Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-10-16
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BY TELEGRAPH.
From "ashtngton-An Order in Relation
to the Presidential Election
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GESERsI,l CE..cr


WASHINGTON. D O., Oc7. 1Oh, 1868
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 50.
The following provisions are from. the Constitu
ton and laws of the United States in relation tn
the election OF a President and Vice President Of
the United States, together with an act of Con-
gress prohibiting III persors onessed in rho
military and naval service from Interfering, in anv
general Or special election in any State are pub.
hshed for the information aaI government Of sl
concerned. The following age tlle authorities
quoted
Article z. section Of the Constitution - ar
ilcle IL OF amendments to the Constitution " An
act OF Congress relative to the election of Presi-
dent and Fice-President, approved March l. 1892 -
An act to establish uniform time for the election
or PRESIDENTIAL Electors, approved January %
1850 An act cOmpensatng persons appointed.
as Electors, approved February II, 1925" The
order concludes as follows can act to prevent
officers OF the army and navy, and other persons
engaged in the military CT naval service OF the
United tee, from interfering in elections in
the United States
''Be it enacted, That it shah not be lawful for
any military ,val officer OF the United States
or other persons engaged Is the civil, military OR
naval service of the United States to order bring,
keep or have under his authority or control any
| troops OR armed men at the place where any gen.
eral or special election is held in any State of the
United States, unless it shall be necessary to re-
pei aimed enemies of the United States or to keep
peace at the polls, and that it shall not
| be lawful for any officer of the army
Or navy of the United States to PRESCRIBE or tx
or attempt to prescribe or affix by proclamation,
order or otherwis &c. qualifications of voters in any
| OF the United States, or in any manner to inter
fere with the freedom Ofany election in any State
or with the exercise Of the free right Of suffrage
| in any Of the Uhited States. Any officer CT the
| army CT Lazy OF the United States, other per-
son engaged in the civil, military naval service
| Of the United States who violates this section,
shall, for every such offence be Liable to indct-
ment for misdemeanor in ANY court Ct the United
States having jurisdiction to hear try and deter
| mine cases OF mlsdemeanor, and en- conviction,
| shall pay tine not exceeding five thousand dol
| lars and suffer imprisonment in the penitentiary
| not less than three months moro than i've
years at the discretion Of the court trying the
same; and every person connected as aforesaid
shall moreover be disqualified from holding Any
office OF honor, profit or trust under the Govern
ment Of the United States: Provided that nothing
herein contained shall be construed as to prevent
any efficers soldiers, sailors marines from ex-
ercsing the right Of suffrage ia any election dis.
trct to which he may belong if otherwise quail
fed according to the law Of the State in which he
! shsll offer to VOTE
ssec. 2. And be it further enacted, That any CT
| icer person in the military or val service Of
| the United States who shall order or advise or
who shall directly or indirectly by force, threat,
menace, intimidation or otherwise, prevent or at
tempt to prevent any qualified voter Of any State
| of the United States from freely exercising the
right of suffrage at any general or special election
in any State of the United s, or who shah in
like manner compel or attempt to compel any Of
icer of an election in any such State to receive q
! vote from person not legally qualified to vote,
| Or who shall impose, or attempt to impose any
rules or regulations for conducting such election
different from those prescribed by law, or inter
| fere in any manner with any officer of said cleo
ton in the discharge of his duties, shall for any
such offence be liable to Indictment for msde-
| meanor in any Court OF the United States having
juris fiction to hear, try and determine of
| misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall
pay 6 fine of not exceeding five thousand dollars,
| and suffer Imprisonment in the penitentiary not
exceeding five years at the discretion of the Court
| trying the same, and any person convicted as
aforesaid, shall moreover be disqualified from
| the government of the United States.
| Approved February 25th, 1865.
| By command of Gen. Grant.
E. D. TOWNSEND,
| Asst Adi't Gen.