The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-10-10
From Georgia Important Order
from Gov. Monde.

ATLANTA IA, OCtOUCr V.-GCneftl Meade
has issued the following general orders, No.
g, which distributes the forces under his COM
mand TO tho points which he deems necessary
to enforce the laws and preserve order. The
order says:
Whereas by an act Of Congress OF the United
states, approved March =, lSj5, 1t 10 made the
duty Of the military authority to preserve tho
peace at the polls, at any election that may DO
held in any State; and whereas this duty has
become more imperative from exiEting poltI-
cal excitement in the public mind, from the
recent organization OF civil government, and
from the fact that COngrcss has prohibited
the formation of military organizations in
The several states of this Department: It Is,
therefore,
troops and instructions to district comman
dcr5. District commanders will instruct Post
commanders In their duties, and the relative
position OF the military Snd civil authority,
and will impress on Post commanders that
they arc to act in aid of the civil authorities,
and in suhordinatiOa to them. That they are
to exercise discretion and judgment, unbiased
by political or other prejudice. That their
object should be clusivcly to preserve peace,
uphold law and order. and must be satisfied
such Ia the object Of the civil officers calling
on them for aid, and must in all cases, where
time permits, Apply for instructions to BupC.
nor authctityi but they must, at all hazards,
| preserve the peace, and must not be rcstIR aimed
hy technical points upon their conscious judg-
| mcnt. Under the rules above set forth 1t Is
! their duty to act. Post commanders, on being
/
| meetings, may send an otilcer, and If ncres-
| siry, detachment to watch the proceedings
and sec that peace isprescrved.
To the people of the several Statc5 COM
| prlsing tho department the Major General
commanding appeals thatthcy will cooperate
with him and the civil authorities in sustain
avoiding those scenes OF riot aud bioodsheh
| and wRuton destruction OF property and life
which already, In some instances, have been
| enacted in the department. He urges abstl-
| ncncC from all ininmm ttOry and iUcCndiary
| appC:!a TO the passions, and discOuns'nAncinE
| the keeping open Of liquor shops on the days
OF political meetings and on election IRys; the
| AbstHlnins from carrying Arms and asserting
| individual right OF constituting the laws by
| force of arms. No justcause Is ever advanced
| by resort to violence. Let there be charity
and forbearancc nmoug political oppC nunts
| whatever may be the result.
| Let each good citizen dctCrmiac thTt all
| who under the law have the right to the ballot
| shall exercise 1t undisluTbCd II there are
| disputed points OF law let them be referred to
the courts. and let not mObs or political clubs,
| or other irresponsible bodies, COnstrue and
| execute the law. This appeal Is made in the
earnest hope that the Major General can rely
| on the good scuac aud correct judgment Of the
| mass OF the people, and that he will not be
compelled 10 resort to the exercise OF power
with which he Is entru5tcd, and which he will
| most reluctantly employ. Bat nc thinks 1t his
| duty to make known that so far as the power
| under his command will admit he viii not
| allow the peace TO he broken, and that he will
| not he restrained in the conscientious dis'
| charge of his duty by tcchmicalities Of law
| made when the present anomalous condition
of Hir.lrs were neither anticipated nor pro.
| vidGh for.
The Governor also issuel the following
| pr 1IlamAtiOn:
whereas Notwithstanding the Executive
| precipitation, sept. II, lsOS, many lAwless
| acts have occurred, in violation thereof,
whereby the lives and property of citizens
| have been destroyed, the light of free speech
impaired, the performance Of duties to which
| citizens have been elected dcui ed the lives of
! CltIZenS Threatened