The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-10-14
IMPORTANT ORDER OF GEN. nEAsa:-


General Meade has issued the following General
Order, No 81, which distributes the forces under
his command to points which he deems necessary
to enforce Law and preserve order.
The order says. Whereas by Act of Congress
ofthe United States, approved March I'd, 1866, it
is made the duty of the military authority to pre-
serve peace at the polls at any election that may
be held in any States; and, whereas, this duty has
become more imperative from the existing political
excitement in the public mind from the recent or
ganization of the civil government, and from the
fact that Congress has, by statute, prohibited
the organization of military forces in the several
States of this Department. it is therefore ordered
&c. Here follows the distribution of troops andin
structions to District Commanders. District Oom-
manders will instruct Post Commanders in their
duties and relative position of civil and military
powers, and will impress on Post Commanders
that they arc to oct in the aid and cooperation,
and in subordination to the civil authorities, and
that they are to exercise discretion and o judg-
ment unbiased by political or other prcjudices
That their object should be exclusively to preserve
the peace and uphold law and order, and must be
satisfied that such is the object of the civil officers
calling ON them for aid, and must in all cases,
where lime will permit apply for instructions to
superior authority but they must at all hazards
preserve the peace, and not be restrained by tech
nical points, when in their conscientious judg-
ment under the rules above set forth, it is their
duty to act Post Commanders, on being noti-
fed of proposed holding POLITICAL meetings,
may send m officer, and if necessary, detaoh-
ment to watch proceedings, and see peace pre-
served. To the people of the several States con-
posing The department, the Major-G General Com
manding appeals that they will cooperate with
hi,a and tho civil authorities in sustaining law and
order, in preserving peace and avoiding those
scenes of riot and bloodshed, and wanton destruc-
tion of property and life, which has already in
some instances, been enacted in the department.
He urges abstinence from all infammatory and In
cendiary appeals to the passions, the discontinue
ance of keeping open liquor shops on days of po-
litcal meetings and election; abstaining from car
rying arms, and asserting an individual right of
constituting laws by fcrce of arms. No justice ever
advanced by resort to violence Lct there be charity
and forbearance among political opponents, what
ever may be the result. Let each good citIzen de-
termine that al, under the law, have right to
the ballot, md shall exercise it undisturbel. If
there nre disputed points Of law, let them be re-
ferred TO the Courts, and let not political clubs or
other irresponsible bodies construe and undertake
TO execute the lews. This appeal is made in the
earnest hope that the Major-Gcneral Commanding
can rely on the good sense and correct judgment
of the mass of the people, and that he will not be
compelled to resort to the exercise of the power
with which lie is entrusted and which he will most
reluctantly employ but he thinks it is his duty to
make known that so far Us 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 discharge of his duty by
technicalities of laws made when tho present nm
amoous condition of affairs was neither anticipated
or provided for.