Year: 1863

Within less than month the most important elections
have taken place in two of the largest States OF the Union


each them candidates before the people charged
by the particular friends of the Government with being
hostile TO its interests and whose election deprecated
fraugh with the most dangerous consequences to ta
One Of the most prominent Of these candidates
considered dangerously nimlcal to the triumph OF
the national that he has been for months past ban


hed from the country and yet hundreds of thousands Of
voters allowed to approach the polls and to attempt
"to ois such into power, and provost marsbals
or other military officers were ordered to arrest them
the way or as far as we have heard test their ale
glance by any oath


With these facts before US, it is difficult to believe that
the suggestion that the enemies Of the United States may
be foisted into power at coming election the
sderaton that prompted this order; but whatever may
have been that motive feel it to be my duty to oemDy
protest agsnst such Intervention with the privileges of
the BALLoTBox and offensive discrimination against
| the rights OF loyal State


avail myself Of the occasion to call to the particular
attention of the Judges of Election the fact that they
the day Of election clothed with all the authority of
of the peace aud may to their aid
any of the executive officers Of the county and the whole
power of the county ITSELF to preserve order at the polls
and secure the constitutional rights Of the voters.


Itis also made their special duty" to give information
to the States Attorney for the county of all nractons of
the State laws the subject Of elections and by these
laws it s forbidden TO any commissioned commits
stoned officer having command Of any soldier soldiers
quartered posted in any district of any county of the
State to muster embody any Of said troops march
any recruiting party within the view of any place of cleo
tion during the time of holding said elections"
need not sure, remind them of the terms of the
oath they required to take before entering upon their
duties and according to which they to permit all
to vote who shall offer to poll at the election &C.
who in their judgment SHALL according to the directions
contained in the Consultation and Las be entitled poll
the election and not to permit any person to poll
at the same election who is not in their judgment qualified
to vote aforesaid"


founded upon the pr visions Of the Constitution and Laws
of the State that must determine the right to vote OF any
person Offering himself for that purpose trust and be-
leve that they will form that judgment and discharge
their duty their conscientious convictions of its require
ments under the solemn obligations they shall die
tate undeterred by order to provost marshas to report
them to " headquarters"


Whatever power the State possesses shall be exerted to
protect them for any thing done the proper execution
Of it's laws.


Since writing the above, have copy Of the Pre-.
Committee bearing the date with the order and
evidently showing that the order unknown to him. that
it would not have been approved by him if he had known
it, and that it is therefore all the reprehensibe
A. w. BRADFORD.
| By the Governor:


WIN. B. Hill, Secretary Of State,