Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-10-12

sRR fisav0ting LaWs s...,.ff..r1E
IL may be Of some interest to the people
ofOhio to know how elections are conduct
ed in the military camps in this State, from
which fair Judgment upon the manner in
which they are conducted in other States
and distant camps may be formed. From
the incidents which occurred yesterday, the
people Of the country may learn how sol
diers in the armies of the United States are
graciously permitted to exercise the right
of suffrage without interference or hind
rance. i|s't-.a p
Yesterday, Mr.. Cox, the Democratic can
didate for Congress, and Mr.. E. F. Bingham,
Chairman OF the County Central Committee,
repaired to Tod Barracks to see how the
election was progressing and supply those
who wished them with Democratic tickets.
They found the soldiers voting in a
room IN the Barracks In which sat
Mr.. j. ]. Janney, Chairman OF the
Abolition Central Committee, surround
ed by tables covered with Republican tick
cts. An officer in charge respectfully
greeted Messrs. Cox and Bingham, and gave
them permission to distribute Democratic
tickets to whoever desired them. Mr.. Cox
retired, leaving Mr.. Bingham on the ground,
and the latter stood in the yard giving tick
cts to all who asked them. The soldiers
gathered around him, asked him for tickets,
and some thirty Of them were voted. Mr..
Bingham said nothing on political topics,
and was treated respectfully and civilly by
the soldiers. After an hour thus spent Ma
jor Skiles, commandant of the barracks, ap-
preached Bingham, touched him on the
shoulder, and roughly asked by what au-
thority he was there, and peremptorily or
dered him from the yard, saying he wanted
no electioneering done there. Mr.. Bingham
attempted to explain that permission had
been given by an officer; but Skiles abruptly
refused to listen to an explanation. The
officer who gave the permission approached
and Mr.. Bingham referred the Major to him.
Major Skiles roughly inquired by what au-
thority he had introduced the gentleman? ?
The officer made no reply but walked away.
Mr.. Bingham said that of course the Ma
ior would treat both parties alike, and
that Mr.. Janney, who was there in a
similar capacity, would also be exclud-
ed. Major Skiles, pretending not to know
that Mr.. Janney was there, said ifhe found
Janney there he would exclude him. Mr..
Bingham remarking that there might be a
time when he would meet the Major on
terms of equality, bid him good day; Ma
jor s. replying that he was responsible for
what he did.
Mr.. Bingham in passing out met Mr..
Cox, who expressed a curiosity to return
and see for himself how the affair stood
He met with similar reception from an
other officer, who stated that Major Skiles
was not to be seen and that Mr.. Cox could
not be permitted to remain there. Mr.. Cox
asked the officers name; but he refused to
give it. Mr.. Cox retired, remarking that the
day would probably come when such off,
GERS as the one he addressed would discover
under different Administra-
tion. This ended the election experiment
at Tod Barracks, the inmates of which had
about as fair chance to vote as the French
people had when Louis Napoleon was
elected. f.r ssf. s4.s.
We are informed by number of soldiers
and others from Camp Chase that an elec-
ton poll was opened there, and that the
number of Democratic tickets voted was
extraordinary, one of them placing itat as
high figure as 1,S00. 1t appearing that the
Democratic voters were in the majority,
The Republican voters, instigated and en-
by their officers, made rush for
the ballot-box, seized it and smashed it to
pieces. We are credibly informed that one
Of the judges Of the election preserved the
poll book, and still retains the evidence of
This disposition to vote in favor of Democ-
racy and Union. gH89.V
These incidents will suffice to show by
what means the election was carried in this
District and throughout the State. No
upon these facts need be added to
give force to the startling state of affairs
they indicate. -@L. ~ .(rs
The ELEoTIoN.-The election in this city