The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-10-10
Order Issued by General Meade-1n.
structiOns to his Officers.

ATLANTA, GA, October 9.-General
Meade has issued the following order NO.
27), which distributes the force under his
command at the points where ne deems it
necessary to enforce the laws and preserve
order. The order says:
Whereas by an act Of the Congress Of
the United States approved March 2, 1865,
it is made the duty Of the military au-
thority to preserve peace at the polls at
any election that may be held in any State !;
and whereas this duty has become more
imperative from the existing political ex-
citement in the public mind from the recent
organization of civil government, and from
the fact that Congress has by statute pro-
bibited the organization Of military forces
in the several States of this Department, it
ia therefore ordered. Here fol-
lows the distribution of troops and instruc-
tons to district commanders.
District commanders will instruct post
commanders in their duties and the rela-
tive positions Of the civil and military
powers. They will impress on post COM
manders that they are to act in aid and IN
co0peration with and in subordination to
the civil authorities that they are to ex-
ercise discretion and judgment unbiased by
political or other prejudices that their OBJ
feet should be exclusively to preserve the
peace and uphold the law and order; and
thew must be satisfied that such is the OBJ
iect of the civil officers calling on them for
aid. They must in all cases where time
will admit apply for instructions to supe-
rior authority but they must at all hazards
preserve the peace, and not be restrained
BY technical points when, in their conscl-
entious judgment, under the rules above
set forth, it is their duty to act. d.
Post commanders, ON being notified OF
the proposed holding Of political meetings,
may send an officer, and if need be a de-
tachment, to watch the proceedings and see
the peace preserved.
To the people of the several States
composing the Department the Commanding
General appeals that they will cooperate
with him aud the civil authorities IN sus-
tanning law and order and in preserving
peace and avoiding those scenes of riot,
bloodshed, and wanton destruction of pro-
perty and life, which have already IN some
Instances been enacted.
He urges abstinence from all lntiamma-
tory and incendiary appeals to The passions,
the discontinuance of keeping open liquor
shops on election days and days of political
meetings, and the abstaining from carrying
arms and asserting the individual right OF
constituting the laws by force Of arms. Nc
lust cause is ever advanced by o resort to
violence. Let there be charity and for
bearance among political opponents, and
whatever may be the result, let each good
citizen determine that all who under the
law have right to the ballot shall exer-
else that right undisturbed. If there are
disputed points of law, let them be referred
to the courts, and let not political clubs or
other irresponsible bodies construe and
undertake to execute the law. This appeal
is made in the earnest hope that the
Maior-General 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 ex-
ercise of the power with which he is en-
trusted and which he will most reluctantly
employ: but he thinks it his duty to make
known that, SO far es the power under his
command viii admit, he will not permi;
the neace to be broken, and that he will not
be restrained in the conscientious discharge