North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-08-16
THE KENTUCKY ELECTION.
A Mockery of the Elective Franchises
Citizens Driven from the Polls by the

/ Citizens Driven from the Polls by the
Military,
From the Cincinnati Commercial (Rep.1
The American people are properly sensi-
tive concerning the integrity Of the ballot
box, and the proceedings in Kentucky on
election Jay will not be received with favor
in any quarter, and least of all by those who
have stood with most constancy and firm
ness by the cause of law and order-the
cause of Union and American nationality
during the war.
II is not becoming that file of soldiers
shall stand before the polls, and that officers
of the army of the United States shall hold
lists Of those who are prescribed, made out
by irresponsible pers ms, and prevent them
from approaching the baot-box That this
wa done in Kentucky there i. ample and
conclusive evidence, and the favor of this
business is too nearly that Of the border
ruttian outrages IN Kansas to permit it to be
passed it, silence by any honest journalist.
We feel that it is duty to bring this mat
ter before the people, and to remind the
madmen in Kentucky who have instigated
and propose to profit by the outrage that
there Is not township in the North where
the action of the military in their State, on
election day, would be sustained by ma
jor'ty of the voters. We cannot but think
that General Palmer has greatly eeded
his au;horly-that he has grossly and ex-
pressiy violated his instructions, and will be
rebuked accordingly.
HIS presence on the stump during the late
| canvass was not called for, and was in bad
| taste and Injurious to the cause he sought to
champion; and the obtrusive, illegal and un-
scrupulous use of the military power has
disguised thousands ofthe friends of the con
st'tutona amendment. After all he has
driven more Union men than rebels from the
polls.
Persons competent TO testify-those fa-
m'Iiar with the people -coDyersant with all
The facts and in foil sympathy with the Cn-
ion cause-aSsnre US that in Kenton and
Campbell counties there are many of the best
Union men who did not go near the polls,
scorning TO cast vote under military sur
vellance.
But, should the rebels be allowed to vote,
aud carry he election? Certainly not, and
the laws Of kentucky pro viGed that they
should not The laws were sufficient. II
The civil authorities were, in any precinct,
unable to cause the laws to be executed, ac-
cording to the proclamation If Gov. Bram-
lette, there was the place for the use Of the
bayOnet. The establishment Of guards at
the polls, with lists Of those who should not
vote, was in contempt of the laws of Ken
tucky, and in defiance Of the law Of Con-
gress to prevent military interference with
elections. We take it this is very far from
seeing that the laws were faithfully executed
according 10 the order Of the President TO
Gen Palmer.
1t Krntuckians were mad enough to send a
dlsloyal delegation to Congress-a delegation
elected by rebel vOes-rhe rerEedy would be
found in Congress itself, and would uuques
tionably be promptly applied by that body.
The rebel representatives would be excluded.
II The integrity of the ballot box in Kentucky
under the laws Of the State cannot be main
tanned without wholesale military, operations,
it would be better not to have any elections,
and to pnt an end at once to civil govern
ment fr, IN the Kanawha to the Mississippi
However we may rejoice over the election
of some good men in Kentucky, the neral
effect of genuine victory of the canse Of
freedom and the Union in that State is not
with US, though we are persuaded that with
good managemcit it might have been Oh
tanned.