Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-15

have carried the election but fos tho Iaesorenos of the
niisry suthorities He cen;si tina. there was any
cessy for military insef.srence st he polls at the late
elections in Delaware 70 preserve order, and, notrta
standing this, soldiers placed Immediately st the
polls. While Gen. Burnside controls elections In Ken
lucky, 4. n Stanton and bis subordinates run the ma
chine in Maryland and Delaware. He (Powen) miro
dnced resolution In the Senate three weeks ago, re-
quesng the Secretary Of War TO send copies Of the
instructions given to Provost hafshas and commanders
concerning electons. Three. weeks had elapsed and
yet the Secretary had not complied with the request
thus treating the Senate resolution With contempt He
does net tell US even whether he will reply 10 our
quest or not lie saidt tho power clamedn taking these
extraordinary steps Was that u was military nsces-
atty, taLen in behalf OF the UDion struggling for its
life He considered that obedience to the CONSTITUTIONS
and LAYS was the vry esencs Of the life OF the Union.
The melancholy fact was toW presented of Presidsnt
who is sworn TO support the Constitution and lAvs
vadng the statutes and rights OF the States He (PoweD
did not think the Government 50 much In danger from The
bcls from the machnstions Of those traitors who
would primo pie Of the Constitution at ho5
The chief reason why the people bare quietly submteu
to there enormous usurpstions OF power s, that in
very short Vine they will have the privileges to change
the Executive For the first time Ia the history Of the
country the military had taken charge OF elections
the Ssts and he trusted tie Senate would pass such
% uary laws upon the subject % would prevent
currence Of the same state Of things There was not
Senator upon ths floor but knew that the PRECEDENT
was uelDB INC mthry power OF tee country 70 omose
his succe sion. HIS Amnesty Proclamation was move
in that direction. This Proclamation he considered
unwise uncsllsd or and revolutionary. He called Il
revolutionary because il ovathrows the Constitution
on which our Government was based. What right has
the President 10 dictate who shall or shall not DO
qualified eector OF State ~ he has done in the Safe
OF Arkansas recently IN bis instructions Gsn Stcele
Mr.. Powell proceeded ct length to comment upon Che
orders Issued by Gen. Banks In reference elections
and regulating labor. He (PowelD believed that no
honest could lake the oath prescribed By General
Banks II ex'onded 10 his future action, and would be
binding him to support policy In the future which
would allow negroes, and else 10 VOTE provided
| it was recommended by the President. lie believed
| that this 9 Government for tho white man, and
that white man Was better than q negro II would
qure standing army in each Ssass to carry out
the provisions Of che Presidents Amnesty Proclamation
which would place Lime tsnhs OF the people Of State
under tenth This nioo-ienths Of the population,
IL they be reduced TO such absolute slavery,
| must be reduced at the point OF the bsyonet The
President not clothed undor the Constellation with
the power he had been exercising II STATED In
the Union, what right had he to md and override
their Constitution, fix the qualifications OF voters BY
military power? 0ut Government was founded upon
the prncp that the military should be subseryont 10
the civil power. The Presid1t, in his opinion, had
tramped upon this great principle. dc said thai Wash
ing on whom some people yet sdered to have been
equal TO Abraham ncolo did not consider it neoes-
sary 10 sub I'D naIe the civil TO the military power in
the great seven years struggle in which he and his
compatrots were engaged. He would be glad il the
weak and Vacilatng man now in ,he White Hcu5s we're
imbued with particle VI the spirit which animated
Washington when he resigned his commission at An.
napolis in 1888. After animsdverting SvereIy upon
the course OF Secretary Stanton aud Gen Butler in re-
la.on 10 Interference With ministers Of the Gospel in
the performance Of their functions, Mr.. Powell con-
Guided
THE LATE RAID on rHE cHElrEKz.
The Washington s az says:
"Ths steamer fillmore arrived here yesterday NOR
ming from PiAnkAtank YER WHITTIER hs wont on Satur-