The daily gazette., 1882-11-17
GENERAL ORDER, NO. 50
A REMARkABLE SPECIAL ELEc-
TON DURING THE WAR.
POLLS UNDER MILITARY RULE.
How the Democrats Let the Election go by
Default, And Got the News Over the
State in a Day and a slight.

Ine recent publication In the GAZETTE Of
the vote for Congressman In Delaware since
lsl2, contained an alluslon TO the special
election of 1868 which was one OF the most
remarkable political events known In Della
wares history. Only those who took an
active part IN those exciting days remember
! the circumstances, and they will be read
with interest now William Temple, Della
wares Representative in Congress, who was
elected in 1862, over George p. Fisher, died
at his home Ia Smyrna on May %, 1868,
and special election was called BY Governor
Cannon, the "War executive"
Those were exciting times in Delaware.
Our people were widely divided upon the
question Of National expediency, and
political feeling ran high and bitter. The
contest OF the year before had been q very
hot one. Every cndcavor had been put
forth by both candidates and Mr.. Temple
had only defeated Mr.. Fisher by 81 votes
During the campaign some of the most
stirring events Of the war occurred, and this
made feeling run at a white heat, The Re-
pubiicans nominated n. b. Smthcrs, ESQ.,,
who was the Secretary of State under Gov
error Cannon, and Charles Brown, who had
before that been the partner of the father
OF the Hon Charles i. Lore, the present
Congressmai.-elect, was nominated by the
Democrats, The State was stumped from
end to end aud excitement ran at US high
pitch over the canvass as over the events
taking place in the South at Chattanooga.
and Chickamaugee and along the Atlantic
seaboard.
Mr.. Smithers was very fierce in his
speeches, denouncng the Delaware Demo-
Gratis as 'copperhcads" who were scheming
to destroy the Union and who would put
Delaware in the Confederate column If they
succeeded. The files of the DELAWARE
GAZETTE tell us how fierce the battle was,
and the Democratic sentiment Is reflected
in its pages. In one issue of the paper ap-
pears an editorial, which denounces Mr..
Smitbcrs' foolish abuse and says OF him
she would make Jcf. Davis believe he
would be safe in Delaware, and that
Delaware wants to escape from the Union Of
her brothers. We say, If any man could
make Jeh. Davis believe this Mr.. s. could.
But neither he nor all the Abplitlonists and
sucessionists combined can ever take old
Delaware away from the old Union. Her
soma are irrevocably opposed to secession
and will never part with her right in and to
the Union of her patriotic fathers" And
this was generally the sentiment among the
Democrats of the State. But the people
were dissatisfied with the iron rod of depot
ism which was being unnecessarily used
upon them. On July 3, although there was
no need for such RADICAL move, the State
was put under martial law. This was only
step IN the high-banded course TO be pur-
sued later.
The campaign opened without Governor
Cannon fixing the day for the special cleo
tion, No one knew why this was so, and 1t
created forebodiDgs In the hearts Of the
Democrats. Time passed and still no date
was fixed, and the canvass ran almost its
whole course before Governor Cannon issued
proclamation fixing on Thursday, Novem-
Der 10, Us the time for the election. On
November q thu people were still in the
dark, the Republicans had their meetings
| advertised up to the 2ist of the month, and
il was rumored that the election would take
place on the oath. On the 10th Of the
month the announcement was made. The
| announcement had been held back until
plans of Federal Interference could be ma
tnred so that they could be carried into
effect on election day. Siy days later the
| celebrated general order No. 50, issued from
| the headquarters of tho Middle Department,
by Major General Schenck, and confirmed by
| Governor Cannon, was made public. The
| order may not have been directly intended
| to stile the Democratic vote at the polls and
| secure the election af an Abolitionist, asthe
| Democrats claim, but thSt tbe State Of
affairs In Delaware did not warrant the
hlgb-handcd measure there can be no doubt.
ORDER 80. 80.
Here is the pronunciamentd nf Mrior
| General Schcnck
OFFICIAL
HEApQuARTERs MIDDLE DEPARTMENT
| or srH ARMY CoRPs, BALTIMORE, MD,
| Nov. -, 1861 Gcaer0l Orders, No. 59-it
! is known that there are many evil disposed
persons now at large in the State of Dela-
| ware, who hayc engaged in rebellion against
the lawful government, or have given aid or
! comfort or encouragement to others so en-
| gagged or who do not recognize their alle-
| giance 10 the United States. and who may
avail themselves Of the INDULGENCE of the
authority which toiersies their presence, to
attempt to take part in or cnloarrass tho
| apuraneling special election in that State.
| IL is therefore ordered:
. 1, That all ProS1st Marshals or other
military officers do prevent all disturbance
and violence at or abont the polls, whether
offered by such persons as above described
or by any other person or persons whomso-
ever
.. That all Provost Marshais aud other
military officers commanding in Delaware
shall support the Judges of election on the
18th of November, 1865, in requiring an
oath of allegiance to the United States, as
the test of citizenship OF any one whose vote
may be challenged on the ground that he is
not loyal or does not admit his allegiance to
the United States, which oath shali be in
the following form and terms
dosolemnly swear that ! will support,
| protect and defend the Constitution and
Government OF The United States against all
enemies, whether domestic or foreign; that
hereby pledge my allegiance, faith and
LOYALTY to the same, any ordinance, resoiu-
ton or law of any State Convention or State
Legislature, to the contrary, no;withstand-
ing that will at all tunes yield willing
and hearty obedience 10 the said Constitu-
ton andf;oyernment, and will not, directly
or Indirectly doauy act in hostility TO the
same, either by taking up arms against them,
or yiding, abettlng or countenancinS those
in arms against them, that without permis-
sion from the lawful authority, Will have
no communication, direct OF indirect with
the States in insurrcction against the United
states, or with either of them, or with any
person or persons within said insurrection-
| ary States; and that will In all things deport
!, mysoIf ns good and loyal citizen OF the
limited States This | do in good faith with
full determination, pledge and purpose, 20
keep this my sworn obligation, and without
a,y mental reservation or evasion whatso-
ever. ,,..-
5. Provost Marshals and other military
officers are directed to report TO these head
: quarters any judge of election who shall
refuse his aid In carrying out this order, or
who, on challenge OF a vote being made ON
the ground of disloyalty or hostility to The
goysrnmennt, shall refuse, TO require the