How the election was carried in Maryland--Lincoln's Orders.
It may be interesting to know how the wires were arranged for the last election in Maryland. --The following is the order from Gen. Schenck, issued prior to the election: Headq'rs, Middle Department, Eighth army corps, Baltimore, Md., Oct. 27th, 1863.
it is known there are many evil disposed persons, now at large in the State of Maryland, who have been engaged in rebellion against the lawful Government, or have given aid and comfort or encouragement to others so engaged, or who do not recognize their allegiance to the United States; and who may avail themselves of the indulgence of the authority which tolerates their presence to embarrass the approaching election, or through it to foist enemies of the United States into power.
It is therefore ordered.
- I. That all provost marshals and other military officers do arrest all such persons found at or hanging about, or approaching any poll or place of election on the 4th of November, 1863, and report such arrests to these headquarters.
- II.
That all provost marshals and other military officers commanding in Maryland shall support the judges of election on the 4th of November, 1863, 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 shall be in the following form and terms:--
"I do solemnly swear that I will support, protect and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States against all enemies, whether domestic or foreign; that I hereby pledge my allegiance faith and loyalty to the same, any ordinance, resolution or law of any State Convention or State Legislature to the contrary notwithstanding; that I will at all times yield a hearty and willing obedience to the said Constitution and Government, and will not, either directly or indirectly, do any act in hostility to the same, either by taking up arms against them, or aiding, abetting or countenancing those in arms against them; that, without permission from the lawful authority, I will have no communication, direct or indirect, with the States in insurrection against the United States, or with either of them, or with any person or persons within said insurrectionary States; and that I will in all things deport myself as a good and loyal citizen of the United States. This I do in good faith, with full determination, pledge and purpose to keep this, my sworn obligation, and without any mental reservation or evasion whatsoever." - III. Provost-Marshals and other military officers are directed to report to these headquarters any judge of an 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 Government, shall refuse to require the oath of allegiance from such voter.
Official — W. M. Este, Major and Aide-de-camp. To this order Gov. Bradford demurred, and telegraphed to Lincoln to get it revoked, and with it following result, as given in a telegram from him. I revoke the first of the three propositions in Gen. Schenck's General Order No. 53, not that it is wrong in principle, but because the military being of necessity exclusive judge as to who shall be arrested, the provision is liable to abuse; for the revoked part I substitute the following. "That all provost marshals and other military officers do prevent all disturbance and violence at or about the polls, whether offered by such persons as above described or by any other person or persons whomsoever; the other two propositions I allow to stand. My letter at length will reach you to-night."
This telegram Bradford published with the following feeble remonstrance: Whilst this modification revokes the authority of the provost marshals and military officers to arrest the classes of persons enumerated in the preamble to the order "found at or hanging about, or approaching any poll or place of election," it directs them to prevent all violence or disturbance about the polls, &c. To meet such disturbances the judges of election, as I have already stated, are clothed with ample powers, and I had received no previous intimation that there was any reason to apprehend a disturbance of any kind at the polls on the day of election. In the absence of any military display, there would certainly seem to be as little cause for such apprehensions as ever before existed. A preparation by the Government by military means to provide for such contingency will be quite as likely to provoke as to subdue such a disposition. Not only so, but the military thus required to prevent violence or disturbance about the polls must necessarily be empowered to arrest the parties they may charge with such disorder, and they are still left in effect "the exclusive judges as to who shall be arrested" --a power they may as readily abuse as any other.
