M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1864-03-17

a convention before the election, aud
prescribed political platform for all
candidates as a test of loyalty. Can.
didates were brought out on that plat
form, which WAS thoroughly radical
and revolutionary. Conservative
Union men, who had stood by the
Government from the outbreak Of the
rebellion, wero to be driven out Of
Congress and the State Legislature,
and their places supplied by men
pledged to support the President 10
ak his unconstitutional and revolu-
tionary measures and designs. That
the military officers might know what.
tickets to receive and what to reject,
the Union Leagua ticket was printed
on yellow paper. Proclamation was
made by one military comder' calling
on "all the truly loyal to avai! them
selves Of that opportunity and eFtab,
lish their loyalty BY giving a full and
ardent support to the whole Govern
ment ticket upon the platform adop-
ted by the UniCn League Conven.-
tiOn," declaring that more other is
recognized by the Federal authorities
as loyal or worthy OF the support of
any one who desires the peace and
restoration of the Union" At one
precinct, q Federal officer declared
that none but the yellow ticket should
be voted, aud enforced his declara.-
ton; known sympathlzers armed
with the yellow ticket, were allowed
to vote unquestioned, while thorough
ly loyal men, not 80 armed, were not
allowed to vote at all.
The contest in that election was not
between Union men andSecessionlsts;
hut between conservatives aad ultras,
between unconditional Union men"
who arc in favor of sustaining the
Constitution as it is and restoring the
| Union as it was, and a revolutionary
party, falsely calling themselves un-
conditional Union men, who are CO.
operating with the Executive il
uprooting the vOry foundations ofsu
free institutions.
That the Administration approved
the outrageous conduct OF its officers
at the polls is evidenced, rs in tho
Estate of Kentucky, by their uttel
failure to punish or even censurt
them.
Now, can any one after all this
doubt the real object Of this military
interference 2 "lt was to sustain the
revolutionary party and to put dowr
the conservative party" 1t was tc
decide an election by the bayonet. L
was to place in Congress and th'
State Legislature subservient insIru-
ments Of the Executive instead OF truC
representatives of the people. 1t aoa
revolution ! The President might al
we'll have appointed the members thu
elected himself without the iormality
OF a sham election. And it is a mari
OF the degcneracy Of the times, tina
men are found willing to accept an(
, hold offices thus conferred.
Gen. Schenck says in his explain
T. atory order that he will not presume
tue Governors proclamation "wa
designed to produce collision between
, the military power and the citizen
/. assembled at the polls to vote at tn
= election but | cannot doubt" say
3 he "that its obvious tendency is to in
}. vite and suggest such disturbance.
9 WE'LL had the judges OF the election
J, in pursuance OF law, called out tn
q power of the counties and driven til
@ federal troops with slaughter fro,
It the polls, where they were, not onl
o without law, but in violation Of Law
D who would have been responsible
r the government which placed ther
: there, or the people who would hav
r acted in defence Of their darest rigl
Q that right on which all other right
y depends .
# These "Union Leagues, so calico
r at whose behest the government senC
/. out its armies to aid them in carryiu
IT elections, deserve more attention tina
o they have received.
Ie AMOS KENDALL.
B.