The New York herald., 1864-10-31
IVNPoRrhET FROM KENTUCKY.

Tho Goverao,'a PROCLAIM ,tion Helqtfve
TO Nj iitsary knte rscroncc with Voters.
EXECUTIVE ursics, fRAaysoHr, Get. II, 1864
TO THE otr1cEns az tr1ioh AND sITiEE3 or EENrucKY.
that the military authorities will Interfere, aud attempt
TO control the these fears have been awakened
by the declaration ~ martial lsw Kentucky INST
preceding the August cectous and by the Incidents
nccied herewith and by the continuance Of mlrtallaw,
without any occasion or reasonable prcerce therefor
The practical common sense Of the loyal and law
abiding people OF Kentucky can see no for being
singled out for military rule. at time when he civil
authorities are fully established, apd competent " the
emergencies OF government
As marrai law operates only upon those within the
lines Of mars operations and not adverse forces,
and Is only warantej where active hostihes exist, IL il
NO sactsactoy ans~er 10 those fears 10 rebel raids
aud guerilla depredatons make mar iirl law necessary.
Rebels and eaerlas must be met with martial forces,
not with martial law. No guerrilla was ever startled
from ,be busb rebel soldier frightened from his pur
poee or law breaker ntimdated into obedience Of law,
by declaration 0i Dnrt,a law. Martial law IN Ken
tucky must expend upon tho loyal czens, il
caunot be brought TO bear upon rebels or euerss
Nor ID martial law required 10 empower our sociers to
give battle 10 rebels or TO hunt down gncrillas.
From this common view. which IN apparent TO
tho ntritioo OF alt martial law declared over Kentucky
to tho ASPECT OF and, therefore,
they appeal 10 me. from ali directions, 70 know "f We
10 have fair election" Tho constitution declares
that 'a elections shall be free and equal" II the OIL.
OF election will do their duty aud the citizens viii
nSntny support them 10 tho discharge Of duty, we will
have = "free election"
powers from, and hsrc all their duties prescribed by,
civil authority They only look 70 the rules pre-
DCrib0d their exclusive only rule OF duty
They cannot regard or obey any order relation
Ons, from any military source whatever without vlo
directed 10 the ocers Of election and Assuming 20
their duties controi restrict tho right Of suf
rage Is not only an outrage upan civil liberty bot an
insult to the honor Of the officers OF election and should
be resented.
The military authorities have nothing TO do with
tons and have no authority or rph as officers or SOL
diers, to interfere herewith. At elections all are c
soldiers Ct,zenshp the highest status
of the The soldier IL hut citizen ennpoved In the
litary IN the civil. The duty or the sol
der Is To snpportnot TO overthrow or ccntrothe civil!
authority He establish civil horty where il
has been overborpe by revonot to overrue ov usurp
civil authority
IT, thereon auy military officer shall show himself 10
regardless OF duly assume direct control tho
officers election, you should treat such orders with
dgnaut contempt, end scorn obedience which implies
perjury and Cowardice in van
II military force is brought TO menace the officers Of
election your duty Is clearly marked out by
law Tho law s aa bDdng npon the soldier as npon anv
other citizen. tie na RICH. 10 violate it. ana s
amenabc to its penalties. AS olccr OF any rank
from the President down has right or authority 10
interfere vito ecc,oss, order do LOG ,iiae
the act lf there be sufficient power The czeus pre-
| sent at any place where such interference may be
attempted the offenders, md hold them
TO answer the voiateh laws H. will be the duty of
has suIh,r,,y to reonire the and or every ci,,.
zen, end IL should bc readily and promptly given. in
defense OF coninoc riehi-o blood nosht iranchise
II the force employed - Interfere with the election he
too great at any lace OF voting ~ he arrested, the OF
nccs Of election in such should adjourn. and not
proceed with the election. n you unable to hold
free cecton, duty IL TO hold hone at all hut ad
jcuru npd the Offenders 10 the grand Jury o.
county Indictment and punishment this rs the
iu mde Of meeting unlawful attempts Ia disturb the
i freedom of elections
The regulating sectionss prescribe all the dntes
of the officers and s the qualifications aud tes, OF the
voter. Observe those rules, and none other. ~one
| ether are OF authority or binding.
To the citizens wifi add, your duty elch and all.
to stand together in maintaining apd defending this
right sacred 20 free government Whenever and where
s0ever by whom assalod. No matter how
widely you may differ Ia views OF policy choice OF
candidates, you bavo and Individual interest
IN main aiDipg and defending Qr all and for each the
freedom of elections. Divide as you pe1se 10 your
choice Of caudidatesths is your rightbut stand to-
gether to the utmost extremity 10 maintaining and de-
tending this right to ALL the security OF ali an
the privilege u each trust there not be such
efforts to interfere with the elections many spprehend
but know that the people have the power 10 have n
free election they have the w and will stand
in defence OF their r.nt. The people of Kentucky
law abiding, loyal, and much enduring people, and wi
DO found struggling "to maintain and defend the
premacy OF the constitution, aud TO preserve the Union
with all the dignity equalv and rights f the several
States upimpared' but win not sccept military dcs-
potism substitute for constitutional goverpmeut
10 tue people whose right have is entrusted the
defence and protection the purity sud freedom OF the
eection. My faith d. es not ialter nod doubt
the issue An elections shall be free and equa s
mandate OF the constitution and the fiat OF the people
rHOs. y. BRAMLEvrE, Governor OF Kentucky.