Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-01-14

upon the ground that its only purpose to exclude die
0ysl voters who had by their conduct Justly forfeited their
franchise An examination Of the OATH however whch il
prescribed will show that had emanated from
doubted authority it could accomplish such end. No
matter what had been the conduct Of the voter there
nothing 10 the oath calculated ~ exclude him. it had
reference to his past conduct and every traitor who had
left the State and bad but just returned from the rebel
army might have taken it with impunty IL Contained
only promise tor future good behayora promise which,
a. very slight atonement many rebel sympathizer
might and donbtless did very readily make, whilst the
loyal citizen, who had stood always faithful u his ale
glance would eel Justly indignant at having his loyalty
challenged being required to give any gnarauee for b
future conduct to enable hlm to privilege he
had never forfeited. How far il accomplishe pnr-
pose claimed for IT, or how fur anrcPations he COM
srqences Of the order and the abuses to Whic would
lead were realized wappear by brief reiere tosone
Of the transactions connected with s execute
These abuses commenced even before the opening Of
the polls On the day preceding the election the officer
in command of the regiment which had been distributed
among tho counties Of the Easterp Shore aud who had
hiasef landed 10 Kent county commenced hs operations
by arrestug hnd sending across tho bay more
Of tho esimable and distinguished OF It's citizens in
cludng several OF the most seadfast aud uUcOmp
oyalsts Of the Shore The Jail OF the county enter
cd the jaor seized imprisoned aud afterwards sent to
Baltimore, and prisoners coofn therein under ndet
ment set at liberty The commanding officer referred to
gave the first clue to the character Of the dsoyay against
which he considered himself particularly commissioned
by printing and publishing proclamation IN which, refer
ring to The election to take place the day. he invited
all the truly loyal to avail themselves Of that opportunity
and establish their loyalty by giving fnl aud ardent
support TO the whole Government ticket upon the plat
form adopted by the Union League Convention" decar
ing that other Is recognized by the Federal suth0
rites loya worthy Of support Of any one who desirss
the peace and restoration OF the Union To the
election Of that ticket seemed to be the business 10 which
he aud bis officers especially devoted themselves through
out the day of election. .s.t 81 y taab4 81.
In the statements aud certificates which have been for
warded TO from different counties that Cong
distrct, have been furnished presume. with ac-
count oil part only Of the ontsges 10 which their citizens
we're subjected. The Government ticket" above re-
erIed to in several If not all of these counties de
sgnated by its color il yellow ticket and armed
with that yOter gould safely run the gauntlet Of The
bres AMI cArbines that guarded Inc entrance to the polls
and known sympAthzers with the rebellion were cert
fed to me- allowed to vote unquesoned, il they would
vote that ticket whilst oyA and respected ready
to take the oath, turned back by the officers in
charge without allowing them to approach the polls
district appears by certificate from the judge,
the military officer took his stand at the polls beor. they
opened, declaring that but the yellow ticket
should be voted, and excluded all others throughout the
day. In another district similar officer caused every
ballot offered to be aned and unless it the favored
ons the voter required TO take the oath, and
otherwise and another again, after vote ooy had
been given the polls closed the judges all arrested
and sent out OF the county and military occupation taken
Of the town. M ~
But will not dstan you with recapituation Of all the
abuses that these statements dis lose have ca-ed copies
Of them to be transmitted to you and they cannot fail o
arrest attention They present Illuminating record
such had supposed should be called upon Ia
rend n any State still lers 10 10y a. like this Unless
it be indeed faacy to suppose that rights whatever
remain such State that any line whatever marks
the limit Of Federal power bolder stride thai line
that power made, in a rebel State than It did
here the fourth OF last November part Of the army
which generous people bad supplied for very different
purpose that day engaged s ng the freedom Of
election 10 faithful State, innmidaing lie swarn officers
violating the constitutional rights Of its loyal citizens, aud
obstrucng the ufual channels OF communication between
them aud their Executive.
III have deprecated such proceedings, have been
scuated in doing scarcely by the Of what
due to the laws and constitution Of the State than by
regard for the safety and Of the Union and the
maintenance Of that popular resp ct for and confidence in
its c0nsttued authorities p0rtaDt to the triumph OF
the great they have in chsrge The moral Influence
Of such sentiments is worth to those administering the
Governm2nt far than any results of election
where such proceedings tolerated But, noiwith-
standing their occurrence, trust and believe they will
you to forget duty to your country cool
your ardent devotion to the Union lead you TO feel the
slightest sympathy with those who have ssailed it, TO
seek fellowship with them that do
Major Gen Dix. when in command Of this department
at the time Of the election in 1861 and when too rebellion
backed by it's oeauiz supporters in very midst
took the true aud staesmaDke view OF ihe policy proper
for such occasion when 10 directing his provost
shal he said that whilst there difficulty in cootro
ing Maryland by torce that II not what wanted
but that ~irbed to control by the pow Of opinion
aud that satisfy the country that the people
sde we pust leave them TO unbiased expression
Of their wishes They left 10 that unbAaed expires
sion, and such its character that had supposed
would still require evidence OF their loyalty Gen
Dix appealed to by some Of the judges Of elec
lion to authorize oath to voters Of doubtful loyalty aud
although appears from the tenor OF his reply that the
th suggesed nothing than oath TO support
the Consultation OF the United States he refused to order
it, saying tn thrp, among other things, he constitution
and aos Of Maryland propide for The ererfise Of The eec
anehss By regulations ih ,phieh hare righi 10
inerfere" copy Of this letter, dated November lst,
1861 aud addressed t the Judges of election district
Of Carroll cou0y, 10 herewith communicated, and
mended TO your attention.
Had ths department commander who issued the recent
order taken the view of bis duty it would in my
administration, which had been previously distinguished
by marked ability and success so far, however
Germs those immediately connected with the pre-
paration OF that order h will doubtless sppear should s
nnwritten history BIS published that the commanding
General Co erved less than thoso who sgated
it, and ~ whose influence he probably yielded the
readily. such instigu gutioDe partly from our own
citizens Such consideration, however s by means
calculated to dmush the danger Of such precedent II
On Interested in accomplishing certain political results
by any Lhusnce ebst In theif behalf au0h tremen
dous instrument al power here employed elec.
lion will probably ever in which the means
will not be again attempted
You vii, perceive by several of the communications
have received this subject that have been appealed
tIicts where these abuses prsctsed possess how
ever such power my duty In the premises being simply
ministerial queBt upon the official returns OF
the judges Of election. 80 frequent the applications
to me this effect that deemed II proper subject for
legal advice, and having conpnrted the Hon heverdy
The views had entertained, and copy o which s here
with furnished
Ipbecomes you 10 consider whether there s any remedy
within POUR power by which snch proceedings may be In