568 



KENTUCKY. 



ed the following proclamation previous to the 

 election which was held on August 3d : 



General Orders, No. 120. 



HEADQUARTERS, DEPABTMENT, OF THE OHIO, ) 

 CINCINNATI (Omo), July Slst, 1863. ) 



Whereas the State of Kentucky is invaded by a reb- 

 el force, with the avowed intention of overawing the 

 judges of elections, of intimidating the loyal voters, 

 keeping them from the polls, and forcing the election of 

 disloyal candidates at the election on the 3d of August ; 



Whereas the military power of the Government is 

 the only force that can defeat this attempt, the State of 

 Kentucky is hereby declared under martial law, and 

 all military officers are commanded to aid the constitu- 

 ted authorities of the State in support of the laws and 

 of the purity of suffrage, as defined in the late procla- 

 mation of his Excellency, Governor Robinson. 



As it is not the intention of the commanding general 

 to interfere with the proper expression of public opin- 

 ion, all discretion in the conduct of the election will be 

 as usual in the hands of the legally-appointed judges 

 at the polls, who will be held strictly responsible that 

 no disloyal person be allowed to vote, and to this end 

 the military power is ordered to give them its utmost 

 support. 



The civil authority, civil courts, and business will 

 not be suspended by this order. It is for the purpose 

 only of protecting, if necessary, the rights of loyal citi- 

 zens and the freedom of election. 



By command of Major-General BURNSIDE. 



In the western part of the State the follow- 

 ing order was issued : 



General Order, No. 47. 



DlBTBlCT OF COLUMBUS, HEADQUABTEBB, 6th DlYl- } 



SIGN, 16th AKMY COBPS, V 



COLUMBUS, Ky., July 29<A, 1863. J 



That no further doubt may exist as to the intention 

 and meaning of Special Order No. 159, dated Head- 

 quarters 16th Army Corps, July 14th, 1863, it is order- 

 ed that no person shall be permitted to be voted for, or 

 be a candidate for office, who has been, or is now, un- 

 der arrest or bonds, by proper authority, for uttering 

 disloyal language or sentiments. 



County Judges within this district are hereby order- 

 ed to appoint, as judges and clerks of the ensuing Au- 

 gust election, only such persons as are avowedly and 

 unconditionally for the Union and the suppression of 

 the rebellion, and are further ordered to revoke and 

 recall any appointments of judges and clerks already 

 made, who are not such loyal persons. 



Judges and clerks of elections are hereby ordered 

 not to place the name of any person upon the poll books 

 to be voted for at said election, who is not avowedly 

 and unconditionally for the Union and the suppression 

 of the rebellion, or who may be opposed to furnishing 

 men and money for the suppression of the rebellion. 



The following oath is prescribed and will be admin- 

 istered by judges of elections to voters and to such 

 candidates as reside within this district : 



Form of Oath. I do solemnly swear that I have 

 never entered the service of the so-called Confederate 

 States, that I have not been engaged in the service of 

 the so-called Provisional Government of Kentucky, 

 either in a civil or military capacity, that I have never, 

 either directly or indirectly, aided the rebellion against 

 the Government of the United States, or the State of 

 Kentucky, that I am unconditionally for the Union 

 and the suppression of the rebellion, and am willing to 

 furnish men and money for the vigorous prosecution of 

 the war against the rebellious league known as the Con- 

 federate States ; so help me God. 



Any voter, judge, or clerk of elections, or other per- 

 son, who may evade, neglect, or refuse compliance 

 with the provisions of this order, will be arrested and 

 sent before a military commission, as soon as the facts 

 are substantiated. 



By order of Brigadier-General ASBOTH. 



T. 11. HARRIS, Assistant Adjt.-Gencral. 



In Henderson county the following order 

 was issued : 



General Order No, 12. 



HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, HBNDEBSON, Ky., I 

 July 2Stfl, 1S63. ( 



In order that the proclamation of the Governor and 

 the laws of the State of Kentucky may be observed and 

 enforced, post commandants and officers of this com- 

 mand will see that the following regulations are strict- 

 ly complied with at the approaching State election : 



None but loyal citizens will act as officers of the 

 election. 



No one will be allowed to offer himself as a candi- 

 date for office, or be voted for at said election, who 

 is not in all things loyal to the State and Federal Gov- 

 ernment, and in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the 

 war for the suppression of the rebellion. 



The judges of election will allow no one to vote at 

 said election unless he is known to them to be an un- 

 doubtedly loyal citizen, or unless he shall first take the 

 oath required by the laws of the State of Kentucky. 



No disloyal man will offer himself as a candidate or 

 attempt to vote, except for treasonable purposes ; and 

 all such efforts will be summarily suppressed by 

 the military authorities. 



All necessary protection will be supplied and guar- 

 anteed at the polls, to Union men, by all the military 

 force in this command. By order of 



JOHN W. FOSTER, Col. Commanding. 

 W. A. PAGE, Lieut, and Adjt. 



Oath to be taken at the Election. I do solemnly 

 swear that I have not been in the service of the so-call- 

 ed Confederate States, in either a civil or military ca- 

 pacity, or in the service of the so-called Provisional 

 Government of Kentucky ; that I have not given any 

 aid, assistance, or comfort to any person in arms 

 against the United States ; and that I have in all things 

 demeaned myself as a loyal citizen since the begin- 

 ning of the present rebellion. So help me God. 



On July 16th Colonel Johnston published an 

 order at Southlands, directing the judges and 

 clerks of the election in the adjacent counties 

 " not to place the name of any person on the 

 poll books, to be voted for at the election, who 

 is not a Union man, or who is opposed to fur- 

 nishing men and money for a vigorous prosecu- 

 tion of the war against the rebellion. Any 

 person violating this order will be regarded as 

 an enemy to the United States Government, 

 and will be arrested and punished accord- 

 ingly." 



On July 30th General Shackelford published 

 an order very similar to that of Colonel Foster 

 above. 



The effect of Gen. Burnside's proclamation 

 on the result of the election was thus reported 

 by the press : The " Cincinnati Commercial " 

 said : 



It had no more effect upon the election than would 

 have been produced by a small boy whistling " Yan- 

 kee Doodle " at the State capital, at six o'clock in the 

 morning. It was unwise to issue such a proclamation, 

 as the only effect it has produced is in giving a color 

 of plausibility to the pretence made by the Wickliffe 

 party, that they were defeated by bayonets. The proc- 

 lamation didn't influence the election, but it has im- 

 paired, if not destroyed its moral force. 



The u Louisville Journal " said : 



There never was more fairness, more justice, more 

 freedom in the election, than was practised and ac- 

 corded by the friends of the Union last Monday. 



In reply to this the " Louisville Democrat " 

 said : 



