Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-10-20
The Presidential Electors in the Unrecon-
structed States.

WASHINGTON, October I2.-The following
order has been issued.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 1868.
General Orders, No. 50.
The following provisions from the Constitu-
| ton and laws Of the United States in relation
to the election of a President and Vice President
Of the United States, together with an act of
Congress prohibiting all persons engaged in the
military or naval service of the United States
| from interfering In any general or special elec-
ton in any State, are published for the lntorma-
ton and government Of all concerned.
| Then follows quotations from article I'd, sec
ton LIST, of the Constitution; article 18th of the
amendments of the Constitution an act of Con-
gress approved March 1st, 1892; an act to es-
tabshl uniform time for the electors of Presi-
dental electors, approved January 28th, 1915 !;
an act compensating persons appointed as Pres,
idential electors, approved February l1th,
| 1925. The order concludes with
AN ACT to prevent officers of the army and navy
and other persons engaged in the military
and naval service Of the United States from
interfering in the elections in States.
Be it enacted. That it shall not be lawful for
any military or naval officer of the u. States or
any other person engaged in the civil, military
or naval service of the United States to order,
bring, keep or have any troops or armed men at
the place where any general or special election
in held in any State of the United States, unless
it shall be necessary to repel armed 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 pre-
scribe or fix, or attempt to prescribe Or fix, by
proclamation, order or otherwise, qualifications
of voters in any of the United States, or in any
manner to interfere with the freedom of any
election in any State, or with the exercise of
the free suffrage in any of the United States
ANY officer of the army or navy Of the United
States who violates this section shall for every
such offence be liable to indictment for mis-
| demeanor in any court Of the United States
having Jurisdiction to hear, try and determine
cases of misdemeanor, and on conviction, they
shall pay fine, not exceeding S. 900, and suf-
| fer Imprisonment in the penltentiary not less
| than three months nor more than FIVE years. at
the discretion of the Court trying the same. and
| any person so convicted shall moreover be dis
missed from holding any Office of honor, profit
| or trust under the government of the United
| States: Provided, That nothing herein con-
tanned shall be SO construed as to prevent any
officers, soldiers, sailors or marines from ex-
ercising the right of suffrage in any election dis
trict in which he may belong, if otherwise quail
| fed according to the laws of the State in which
/ he shall offer to vote. h
Sec. 2 And be it further enacted that any
officer or person in the military or naval service
4 of the States who shall order or advise, or who
shall directly or indirectly by force, threat, OF
menace, intimidatc or otherwise prevent or at
tempt to prevent, any qualified voter of any
State Of the United States from freely exercis
ing the right of suffrage at any general or special
election in any State of the United States OF
who, shall in like manner, compel or attempt to
compel, any officer of Fan eleetonin any such State
to receive vote from person not legally quail
| fed 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 interfere in any manner with any officer
CT said election in the discharge Of his duties
shall for any such offence be liable toindictment
for misdemeaner in any court in the United
States having jurisdiction, and upon conviction
pay fine not exceeding $1,000 and suffer
imprisonment in the penitentiary not exceeding
FIVE years at the discretion of the court Such
persons shall moreover be disqualified from
holding any office of honor, profit or trust I'M
der the Government of the United States.
Approved February %, 1865.
By Command of General Grant:
&. d. TOWNSEND, Asst Adjt. Gen.