The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-22

PiaSs vi mhicE p!ay oe seen al my ONCE,
TERMS OF SALE.-Cash, in United States
currency. Purchaser to pay for papers
and stamps. HENRY a. MEETI,
oct 10 Assignee.
Headq'rs. Department of the South,
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, October s, 1868.
General Orders No. 27.] 500 .
WHEREAS, by an Act of Congress of
w the United States, approved March
2, 1865, it is made the duty OF the military
authority to preserve the peace at the
polls at any election that may be held in
any of the States; and whereas, this duty
has become the more imperative, from the
existing political excitement in the public
mind, from the recent organization Of civil
government, and from the fact that Con-
gress has, by statute, prohibited the or
ganization of military forces in the several
States of this Department, it is, therefore,
ordered,
1. That the several District Comman-
ders will, as soon as practicable, on the
receipt of this order, distribute the troops
under their commands as follows:
In the District of South Carolina:
One company Sth Infantry, to Chester
vile. -
One company 9Th Infanty, to Laurens-
One company 9Th Infantry, to Abbeville.
y,
One company Sth Infantry, to Edge
field.
One company 9th Infantry, to Beaufort.
One company 9th Infantry, to George
town. -
One company 9th Infantry, to Florence.
IL. Detachments, when necessary, may
be made to points in the vicinity of each
post; but in no case, nor ON any pretext
whatever, will detachmcnts be sent with
out commissioned officer, who will be
fully instructed by his Post Commander.
VIII. District Commanders will instruct
Post Commanders in their duties, and the
relative position of the civil and military
powers. They will furnish them with
copies of the circulars from these Head
quarters, of August 25, and October 1,
ult., (the latter of which was forwarded
September IS, to District Commanders, } in
which the instructions Of the War Depart
ment are set forth in full. They will i'm
press on Post Commanders that they are
TO act in aid and cooperation, and in
subordnation to the civil authorities; that
they are to exercise discretion and jud9-
ment, unbiased by political or other pre-.
judices; that their object should be exclu-
sively to preserve the peace and uphold
law and order, and they must be satisfied
such is the object of the civil officer call
ing on them for aid; that they must in all
cases where time will permit, apply for
instruction to superior authority, but they
must at all hazards preserve the peace,
and not be restrained by technical points,
when i'll 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 politi-
cal meetings, may send an officer, and if
necessary o detachment, to watch the
proceeding and see that the peace is pre-
served.
TX. 70 the people of the several States
composing the Department, the Major-
General commanding appeals, that they
will cooperate with him and the civil au-
thorities in sustaining law and order, in
preserving the peace and in avoiding those
scenes of riot and bloodshed, and the wan
ton destruction of property and life, which
has already, in some instances, been en-
acted in the Department. He urges absti
nence from all incendiary and infiammatory
appeals to the passions; discountenanoing
the keeping open OF liquor shops Oh days
OF political meetings and of election; the
abstaining from carrying arms and aspert-
ing the individual right of constituting laws
by force OF arms. No just cause is ever
advanced by resort to violence. Let there
be charity and forbearance among political
opponents, whatever may be the result; let
each good citizen determine that all who,
under the law, have the right to the ballot
disputed points OF law, let them be referred
to the courts; and let not mobs or rpolitical
clubs, or other irresponsible bodies, con-
strue and undertake to execute the law
This appeal is made in the earnest hope
that the Major-General commanding can
rely on the good sense and correct judg-
ment of the mass of the people, and that
he will not be compelled to resort to the
exercise of the power with which he is en-
trusted, and which he will most reluctantly
employ. But he thinks it his duty to mako
known. that so far as the power under his
command will admit, he will not permit
the peace to be broken, and that he will
not be restrained in the conscientious dis
charge of his duty by technicahties OF laws
made when the present anomalous condi-
ton of affairs were neither anticipated nor
provided for. TAG
By order of MAJOR GENERAL. MEADE.
II. @. DRUM, 9k'
Oct % Assistant Adjutant- General
Copartnership Notice. i 4
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