The Placer herald., 1865-09-30
THE KENTUCKY ELECTION.

lucky, under date of August sth, describing
the manner in which the election was con.
Quoted. He says;
"Vote as you please, but II you vote
against Napoleon you'll be shot" And the
first consul was "elected" Emperor by large
majority, not from the tact of bis great pop,
ularity, or the desire of the people of France
to see him on the throne, but from singu-
lar and unnaccountable aversion men have
to being shot. vote as you please" said,
in effect, few Of tho leaders of the Amend
ment party here, yesterday morning, "but if
you vote against our friends, we'll have you
arrested" But the people of Kentucky are
not Frenchmen, and those who attempted
the Napoleonic method of election, found,
ere long that they had reckoned without
their host.
The first reminder had of its being elec
ton day. yesterday was file Of soldiers
passing along the street. and on their way to
the guard house. 1t called to mind scenes
Of war and conflict in the distant South,
which | had fooishy supposed were brought
10 conclusion with the surrender of the
rebel armies. | went 10 the vicinity of the
polls and found state of affairs existing for
which history furnishes no parallel but that
Of France which have quoted. A citizen
approached the Courthouse just as l arrived,
and as he was about to enter for the purpose
of deposiiog his ballot, he was accosled by a
captain of the State Guard, who inquired of
MIN "what he was doing here?" The natu,
raj reply was, IL came 10 VOTE" "Well, sir,
you cant vote, and you'd better 90 home or
III arrest you" BY whose authority am
prevented from voting?" BY the authority
Of General Wade. Your name is on this
list and my instructions are to prevent every
man whose name is on this list from voting,
and to arrest them if they come about here"
"Wel, rll 90 to the judges and let them de.
eide whether | shall vote or not" The citi'
zen stepped forward to 60 to the polls; the
captain beckoned to couple of soldiers,
and in five minutes Mr.. - was in the
guard-house.
Soon after another citizen came along.
"What's your namsa" said the Captain in
command
"My name is -"
"Wel, lot me see if your name is on my
list"
Out came the list of "disloyal" ones from
the Captains pocket, and down went the
Captains eyes along the margin to see if the
individual before him had been distranchised.
The citizen waits with trembling anxiety for
'he decision of his fate. AS good men AS
he. and as loyal, have been arrested already,
and are now in duress, and what is to
frnr ht.ih
keep them company! But he is soon re.
believed by the commandant of the polls
(his isa new military Office, hitherto un-
kno~n), who, not finding his name on the
index erpurgotor'ous, tells him "aIl right,
you can vote" "Open order" SAYS SER
9eant, and the file of soldiers fall back on
either side, while he who has just been
weighed in the balances and not found want
ing, proceeds to cast his vote, repeating to
'I1ow light the ballots fall,
Like snowfkes ON the sod
And executes Il treeman's will
AS lightning does the will of Cod"
Before l had been at The polls much lon.
ger another arrest was made: This time it
WAS done without questioning the prescribed
individual. Some person had said to the
officer Of the guard, ARREST that man." and
as that was exactly what the officer WAS
there for, he obeyed the injunction, and for
the monslrous crime Of approaching the polls,
Mr.. --- was marched to the ock>up And
so it kept on until the following correspond
ence occurred, by telegraph, between the
Sheriff of Fayette County and Governor
Bramette:
LEXINGTON, Aug. 7, 1865.
To Gov. T. E. BramIslte, Frankfort, Ky.
A military force occupies both voting
places in this city, and have arrested three
men, one for voting, and two for being in
the Court house, intending to vote. There.
upon the officers Of the election in one pre-
cinct declined to 60 on with the election
under military dictation. The sheriff at one
precinct was arrested, and taken to head
quarters, while in the discharge of bis duties.
The citizens stand in front Of the polls, and
indicate to the soldiers those who are not
entitled to vote, and all such so pointed out
are not allowed TO present themselves to the
Judge. What shall do? [Signed
W. w. DOWDEN.
Sheriff Faye,te County.
FRANKFORT, August 7, 1865.
To W. Dowden:
The officers Of elections should be entirely
free from any military dctalion or menace
The military has no right to interfere un less
when called upon to support the authority
and decision Of the officers of election. Any
attempt to control the action of the officers
Of election, by the military, is in violation Of
law, and punishable by the laws of the State,
and by the act Of Congress. With the ar
rest OF individuals neither the officers of the
election nor myself have anything to do.
What the Constitution and laws of Ken
tucky lay down as the rule for elections is
the only rule to be observed. If prevented
from observing these rules, would not pro-
ceed with the election. 1t should be free,
and according TO law, or not he At ALL