The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-01-19

crimiaals; class Of dangerous men never be-
fore chosen BY any ruling authority, In any
community, as consersators ofthe peace. They
were Instructed, under adrics Of tie Attorney
Gsaerai Of tho Uaifsd States, TO submit To no in
reference, from any quarter under States OF
municipal authority. Orderswere issued which
autheriz ed. them, In the discretion Of each one
Of them, TO arrest al the polls citizens claiming
the right to vote, as well as the Inspector who
were charged. BY law with the custody Of the
balloi-bnxes. These arrests were to be effect
ed With process Of law, issued N on formal COM
plants. The peaceful condueto OF the election
aud the good order OF the city was thus made
to depend on the discretion OF these hastily Sc
leeted, inexperienced aud nndisoiplined men,
some Of them habituated to ielonious violations
Of law, and all &C them unused to the exercise
Of delicate and important trusts of powers all
having been appointed in one political interest
and having common partisan purpose to
subserve. The police and civil authorities Of
the city and State, whose duty it is TO preserve
order, were ignored, under instructions from
Washington, as completely as ifthe people Of
the State were In rebellion against the govern
ment OF the United States.
ltwas a bold attempt on the part Of the Fed
eral government to assume absolute control Of
the State and local elections, 10 order to ac-
compiish partisan ends and officials, both
Judicial and executive, seemed determined to
prosecute il without any regard TO the rights
either OF the local officers or OF the people.
The law Of Congress under which he was
acting required the Federal judge to appoint
one.half ot the whole number Of supervisors
from each political party yet he deliberately
refused To appoint any OF the political orgsni-
xation which he we'll knew represented the
great majority of voters in the city. Every
popular right was SYSTEMATICALLY denied, as if
the purpose was 70 irritate and excite the peo-
pie and to provoke tumult, which might result
Ia breaking up the election and depriving the
city OF its vote.
The President well knew that the people in
tended no forcible resistance 10 thelaw Their
determination was to meet it, simply and ex-
ciusively, by the force OF public opinion. ID
must have been apparent to every MINI that
the interest OF the great majority in the city
was to have quiet and orderly election. II
could be the interest only ef the minority to
promote an outbreak. The President knew
also that even ii disorder Of any degree should
ensue, the whole civil and police power Of the
State, sustained by It's National Guard Ia mill
tary organization of our own composed OF men
OF all classes and all political parties, and
maintained by the State to do service, as oc-
casion may demand, for the State or the United
| States, and which has never yet failed in its
| duty to either,l was both ready and able TO
preserve order, and to protect all officers Of the
| law in the execution OF judicial process and
the discharge OF official duty.
Notwithstanding all this, By tie Presiieats
| orders United States troops were brought from
| distant posts and quartered in the city OF New
| York, and ships OF war were anchored in its
harbor. 1t was certainly not unreasonable to
expect that the first drop of citizen blood shed
in the city Of New York by Federal troops, in
| time OF peace, might lead to terrible results,
involving great loss Of life and incalculable
destruction OF property. Therefore, as chief
magistrate of this State, charged with the duty
| Of enforcing its laws and preserving order
within its boundaries ! used every exertion
and made every preparation and provision il
| NY power TO preserve order aud protect the
people in their rights, their lives aud property.
| At the last moment, that il 10 say, the after
\ noon Immediately before the election, the
| officers Of the United States fortunately and
wisely abandoned the extreme ground they
had taken, and entered into stipulation with
the local authorities Of New York city, in nv
presence, which resulted in preventing any
armed interference by troops, either Of the
| United States or OF the State.
Nevertheless, it Is well known that about two
thousand deputy uuited States marshals were
appointed in the city OF New York, who were,
each one OF them, armed with what is known
as navy revolver worn in belts bearing the
\ designation OF the Federal armories. They
did not, 1t is true, form any portion OF the reg
ular force OF the army or navy /; they were
| undisciplinsd and without military c6mman-
| der; but they were men armed by the U. 5.
| Government and paid out OF its treasury, and
were stationed, thus armed, at the election
polls, having been taught that they were the
saperiors OF the lawfully appointed peace o ILL.,
GERS OF the State, upon whom the preservation
oforder in large city depends.
| 1t was due to the patient tnrhearance of the
| people, and the earnesl egdeayors ahd great
cooiness and discretion of the peace officers OF
the city, that order was preserved.
deem Il my solemn duty 20 protest now for
mally against these nutrages, which, it is given
out, will be renewed at future elections, with
| preparations looking to greater degree OF
| intimidation and coercion. In this protest ia q
| people OF this State do, am confident, BY an
overwhelming majority, earnestly unite. They
are not to be misled BY the pretense that mill
tary force Is necessary TO prevent fraud For
they well know, what all history proves. tina,
military elections are never honest nor free
that military force at elections h as ALWAYS been
used by ambitious rulers to hinder a full and
Fair expression OF popular sentiment; in fact,
/ To perpetrate and cover fraud not 10 rreyepi
| IT. IL elections are not honest. they should be
! made so by the force of public opinion and by
| law; military force asserts It's supremacy over
both, and is itself fraudulent and final over.
throw Of a free ballot. To depend for the
peace and order Of localities, on the Federal
army Is not selfgoyernment to Substitute the
regular soldier with his musket as a peace o iii
Ger, in place Of the constable with his writ. il
not TO preserve the peace but TO establish the
condition OF war; To surrender elections 10 the
control Of the President, supported BY armed
forces, = to surrender liberty and to abandon
| a republic.