Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1868-10-16
The Presidential Electors in the Unrc-
constructed States.

WASHINGTON, October 1.-THE follow
ing order has been issued:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, Oct l8, 1868.
General Order, No. 80.
The following provisions from the Consti-
tuition and laws Of the United States in rela-
ton to the election of 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
eral OR special election in any State, are pub
lishcd for the information and government
of all concerned.
Than follows quotations from article I'd,
section 1st of the Constitution article 18th
of the amendments of the Constitution an
act Of Congress approved March LIST, 1872;
an act to establish uniform time for the
electors of Presidential electors, approved
January 25, 1916; an act compensating
persons appointed as Presidential electors,
approved February 18th, 1925. The Or
der 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 law
full for any military or naval officer Of the
United 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 is 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 Off
Ger of the army or navy Of the United States
to prescribe 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 Or other
person engaged in the civil, military or
naval service Of the United States who vio-
lates this section shall for every such offence
be liable to Indictment for misdemeanor in
any court of the United States having juris-
diction to hear, try and determine cases of
misdemeanor. and on conviction, they shall
pay fine, not exceeding $4,000 and suffer
Imprisonment in the penitentiary 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 dismissed from holding any
office of honor, profit or trust under the gov
eminent of the United States Provided,
That nothing herein contained shall be con-
strued as to prevent any officers, soldiers,
sailors or marines from exercising the right
of suffrage in any election district in which
he may belong, if otherwise qualified accord
ing to the laws of the State in which he shall
offer to vote.
Sec g. And be it further enacted that any
officer or person in the military or naval ser
vice Of the States who shall order or advise,
OF who shall directly Or indirectly by force
threat, or menace, intimidate or otherwise
prevent or attempt to prevent, any qualified
voter Of any State of the United States from
ilooiJ oAoloioiiiS oilO lIo VI ouuId SC dG any
general OF special election in any State Of
the United States, Or who, in like manner,
compel OF attempt to compel, any officer of
an election in any such State, to receive
vote from a person not legally qualified to
vote, or who shall impose, or attempt to i'm
pose, any rules Or regulations for conducting
such election different from those prescribed
by law, Or interfere in any manner with any
officer Of said election in the discharge of his
duties, shall for any such offence be liable
to Indictment for misdemeanor in any court
in the United States having jurisdiction, and
upon conviction pay a fine Of not exceeding
$4,000 and suffer imprisonment in the pen
itentiary not exceeding five years at the dis
cretion of the court Such persons shall
moreover be disqualified from holding any
office ofhonor, profit OF trust under the Gov
eminent of the United States.
Approved February 25, 1865.
By Command Of General Grant:
E. D. TOWNSEND, Asst. Adjt. Gen.