Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-09-30

Not many days ago we gave our views
upon this plank in the Democratic plat
form. Since that the Courier, States
man and Constitution, with their usual
candor, fairness and honesty, have crit
icjsed mutilated extract from our arti-
Gle, and endeavored to convey the i'm
preston that our language contained a
threat that the right of every Democrat
to vote would be questioned in Novem-
Der. What we then said we repeat, that
the Union voters of this country will
avail themselves of their legal right to
challenge any man whom they believe
an illegal voter. That right has been
exercised in the past by all parties, and
will be again. The same sheets have
applied to US some very harsh epithets
because we have said there was neces-
sity for military interferencein the cleo
tions in Kentucky, Maryland and Mis-
souri,. They have denounced such in
reference in the strongest terms, and
alleged that the States we have named
are as loyal as any in the Union. They
but repeat declaration contained in
the Chicago platform, that in the APP
preaching election there must be a free
ballot or there would follow a free fight.
What means this declaration? One of
Kentucky's distinguished citizens in the
Chicago Convention implored the menu
bers not to adjourn sine die, but subject
to call For in the event of military in
reference with the election, and the de-
feat of their candidates, it might become
necessary to convene and prepare for
revolution" Free ballots, in the Chi
cago sense, means that there must be no
interference to prevent rebels from vot-
ing in the border States. We therefore
invite the attention of the Democracy
to the fact that their candidate, Geo. b.
Mcclellan, is the first military man in
the country who interfered with the
freedom of the ballot-boX, as will be
seen from the following order issued by
him: t.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
WASHINGTON, Oct. -, 1861. !
GENERAL: Ihere Is an apprehension among
Union cltlzens III many parts oil Mifyland OF an
attempt at interference with the rights of suf-
frage by disuni0n citizens on the occasion of the
election to take place on the 9th of November
next.
In order to prevent this the Major General
commanding directs that you send detachments
OF a sufficient number of men to the different
points i'll your vicinity where the elections are
TO be held to protect the Union roters, and to see
that no dsuniontsts atioced to intimidate them
or in any way to interfere with their rights.
lie also desires you TO arrest and hold In con-
nement, till after the election, all disunon lists
who are known to have returned from Virginia
recently, and uhO shoe themselves at the polls and
to guard effectually against any invasion of the
peace and order of the election. For the pur-
pose of carrying out these instructions yOu are
authorized to suspend the hdbeos corpts Gen. Stone
has received similar instructions to these. You
will please confer with him as to the particular
points that each shall take the control OF.
lam, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
r. B. MARCY, Chief of Staff.
Major Gen. N. p. BANKS Commanding Divis-
ion, Muddy Branch, Nd