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

In the conclusion of my last letter
| said there were some features in the
interference Of the military with the
Maryland election which required
further elucidation.
1t is a sad sign Of the times. that
the Executive authorities Of the Uni-
led States seem to forget that we live
under written constitutions and laws.
They seem to consider themselves the
leaders OF revolution, entitled, as
such, to the unlimited power Of bind.
ing mems consciences with oaths and
controlling their will by bayones.
What shade Y of Unconstitutional or legal
right las the President to assume
that the governments Of the seGedsd
States have ceased to exist, or, il they
have, by what grant Of power is he
authorized to reconstruct them2 State
governments constructed by any other
power than a majority Of the people
to be governed, are hitherto unknown
in our political system. The whole
proceeding is military usurpation,
fraught with fearful dangers.
30 in the elections within the bord.
er States. The oath prescribed by
the military officers as qualification
for suffrage Gin the case Of Maryland
at least approved by the Presideat)
are either without law, or in violation
Of law. In his approval of General
Schenck's order, thePresidcnt author,
izes direct violation of the election
laws of that State. Hear what he
says in q letter to Governor Bradio lord
dated tho second day of November
J last. Says he: "Thc remaining point
OF your letter is protest against any
person, Offering to vote being put to
any test not found in the laws of Ma
iyIand. fhis brings us to a diffsr-
cnce between Missouri and Mary
land. With the same reason in blth
States. Missouri has by law prJFi-
ded test for the voter with reieiet!ol
to the present rebellion, t1A Mary:
LGud has not"
Consider the result Of this reason :
ing. Because Missouri. having a
perfect right to restrict suffrage to
, loyal voters, has done 80, and Mary
land, being thoroughly loyal and not
deeming it necessary. has not done
> 80, therefore, | Abraham Lincoln, by
my Major General Schenck, ,oiLl
prcscrib0 such q Jaao for the State
2 Of Maryland +! Now, whore does the
President got the power to JtgiNate
= for Mnytandl Is he an absolute
mona, ch &?
y AT the outset OF the rebellion, the
= country was ready to tolerate the as
sumption Of illegal powers in Mary
land and elsewhere, under the i'm
preston that the safety of the country
required it. But the occasion for the
3 exercise Of such powers in Maryland
l. has passed away. Governor Brad
ne ford bears testimony to the tried 10y
Q atty of the State at large, and Gen nera
'O Schenck admite the sterling loyalty
ola great majority" ofits citizens
What, then, is the pretext for pre-.
ScribiDg new qualification for voter
slationing soldiers at the polls in viz
latiol of the State law, and usurpin,
e. the control Of the elections ? The pre-
text as stated by General Schenck il
his original order was that "there ar
many evildisposed persons now a
large in the State Of Maryland VIII
-, have been engaged in rebellion
'" against the lawful government O
m have given aid and comfort or en-
couragemont 10 others SO engaged, O
who do not recognize Sheir alTegianc
n to the United States, and who ma
avail themselves Of the indulgence {
'al the authority which tolerates thei
0s presence to embarrass the approach
ing election, or through it to fois
enemies Of the United States int
=, q, power" In an explanatory order b
Al said: "Its simple purpose is to PR
=, =. vent traitorous persons from contro
+. ling, in any degree, by their votes {
. taking part in the coming election.
s., And this in State whose GovernC
~ tells us that "tor more than two yea
past there has never been a tin
when, il everv traitor and every trea
enable sympathizer had voted, the
could have controlled, whoever mig
= have been their candidate, a sing
@iSO @ department Of the State, or leopard
and zed the success of tue General CO.
iS Ene ernment."
, What, then, was the object of
;. military interference The demo-
stration made at the polls unmistak