Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-10-01
General PaImer's Record.

a correspondent of the Atlanta
! Constitution from Frankfort, KY, gives
the following as part of the record of
General John NJ. Palmer, the candi-
date of the gold standard Democrats
for President
In 1865 General John NJ. Palmer,
the National Democratic nominee for
President, was military governor Of
Kentucky, and just before the August
election of that year, he issued the fol-
| lowing order, which, if it could have
been enforced, would have disfran-
chised every Democrat and southern
sympathizer in the State, and left the
State government in the hands Of an
unscrupulous and vicious element.
After recitng the causes for issuing
such an order in lengthy preamble
full of venom and vituperalon, he
goes on to classify those who are to be
denied the right of suffrage under four
sections as follows
/. All rebel soldiers, whether pa
rolled or not, and without regard to
the fact that they have or have not
taken any of the oaths prescribed by
law or executive or military orders or
have registered under orders from the
headquarters of the department Of
Kentucky.
2. All guerillas and others who with
out belonging TO the regular rebel mil
itary organizations have taken up
arms against the government or have
in any way operated against the gov
ernment or people of Kentucky, or
any other State or territory.
8. All persons who by act or word,
directly or indirectly, gave aid, com
fort or encouragement to persons IN
rebellion. This applies to all persons
who have voluntarily acted as scouts
and spies for rebel or guerilla forces,
who have voluntarily furnished any
rebel or person with information, food,
clothing, horses, arms or money, or
who have harbored, concealed or 9TH
erwise aided or encouraged them.
4. All persons who were OF have
been directly or indirectly engaged IN
the civil service of the late so-called
confederate government, Or of the So
called provisional government of Ken
tucky, or who have in any way sub
mitted to either Of said pretended gov
ernments or agents of, or contracted
with or for either of said pretended
governments, are disqualified, to alb
stain from all interference with cleo
tions, and will, if they shall in any
manner interfere therein by voting or
by appearing at the polls, be at once
arrested and held for military trial.
Aid will be given the civil authorities
to enforce the laws and to preserve
the peace.
By command of Major General John
NJ. Palmer f. B. Hartin, Captain
and A. A. G.; Ben W. Sullivan, Lieu
tenant and acting A. A. G.
In May, 1865, he made a speech at
Frankfort in which he expressed the
sentiment, that martial law ought to
be continued in Kentucky, and that
rebels and rebel sympathizers ought
not to be allowed to vote, and that the
military ought 10 interfere for that
purpose.
On the morning of the August elec,
tion in 1865 squads of armed soldiers
in pursuance of the order Of General
Palmer, appeared at the polls in all
the precincts of Clarke county, and
prevented the names Of more than -four
hundred and fifty men who would not
be and were not permitted to vote
At that election DR.. A. S. Allen re-
ceived for State Senator from the dis.
trict of Clarke and Madison counties
majority of 332 votes over Harrison
Thomson, his opponent, the latter be.
ing the father of Col. II. P. Thomson
of Clarke county. Thomson contested
the election upon the ground that the
election was not free and equal.
The Committee of the Senate which
heard the case and declared DR.. AL
lens seat vacant, gave General Pal
mer the followering roast "In view
of the proved participation Of John N
: Palmer, Major General land other
named), in the outrages upon th'
: right offree elections, they recommend
the passage of joint resolution re
z spectfully requesting the President 0
the United States to dismiss from Of
fee John N. Palmer, Major Genera
land others named), because Of thei
outrages upon the right Of free elec
tions in Kentucky"
} "Come, old man, said the kim
, friend, "cheer up. There are others.