The mountain Democrat., 1864-01-16

instance, or why, when such departure
was determined upon as now necessary
for the first time, the proclamation should
have failed to embody for the informatio
and guidance of the judges those otheI
laws which forbid any interference with
the freedom of elections, and denounce
severe penalties upon any Judge who
should refuse to receive the vote of Q le.
gally qualified elector, ARE questions which
We leave the reader at liberty to decide
for himself after learning all the facts at.
| tending and following the issue of the
I paper.
On tnc oGst Gay Of July, General
Burnside issued his proclamation placing
the State under martial law, for the pur.
pose, as be declared, "of preserving the
purity of elections as defined in the late
proclamation of his Excellency, the Gov.
ernor Of Kentucky" The reason as
signed by General Burnside fer the issu-
ance of his proclamation that I" the State
Of Kentucky is invaded by a rebel force
with the avowed purpose" of controlling
the elections, was mere pretext, without
real foundation, though we have reason
to believe that such information was con-
veyed to the General by citizens Of this
State, acting on behalf of the Admins
tration party. The invaders" to whom
he referred were flying body of cavalry
less than one thousand in number, known
to be in rapid retreat at the time the proc
lamation was issued, and were actually
out Of the State before the election began.
Upon the most careful inquiry, we have
been unable to ascertain that they avowed
them, nor do we believe that they did so.
But the avowal of such an intention by
such body of men, even had it been
made, would have been an idle and ridic-
ulous boast, to which it is impossible
General Burnside could have attached
any importance. That one thousand ma
rauders should seriously contemplate a
control of the election in State contain.
ing one hundred and ten counties, inhab-
tied by one hundred and eighty thousand
voters, and protected" by more than fif.
ty thousand soldiers of the United States,
is an absurdity so glaring, that General
Burnside must pardon US for believing
that it could not have gulled even him.
In quick succession, preceding or fol-
lowing the declaration of martial law,
came the different orders in the appendix
numbered from four to twelve. Many
others of similar character were issued,
but these are fair sample Of the whole.
These orders, differing in their details,
may be briefly summed up us presenting
the following points:
l. By way of precaution, the people
are informed that whenever any property
is needed for the use of the United States
army, it will be taken from rebel sympa-
thizers, and receipts given for same, mark
ed ''disloyal,' and to be paid at the end
Of the war, on proof that the holder is
loyal man.
2. Rebel sympathizers are defined to be
not only those who are in favor OF seces-
sion, but also those who are not in favor
of vigorous prosecution of the war, and
of furnishing men and money uncondl-
tionally for that purpose. Loyalty" is
to be proved by the vote given at the
election.
8. County Judges are required to ap.
point none but "loyal" men as judges Of
election, notwithstanding the provisions
of our law. which require the officers Of
election to be taken equally from each po-
litical party.
f. Persons offering to vote, whose votes
may be rejected by the judges, ARE notified
that they will be Immediately arrested by
the military.
5. The judges of election are notified
that they will be arrested and held re-
sponsible by the military, should they
permit any disloyal men to vote.
G. The Democratic ticket is struck
from the poll-books at many points, as
being composed Of "disloyal" men.
Z. Oaths unknown to the Constitution
and laws are required to be taken by vo-
ters and judges
A careful perusal of the orders them
selves will show that they have not been
misreprcsented in this summary. Exam
inc carefully, felow-citizens. we beseech
you, the picture which they present
The Governor Of Kentucky calls the at
tention Of the judges to single one of
many laws which define their duty, and
that one law whose rigid enforcement
was supposed to be beneficial to his own
political party, and injurious only to his
opponents General Burnside enforces
the proclamation for the purpose of pre-
serving the purity Of elections. and (whie
himself threatening the judges should
they permit disloyal vote to be casO d.
rects that the soldier shall interfere no
further than may be necessary to enable
the judges to discharge their duties un-
der the laws of Kentucky. His subordi-
mates threaten the judges and voters with
confscation, arrest and Imprisonment,
and actually publish their orders and
carry out their threats without punish
ment from the General or remonstrance
from the Governor.
In addition to this there was at work
beneath the surface potent machinery,
whose labors could be traced only by re-
suits, for the woLk was done in darkness
and in secret.
In every city, town and considerable
village in the Commonwealth, there had
long been organized, under the authority
of the Secretary of the Treasury, a body
of men known as "Board of Trade" "
an innocent title, little expressive of their
true functions. Under the same regula
tons of the Secretary, no shipment of
goods to the interior of the State could be
made without the ''permit" of the United
States Custom House officers at Cincinna-
ii or Louisville. In order to obtain such
a permit, the individual applying must
have procured the recommendation OF the
Board of Trade" located nearest to his
place of business, and that recommends
ton was given to none but loyal men,
each Board establishing its own test Of
"Ioyalty." Without such recommends
ton, no merchant could hope to add to