General Burnside's department? Will mar
tial law be declared there to defeat the elec-
tion of Mr.. Vallandigham, as it is on the
other side of the river to defeat what GEN.
eral Burnside calls "disloyal" (meaning
thereby, we presume, Democratic) candi-
dates? General Burnside commands his
troops not to permit disloyal persons to ap-
proach the polls, and thereby makes them
judges of what constitutes disloyalty, as well
as of the kind of evidence which shall be
deemed sufficient to prove it. He virtually
proclaims that he considers the Democratic
candidates disloyal and intends to prevent
their election. His order to his soldiers to
keep disloyal persons away from the polls
will naturally be interpreted by them to
intending to vote the Democratic ticket
What other Interpretation can possibly be
put upon it? General Burnside even goes
so far as to announce to the judges OF elec-
ton that they 'will be held strictly respon-
sible that no disloyal person be allowed to
vote.' These judges of election are State
officers; their duties are prescribed by State
laws; with their action no federal officer or
agent has the slightest right to interfere,
whether their duties are we'll or i'll performei l..
II they are unfaithful they are liable to the
penalties enacted in the laws of the COM
m ou wealth. It is because General Burnside
knows that he has no shadow ofa right to
concern himself about the performance of
their duties by these State officers that he
has proclaimed martial law; which being a
substitution of the mere will of the COM
m mander-in- chief for all other laws, repeals
them, for the time being, except so far as
he chooses to continue them in force. He
mig ht just as we'll have declared the set of
candidates he prefers elected, without the
mockery ofopening the polls. Under the
terrors of m artial law, he has virtually re-
quired the judges of election to make such
returns as will defeat the Democratic ticket,
and threatens to hold them strictly respon-
sibe.'