The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-12-04
Outrage upon the Elective Franchise ii
Maryland.
Freemen of the North, Read.


n .Shatemsntc Of tx Proceedings w.aci led to tie
Interruption and arrest Of tie Election at Frta.
cess Anne, In Somerset County, Ma'yand, on
Wednesday,, tie 4ti dy Of Noc., 1868.
I
arrived in Princess Anne about nine O'Clock
Il. m, Oh the morning of this day, and saw Il
detachment of about twenty armed cavalrymen,
in front of Twlley's Hotel. | observed Il cav
airy otcer whom afterwards learned to be Cap.
Moore, of the 81 Maryland Cavalry, Standing
in front OF Wilson's Hotel, with perhaps adozen
persons standing near. AS approached heard
Mr.. John A. Pinto, one OF the judges of f.
lection, (wIo was standing Immediately in front
of tic oiiicer,) reading aloud from Il large prin-
ie liandbl.l The oath 10 he taken by voters. un-
der General Schenck's order No 50. Upon
! Mr.. Pinto's having finished reading the oath,
an inquiry was made by some one, of the Of
! iicer if Iic ''had seen the proclamation OF Gov
crnot Bradford and the Presidents order modi-
| flying General Schcnck's order No 50. He re-
pc,l IL have seen them, but they were not Of
! iicialy communicated to me, AMI cannot rec
| ogilizo them" He stated that his orders came
from the Major OF his regiment; that If the
Presidents order had been officially notified to
him he would feel bound to obey it not being
50 notified, he must obey the instructions which
| lie i;,d received Capt. Moore was then asked
ii le had received instructions how 10 execute
the part of Cen Sclenck's order 10 report at
headquarters the Judges OF Election who might
reiase to execute order No %, and if 50 how
he proposed to execute such order I" He replied
| Al t,. tho I'm 1ras
and take them to Baltimore. The Judges OF
Election shen proceeded to the Court Room
when some cavalry men were observed putting
up asaiast the Court House door u large prin-
ted anlbil containing order No. 90. Upon
entering the Court House, one OF the Judges
of Election handed Il copy of the Governors
proclamation to Robert W. Doughery, who
said that he had not seen it, and proceeded to
read the same aloud; when he had concluded
the readng of it, the oath OF office was admin
is.c.cd by Il Juslcc of peace to John V. Pinto,
VIM H. Fisher and James NJ. Dryden, as
judges of Election and the judges being quail
flied called on the Sheriff to preserve order and
| project the polls from interruption The oher-
| iii isaairad show he was to do So" Some one
| II tic crowd said, "suulnioiI tie uysta"io'S ..
aid YOU" Some one else objected to this, and 1t
WAS suggested that us he had no armed posse
comitatas at his command, he was powerless to
resist the armed military force then present IN
the town. At this moment Captain Moore,
with several soldiers entered the Court House
and proceeded to station his soldiers from the
| Court House door on each slc of the pass way
| leading to the desks where the judges sat
| Whist Captain Moore was thus staiioning his
men, the Judges announced the opening OF the
election, and VIM J. Birmingham, esq, offer
cd his vote. Just rs it was received by the
Jud res, Captain Moore stepped up hastily and
called out, .hat he challenged that vote; = COM
ing up to the desk, he required the Judges to
administer the oath required in order No. 90 to
Mr. Brlttineham who said 81 am ready.lo 70 take
| it," One OF the judges inquired OF Captain
| Moore, if he intended ''to Disregard the procla-
nation of Governor Bradford AMI require them
To administer the oath required by General
Sclenck." Captain Moore replied that he did.
The Judge then said, 1--WE must administer the
oath under coercion" and procec led to read to
| Mr. Brittingham the oath of General Schenck S
| order No SO, which Mr. Birmingham took
His vote was then received, and directed to be
recorded by the clerks. Mr.. Arthur Crisficld
| then advanced. between the file OF soldiers, to
the Judges desk, and offered his vote Capt
tain Moore was standing by the desk, immcd-
iatly fronting the Judges, challenged his vote,
and inquired his name The reply was "Arthnr
Crisipll." Captain Moore, pulling paper
from his pocket, examined it, and proceeded 10
interrogate Mr.. A. Crishcld, in substance as
| follows:
Capt Moorc-IIav you ever been in the reb-
ell service?
Mr.. A. Crisield-No.
Capt. Moore-Are you loyal!
Mr.. A. Crisicld-l am.
Capt. Moore---llaye you ever sympathized
with those in rebellion against the Government
Mr.. A. Crisiield-I have never given aid,
assistance or encouragement to the South.
Capt Moorc-Do you acknowledge this to
be rebellion against the Government!
MIR. A. Crisfeld-I acknowledge this.
| Capt. Moore--Are you in favor Of prosecu.
ting the war to put down tho rebellion, by every
means, and of voting men and money for this
purpose and that all your property may be
devoted to the prosecution Of the wars
MIR. A. Crisiied-Deinc the mcansl
Capt. Moore--By blockade, cutting off sup
plies from the South, and by every means
known in civilized warfare
| Mr. A. Crisell-I think the Government
has the right to prosecute the war by all means
recognized by international law and civilized
, warfare, within the limits Of the Constitution
and the laws of the country.
| Capt Moorc--Are you in favor of prosecu-
ting the war by every means!
Mr.. A. Crisfeld was repeating the same re-
ply as that to the former question: when Capt.
Moore turned to the judges and said, "admin-
ister tho oath to him." Mr.. Pinto, one of the
judges of the Election, then arose and said,
eve disapprovc this mode of conducting the
clection--it is impossible to conduct it in this
way VIC should never get through; we are
, sworn to conduct the election according to the