The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-08-25
The Kentucky Election.
Mookery of the Elective Franchise
Citizens Driven from the Polls by the

Military.
From the Cincinnati Commercial (Rep)
The American people are properly sensitive
concerning the integrity of the ballot-box, and
tic proceedings In Kentucky on election day
aad least of all by shose who have stood with
law and order-the cause Of Union and Amer
can nationality during the war.
1t is not becoming that a 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 irrepre-
spOnsble persons, and prevent them from ap-
preaching the baliot-box That this was done
in Kentucky there is ample and conclusive evi-
dence, and the favor of this business is too
nearly that of the border ruffan outrages in
Kansas to permit it to be passed in silence by
any honest journalist.
We feel that it is duty to bring this mat
ter before the people, and 10 remind the mad
men in Kentucky who have instigated and pro-
pose to profit by the outrage, that there is not
a township in the North, where the action of
the military in their State on election day
would be Sustained by majority of the voters.
We cannot but think that Genera Palmer has
greatly exceeded his authority. he has
grossly and expressly violated hi lotions;
ard 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 cham
pion; and the obtrusve, Illegal and unscrupu
loas use of the military power has disgusted
thousands of the friends of the constitutional
amendment. After all be has driven more I'M
ion men than rebels from the polls.
Persons competent to testify-those familiar
with the people-conversan with all the facts
and in full sympathy with the Union cause
assure US that in Kenton and Campbell coun-
ties there are many of the best Union men who
did not 20 near the polls, scorning to cast a vote
under military surveillance.
But, should the rebels be allowed to vote and
carry the election? Certainly not, and the
laws OF Kentucky provided that they should
not The laws were sufficient. II the civil
sesacsfsics w~c, "a a#y Praasacts enable to
cause the laws to be executed, according TO the
proclamation of Governor Bramlette, there
was the place for the use of the bayonet. The
establishment of guards at the polls, with lists
of those who should vote, was in contempt OF
the laws of Kentucky, and in defiance of the
laws of Congress to prevent military interfe-
renee with elections We take it this is very
far from seeing that the laws were faithfully
executed, according to the order of the Presi-
dent to General Palmer.
If Kentuckians were mad enough to send a
disIoyaI delegation to CongreSS-a delegation
elected by Rebel votes-the remedy would be
found in Congress itself, and would unquestion-
ably be applied by that body. If the integrity
of the balot-box in Kentucky under the laws
of the State cannot be maintained without mil
Itary operations, it would be better not to have
any elections, and to put an end at once to civil
government from the Kanawha to the MissiS-
sippi.
However, we may rejoice over the election
Of some good men in Kentucky, the moral ef-
feet of a genuine victory of the cause o.! free
dam and the Union in that State is not with
u.s. though we are persuaded that with good
arrangement it might have been obtained.