New-York daily tribune., 1863-11-05
~ur RIGHT TO VOTE IN MARY.
LAND.
PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR.
SrArK OF MARYLAND, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,


Tome Citizens Of the State, and more especially the Jud9'
A Military Order issued from the Headquar,-
ters of the Middle Department" bearing date tne
ul printed and circulated as II ID SAID throusn thrsd q.
State though yet published here and hesu
operate on the approaching Election, sayacer and
brought To my attention and is of such cIl .;o
Issued under such circumstances as 10 o'"'"'" "'''N
st my hands. - ,,orr .v;, dis
.o.ed us r" az large in the State Of Maryland,
Who have been engaged in Rebellion against the law
ful Government have gwen au anu ooUl "a, unt ,nco
rarameDt 10 others engaged oywho 90 NOT recos
nis their allegiance TO the United States and who may
avail themselves of the indulgence OF the authority
which tolcrates their presence to embarrass the ap
branching Election through TO fost enemies of the
United States into power proceeds among Other tnhss
70 direct "all Provost Marshas and other sihtary
Officers TO arrest all such persons found nt or hanging
about or approaching any Poll or Place Of Election on
the 4h OF November ls6J and report such arrest 10
their Headquarters.
This extraordinary Order has not only been issued
without any notice to consultation with the consf
tuted authorities of the State but at time and under
circumstances when the condition of the State and The
character of the candidates such TO preclude the
Idea that the result of that election can in any way en-
danger ctor the safety of the Government or the peace
of tine community.
1t well known fact that with perhaps. one single
exception there not Congressional candidate III the
State whose loyalty even of qrestionatic Asreter,
and in not comfy Of the State outside oi me san
Congressional District IL there, believe, o cahUuu.o
for the Legislature or any State Office whose i9iany
not equally undoubied. IN the face Of this wekhoMn
condition of things the several classes OF persons epo'e
enumerated are not only 10 be arrested a; pu, P
proactin1 any pole or place Of election Ana VINO Is ~
fudge neither voters thus their way 10 the place OF
voting have given aid and comfort. oy ene,"rasGltm
to persons engaged in the rebellion or that they 40
not recognize their allegiance 10 the United States
and may arsl Themselves or Their psescAcc AZ inc
polls ITO sn.s. enemies Of the United states lto
Powert" As ] have already SAID, IN yer,
large majority Of the counties OF the State
there are not to be found among the candidates
any sucl cHcmcs Of the United Staes:" but the Prov
ost Marshsereaied for very different purpose.-an
the other military officials who are thus ordered TO ar
rest approaching voters, ale necessarily made by te
order sole and exclusive judges OF who fall Wihn
the prescribed cstegoyan extent Of arbitrary discrc
ton under any circumstances, the most odions ana
especially offensive and dangerous IN view oI the
known fact that two least of tie tive Provost Mar
shals of the State themselves candidates for import
ant offices and surdry of their deputies for others
TIE military order therefore, IS not only without Jus
ticaton when looking 10 tie character OF the Clhul
dates before the people, and rendered SIN more opnt
ious by tie appointed for ts execution hut Is
equally offensive the sensibitcs of the people them
selves and the authorities Of the State locking 20 the
repeated proofs they have furnished Of an unaeraoe
devotion to the Gov Inment For more than two years
past there has nevc been time when, every traitor
and every tIeasona sympathlcer IN the State had
voted tlCy could hays controlled whoever might Lave
been tler candidates single department OF the state
or eopardzed the success OF the General Government
No State in the Union has been or is now aetuated by
more heartfelt uIwayering loyalty than Mary yand-a
LOYALTY intensified and purified by the ordeal through
which il has passed and yet looking TO what has lately
transpTed elsewhere and TO the terms and character OF
u,
and nowhere else, is the Government endangered by
the many eyildsposed persons that at large
Within less than month the most important cleo
tons have taken place IN two OF the largest States OF
the Union; in each Of them candidates before the
people charged by the particular friends OF the Govern
Inent with being hostile TO its Interests and whose
election deprecated fraughi with the most dan
gerous consequences to its success. One OF the most
prominent Of these candidates considered 80
dangerously inmical TO the triumph Of the national
that he has been for months past banisAed from
the country and yet hundreds OF thousands of voters
were allowed TO approach the polls and 10 attempt to
"fost such into power and no Provost Marshals
or other military officers were ordered them
the way or 40 far ss We have heard even ties. their
allegiance 10y any oath
With these facts before us it is difficult: 20 believe
that tie suggestion that the enemies OF the CAlteu
States may be ioSted into power at our coming election
was the consideration that prompted this order; blt
whatever may have been ha; motive feel II 70 be my
duty to soemny protest against such intervention
with the privileges Of the balotbox. and 50 offensive
Discrimination sgsin.t the rights of a loyal State
avail self of this occasion 10 call TO the particular
attention OF the Judges of Election the fact that they
are the day Of election clothed with al the authority
of conservatoTs Of the peace, ard summon 10 their
aid any of the executive officers Of the county and the
whole power Of tie county itself TO preserve order at
the polls ard secure the constitutional rights of the
voters.
Ii is also made their special duty" TO give informa.
ton tie States Attorney for the county Of all inf
tions Of the state laws ON the subject OF elections and
by these laws il il forbidden 10 any commissioned or
noncommissoned officer. having command OF any sol.
der soldiers quariered or posted IN any district of
said troops or march any recruiting party within the
view Of any place OF election dAg the time OF holding
said election
need not an sure remind them Of the terms OF the
oath they required to take before entering upon
their duties and according 10 which they to
permit al pers ~ vote who shall offer 10 poll at the
election &c, who in Aetr judgment shall according 20
e directions contained IL the Constitution aud iaps. b
entitled 10 poll a, the election and not TO permit any
person poll At the election who ~ not IN uhei
Judgment qualified to vote as aforesaid"
II is the jsdgmeas ct The Judges Of Election alone
founded upon tie provisions Of the Constitution and the
Laws OF the state. that must determine the right q
vote Of any person offering himself for that purpose
trust and believe that they will form that judgment and
discharge their duty their conscientious convictions
ofits requirements. under the solemn obligations they
assume shall dictate. undeerrcd by any order To III O.
yost Marshals 10 report them TO I" Headquarters"
Whatever power the State possesses, shall be excrtcd
TO protect them for any thing done in the proper eIecu
Since writing the above. 1 have seen copy of the
Presidents letter 10 the Chairman OF the Union State
der and evidently showing that the order unknown
% him. that Il would not have been approved by him, il
he had known it. and that it is therefore all tie
reprehensibc.
WIN. B. HILL Secretary ofstste.
After the above was in print at o'clock this after
received from thc President the following dis
revoke the first Of the three propositions In Gen.
Schencks General Order No So not that it is wrong in
principle but because the Military being Of necessty
exclusively Judge 90 who shall be arrested the proy
sion Isl inbe TO abuse For the revoked part substitute
the folloying
"That all oyost Marshal and other Military Officers
do prevent all disturbance and violence at the polls
whether offered by such persons above described
by any other person whonsocyer; the other
two propososS M gio" t" s'and my e'ter a, lenSth
ThiIe this reyokes the authority II tho
Provost Mafsbals and military officers. TO the
classes Of persons enumerated in the preamble 10 tie
order found al or hanging about or approaching any
poll place Of election il directs them TO prevent all