The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-10-28
HEADQ'RS, DEPART. OF THE SOUTH.
~ ATLANTA, GEORGIA, October 8. 1865.
GENERAL ORDERS !

GENERAL ORDERS
WHEREAS, by an act of Congress of the United
States, approved March Cd, 1865, it is made IN.
duty Of the military authority to preserve the the
| peace at the polls at any election that NAV be
held in any of the States; and Whereas, this duty
has become the more imperative, from the exist.
ing political excitement in the public mind, from
the recent organization of civil government. and
| from the fact that Congress has by statute pro-
hibited the organization OF military forces in the
several States OF this Department, it is therefore
ordered, ~ 8 e. ~ a,ftff,isat a
l. That the several District commanders will
as soon as practicable, on the receipt of this or
der, distribute the troops under their commands
as follows:
In the District of North Carolina,
One company 4Oth Infantry, to Fayetteville
One company 40th Infantry, TO Charlotte
One company 10th Infantry, to Salisbury.
One company 10th Infantry, to Greensboro
One company 40th Infantry to Weldon.
One company 10th Infantry, to Plymouth.
Two companies 10th Infantry, to Godsboro'
Two companies 10th Infantry, to Raleigh
A detachment of two commissioned officers
and forty men of Company "B,'' 9Th Artillery, to
Wilmington. -.-.s... s.- .rr
II. Detachments, when necessary, may be made
to points in the vicinity of each post; but in nc
case, nos on any pretext whatever, will detach.
ments be sent without a commissioned officer,
who will be fully instructed by his post com
mander. H+ ssS 81 ti tF ii.
VIII. District commanders will instruct post
commanders in their duties, and the relative pO
sition of the civil and military powers They will
furnish them with copies OF the circulars from
these Headquarters, OF August 25th, and October
LIST ult., (the latter of which was forwarded Sep
TENDER 18th, to District Commanders) in which
the Instructions OF the War Department are set
forth in full. They will impress on post com.
manders that they are to act in aid and co-opera-
go o;x -i
that they are to exercise discretion and Judgment,
unbiased by political or other prejudices; that
their object should be exclusively to preserve the
peace and uphold law and order, and they must
be satisfied such is the object OF the civil officer
calling on them for aid, that they must in all
cases where time will permit, apply for instruc-
ton to superior authority, but they must at all
hazards preserve the peace, and not be restrained
by technical points, when, in their conscientious
judgment under the rules above set forth, it is
their duty to act. Post Commanders on being
notified of the proposed holding of political
meetings, may send an officer, and if necessary a
detachment, to watch the proceedings and see
that the peace is preserved.
TX. To the people of the several States com.
posing the Department, the Major General com.
handing appeals that they will cooperate with
him and the civil authorities in sustaining law
and order, in preserving the peace and in avoid
ing thoses scenes of riot aud bloodshed, and the
wanton destruction of property and life, which
has already, in some instances, been enacted II
the Department. He urges abstinence from al
intiammatory and incendiary appeals to the pas
sions discountenancing the Keeping open o.
liquor shops on days of political meetings aud o.
election; the abstaning from carrying arms, and
asserting the individual right of constituting laws
by force of arms. No just cause is ever advanced
by resort to violence. Let their be charity and
forbearance among political opponents, whatever
may be the result; let each good citizen deter
mine that all who, under the law, have the rgh
to the ballot shall exercise it undisturbed. 1
there are disputed points OF law, let them be re
ferred to the courts, and letnot mobs or politca
clubs, or other irresponsible bodies, construe ant
undertake to execute the law. THIS appeal j;
made in the earnest hope that the Major Genera
| Commanding can rely on the good sense and cor
rect Judgment OF the mass of the people, ant
| that lie will not be compelled to resort to thu
exercise of the power with which he is ntrusted
| and which he will most reluctantly employ. Blu
| he thinks it his duty to make known, that so ia
| as the power under his command will admit, h
| will not permit the peace to be broken, and tina
he will not be restrained in the conscientious dis
charge of his duty by technicalities OF laws mad
when the present anomalous condition of affair
were neither anticipated or provided for.
| BY ORDER OF MAJOR GENERAL MEADE:
4tl ,5r -gi r. G. DRUM,
| Assistant Adjutant General.
| Oct. II. 23S-tnoy3.