Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-10-16

from CScGfSGD-In order from General
| Hea;;c
ATLANTA, Ga, Oct 0-P. NJ.
General Meade has issued the following Gen
eral Order, No. 81, which distributes the forces
under his command to points which he deems
necessary to enforce the LAWS and preserge ORDER
The order says
Whereas, By act Of the Congress Of the
United States. approved March %, 1865, it is
made the duty of the military authorities 10 pre-
| serve the peace at the polls at any election that
may be held in any Of the States; and whereas,
this duty has become more imperative from the
existing political excitement in the public mind
from the recent organization of the civil govern
ment 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 Here follows the dstribu-
ton OF troops and instructions to District Com
manders
District Commanders will instruct the Eost
Commanders in their duties and relative position
of civil and military powers, and will impress on
the Post Commanders that they are to act
in aid and cooperation and i'll suborttination to
the civil authorities that they are to exercise
discretion and judgment, unbiased by political or
other prejudices that their object should be ex-
clusively to preserve the peace and uphold law
and order, and must be satisfied that such is the
object of the civil officers in calling on them for
aid and protection, and must in ali 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, iu their conscientious judgment,
under the rules above set FORTH it is their duty to
act. Post Commanders, on being notified of pro-
posed political meetings to bo held may send an
officer, and, if, necessary, detachment to watch
the proceedings and SEQ that peace is preserved.
To the people Of the several States composing
the Department the Major General Commanding
appeals, that they viii cooperate with him and
the civil authorities in sustaining law and order
and preserving the peace, and avoiding those
scones OF riot and boodshed and wanton
destruction Of property and life, which have
already, in some instances, been enacted in the
department. He urges abstinence from all in
fsmmatory and incendisry appeals to the pas
sions; discountenances tie keeping open Of the
liquor shops days of political meetings and of
elections the abstalninS from carrying arms and
asserting tbs 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 the political opponents
Whatever msY be the result let each good citizen
determine that all, who under the law have
Eight to the ballot, ehal exercise it undisturbcd.
1t there are disputed points OF law let them be
referred TO the Courts and let not political cuLs
or other irresponsible bodies cOnstrTa and under
take to execute tho law. This appeal is made in
the earnest hope that the Major General Com
mGnding can rely Oh 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 he is intrusted and which
he will most reluctantly employ, but he thinks it
his Gaty to make it .lOwn that, far the
power under his conamaud 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
the present anomalous condition of affairs wero
neither anticipated or provided for.
The Governor also issues the following procia
| ton
Whereas, notwithstanding the Executive pro-
| clamation of September IA, 1868, many lawless
| acts have occurred in violation therof whereby
| the lives and property Of citizens have been de-
stroyed, tho right Of free speech impaired, the
performance Of duties o. offices to which citizens
have been elected denied, the lives Of citizens so
| threatened as to cause them to abandon their
| homes and property and whereas, the protec-
| tion of persons and property is paramount duty
| of the government, and shall be impartial and
complete; and whereas, the sheriff of each county
is, by law, charged with the preservation of life,
property and peace in each county now there
| fore,
I, Rufus 3. Bullock, Governor and Commander
inohef of the army and navy of the State of Geor-
| gia and Of the militia thereof, do hereby issue
this my proclamation, charging and commanding
said eheriff5 and each and every other civil Off
Ger in every county in this State, to to it that
the lives and property Of all citizens, and the
peace of the community are preserved, and that
all persons are protected in free exercise Of their
| civil and political rights and privileges, and
| charge upon every person resident Of this State.
that they render prompt and willing obedience to
the sherifs and other civil officers under all Cir
cumstances whatsoever, and that they demand
from said officers protection when threatened or
disturbed in fperson or property. or the denial
| of political civil rights and that failing to re-
ceive such protection they report the facts to this
department.