Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-08-10


Soon after another citizen came along
What's your manner" said the Captain in com
maud.
my name is
"Well, let me see il your uame is on my
list"
Out came the list Of "dsloyal" ones from the
Captains pocket, and down went the Captains
eyes along down the margin to see if the indi-
vidual before him had been DISTINGUISHED The
citizen waits with trembling anxiety for the de
cision of his fate As good men as he, and as
loyal, have been arrested already, and are now
in duress, and what is to save him from being
condemned TO keep them company But he Is
soon relieved by the commandant of the polls
this is a new military Office, hitherto unknown
who, not finding bis name on the iRde- erpurgd-
forius, tells him call right, you can vote"
"Open order" says Sergeant, and the file OF
soldiers fall back on either side, while be who
has just been weighed in the balances and not
found wanting, proceeds 10 cast his vote, repeat
ing to himself, no doubt, the familiar lines of
Pierpont-
''How light the ballots fall,
Like snOwfakes on the sod,
And execute freeman's will
As lightning does the will of God
Before had been at the polls much longer,
another arrest was made. This time il was done
without questioning the prescribed individual
Some person had said to the officer OF the guard,
ARREST that man." and as that exactly what
the officer was there for. he obeyed the injunc
ton, and for the monstrous crime OF approaching
the polls, Me-. was marched 10 the lock
up And so il kept on until the following cor
respon1ence occurred, by telegraph between the
Sheriff of Fayette County and Governor Bran
lelte:
LEXINGTON, August 1 1850.
ITO Governor I. Z. Bramlette, 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 Courthouse, in
tending to vote. Thereupon, the officers Of the
election IN one precinct declined 10 go on with
the election under military dictation. The
Sheriff az precinct was arrested. and taken to
headquarters, while in the discharge OF his
duties The citizens stand in front OF the polls,
and indicate to the soldiers those who are not
entitled TO vote, and all such go pointed out are
not allowed to presen. themseles to the Judges.
What shall do?
Signed W W. DoUpoN,
SHERIFF, Fayette County.
"FRASKFoRr, August !, 1863
" To w. ". Douden:
The officers of elections should be entirely
free from any military dictation or menace. The
military has no right TO interfere unless when
called upon TO support the authority and decision
of the officers Of election. Any attempt TO con-
troll 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 Con-
gress. With the arrest OF individuals neither
the officers Of election nor myself have anything
TO do.
What the Constitution and laws of Kentucky
lay down the rule for elections is the only rule
to be observed. II prevented from observing
thaaa rula 4 wit tha al
ton. Ii should be Free aud according to law,
or not be at all
(Signeil IT. T.. BRAMLEErE,
Governor of Kentucky"
This, the Sheriff thought, ought TO settle the
matter. He went to General Wade's headquar-
tiers with a copy of Bramlette's dispatch, told him
the situation and asked him IL he would with
draw the soldiers from the polls Wade replied
that he had nothing 10 do with Governor Bran
lettes dispatch; that he was acting under Gene
raj Palmer's orders, and that he believed Mr.
Dowden wanted to let disloyal men vote Mr..
Dowden said he didn't. but he wanted free
election. well" said General w sde. 1.-The sol
diers shall stay there till the polls close. This
was about = L. NJ Under Governor Bran
lette's dispatch, the Jacobinical leaders OF the
radicals had already wilted, very much as al
uprooted cabbage plant willis under a bot sun.
and, although General Wade refused to with
draw the soldiers from tho polls. he " modified"
them TO such an extent as to allow the Judges
OF the election to decide upon the qualification OF
voters. and thereafter until 7. M. there was
something approx mating TO free election.
And ! am very far from saying that all who
approached the polls ought TO have been allowed
to vote. But believe the proclamation of Gov
Brsmlette ought TO have been enforced, and II
there were doubts "a 10 loyalty. the oath prescri
bed in the proclamation ought TO have been pre-
scented But they would swear TO a lie, say
some OF the over-zealous. Then arrest them for
perjury.
The most corrupt feature OF the election was
this: Men were prescribed by self constituted
Committee on Public Safety" list was made
out, and the com m and was given to the soldiers.
who guarded the polls TO let no man. whose
name WAS on that list vote, and not only so, but
TO arrest him il he attempted To vote Now, !
should like 10 know by what right party of
men whose loyalty has been more vigorously
displayed in holding office than in any other way
visible TO the naked eye, sat in judgment upon
the character OF Others, and decided whether they
were traitors to or friends Of the Government
believe military interference. to the extent con
tsmplsted by Gov. Brsmlstte-that Of protecting
the civil officers of the Government when called
upon-would have been eminently just aud pro
per. But not content with this. il was determn
ell by those who bad control of affairs on the
anti-slavery side to make q mockery of the cleo
tion-to trsmple under foot all laws, State and
National. and carry the day by coup de main
upon the ballot-boI. They found before long
that in heating furnace for their foes, they hau
singed themselves Some of the best anti slavery
men in the city of Lexington, seeing how matters
were being conducted, declined to vote at all,
and others, TO rebuke such lawlessness, voted
against their principles, and in favor of the Con
servative ticket This / know to be fact
The result OF the election was an overS he ming
defea, of the radical ticket in this districts,
tributabie TO variety OF causes. chief among
which was the late order OF General Palmer. for
the issUe OF passes TO such negroes "a choose TO
apply for them. which seems 20 have had no
other effect than 10 dill the city and all the ad
AGENT towns with coored vsgrAnts Ii is true
the pass IS ostenslbly given to the negro 70 au
thorize him TO look Tor employment, but the IN
sophisticated negro regards il a title deed to
perennial leisure. and doesn't trouble himself
about work while be can draw Government ra-
tons. and bask in August sunshine. none daring
TO modest him or make him afraid.
Another cause OF failure was the bad manage
ment Of the ca mpaign on the radical ticket. There
we're scarcely any efforts made 30 inform the
minds OF the people upon the issue pending
through the fundamentally of popular speakers
and large meetings The Congressional candi.
daees debated ST different points. bet General
Frv hsd an unfortuu ate Way of In rreasiny shank.