Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-20
THE SPECIAL ELECTION or 1868

William Temple. Democrat. who hal
been elected Representative In Con-
gress at the November election Of
isG2. defeating Congressman George
y. Fisher OF Dover, Union Republican,
by the mea9re majority of 81 votes,
died at his home in Smyrna on May
rs. 1861, before taking his scat. A
vacancy was thereby created. which
made necessary the holding of "A spo-
ciai election. And that special ele,.-
tion was attended with conditions
most extraordinary 90 the voters Of
Delaware. Notwithstanding the many
emergencies arising from the Civil
War. which naturally called for n
more. stern and far-reaching exercise
OF th. powers and Intervention of the
Federal government than had ever
before been known in this country.
II devolyed upon the governor 10
issue a call for a special election to
nll the vncancy. and both parties ex-
pected this action before making their
choice OF candidates. Governor Can
non was Union Republican. and of
course. fell in with the policy agreed
upon by the leaders of that party, and
that was a policy OF delay. So II was
that the party State conventions wcr,
not held until late In the year. the
Union Republican convention on Wed
nesdny, November Z, and the Demo-
cratic convention the day following
The Union Republicans nominated
Nathaniel II. Smithers. Secretary OF
State under Governor Cannon, on the
second ballot, over Judge Houston aud
Edwin Wilmer OF Smyrna. The DEM
ocrats nominated 'Tinderbox" Charles
Brown, who was the popular choice Of
Kent and SUSSEX Democrats lie re-
ccivei ell the nifty votes OF Sussex
Kent delegates and the entire fifty OF
New Castle county voted for Alex
nnder johnson OF Dover.
who .Tinaerbor- Was.
The nomination Of Brown melted
the ridicuie of the Union Republican
papers and they sarcastically inauir-
ed who is Brown The Delaware
Journal called him "Old Mr.. Brown II
New Jersey" His selection was not
pleasing to the New Castle county
Democrats and the Gazette almost ig-
nored him at first but in later issues
gave space 10 very complimentary
sketch of him. furnished by cor
respondent, and soon praised him
warmly. Brown was quite i charae-
ter and once gained some nnturiety
by challenging John NJ. Clayton TO
public discussion of national political
questions. He had served rs collector
cf the port at Philadelphia, under
President Polk, and one term in Con-
gress from New Jersey. 20 which
State he moved from Pennsylvania
In the 1874 and 1s4s campaigns ht
had stumpcd Kent and Sussex couu-
ties. and gained much popularity by
his fanbuoyant red pepper" oratory
In 1861 he purchased some farms in
Kent county. and took up residence on
one near Dover.
Democrats Much Perturbtd.
The late date OF the State eonven-
tions enforced a brief campaign, and
also il was one of uncertainty and of
decided uneasiness in the Democratic
party, by reason of Governor Can
ron's unaccountable and unexplained
delay in setting a day for the election
Finally. on November 4, the governors
proclamation was published. ordering
the special election to be held on
Thursday. November 10.
Meanwhile, there had been much
concern among Democrats about tbs
probability of troops being sent into
the State to guard the polls" ON
election day. and it is evident they
conceived such a procedure to he pars
Of the campaign plans of the Union
Republican party leaders. At the previ-
Gus November election some Federal
troops had been sent to Georgetown
and other polling places in Sussex
county, but without special orders. and
as they had acted with perfect pro-
complaint at their presence. But
Democratic leaders feared more ratii-
cal interference at the special elec-
ton.
The Oath of Allegiance Order.
And before election day their ap-
prehensions proved TO have been well
founded. In the issue of the Dela-
ware Journal OF November 10. .ppear-
ed a special order, issued at the in
stance of Majors General Sehenck,
from headquarters of the Middle De-
partment, Eighth Army Corps. Balti-
more. under date of November s, call
ing upon "all provost marshals and
other military officers to prevent dis
turbances," in pursuance of reports
having been received that "disioya.
and disorderly elements" had threat
ened lawIess actions. The order fur
ther directed that the stated military
agencies should support the officers
Of election in requiring an oath of al
legiance TO the United States. 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
Adjutant- General Tyler, in charge
Of the Department of Delaware. SUM-
plemented this general order by one
directed to the officers of the military
in Delaware. published in the Delaware
Journal Of the same issue, to take all
necessary measures TO secure to every
loyal citizen the right to vote as he
pleases," and further, TO protect the
polls from that outside violence which
has heretofore, IN some parts of the
State, prevented loyal and peaceful
citizens from voting" Governor Cam
non also issued a special proclama ton.
in which he said that ''all civil officers
and good citizens OF this State are en-
Joined to obey the above military order
and 10 give all needful aid for
enforcement of the same"
Democrats Aroused.