The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-10-14
1m2oarAHT ORDER OF GEN, nEAt ts:

ATLANTA, October o.
| 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 aw and preserve order.
The order says. ..Whereas, by Act of Congress
ofthe United States. approved March I'd, 1865, 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 o statute, prohibited
the organization Of military forces in the several
States Of this Department. it is therefore ordered,
Sc fHere follows the distribution of troops and in
E.tructions to District Commanders District Oom-
mnnders will instruct Post Commanders in their
duties and relative position of civil and military
powers, and will impress on Post Commanders
thnt they arc to act in the aid and cooperation,
and in subordnaton to the civil authorities, and
fthat they are to exercise discretion and o judg-
ment unbiased by political or other preiudioes
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 nll cases,
where time will permit, apply for instructions to
fsuperior authority; but they must ut oil 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 nm officer, and, if necessary, detaoh-
ment to watch proceedings, and see peace pre-
served To the people of the several States COM
posing the department, the Major-G General Com
manding appeals that they will cooperate with
h,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 hns already in
some instances been enacted in the department.
He urges abstinence from oil nfammatory and In
cendiary appeals 10 the passions, the discontinue
anee of keeping open liquor shops on days of po-
litical meetings and elections abstaining from car
rying arms, and asserting an individual right of
constituting laws by force of arms No JUSTICES ever
advanced by resortto violence. Let 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, and shall exercise it undsturbed. If
there are 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 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 exercise of the power
with which he is entrusted and which he will most
reluctantly employ; but he thinks it is his duty to
make known that far the power under his
command will admit he will not permit the peace
to be broken, and that he will not be restrained
iu the-conscientious discharge of his duty by
technicalities of laws made when the present an
amoous condition Of affairs was neither anticipated
provided for.