UNITED STATES. 



797 



On Oct. 28 Gen. Dix issued an order stating 

 that satisfactory information had reached him 

 that rebel agents in Canada designed to send 

 into the United States large numbers of refu- 

 gees, deserters, and enemies of the Government, 

 to vote at the Presidential election, and it was 

 not unlikely that they would subsequently be 

 organized to shoot respectable citizens and 

 plunder public property, lie said such persons 

 were liable to punishment, and no efforts would 

 be spared to arrest them. All Provost Marshals 

 and deputies were charged to detect such per- 

 sons, and electors were recommended to take 

 measures for their own security and to aid the 

 authorities in bringing rebel emissaries to 

 punishment. Effective measures would be taken 

 to prevent their return into Canada. All per- 

 sons from the rebel States were required to re- 

 port to the military authorities in New York or 

 to the Provost Marshals in other places for 

 registry by the 3d of November, otherwise they 

 would be treated as spies and emissaries. 



At the same time Gen. Couch, commanding 

 the Department of the Susquehanna, issued an 

 order requiring ''all refugees, rebel deserters, 

 and citizens of rebel States who were in that 

 department, or who might enter it before the 

 8th day of November," to report to the nearest 

 district or town Provost Marshal, that they 

 might be registered and description recorded, 

 and receive proper certificates and papers. Per- 

 sons belonging to any of the classes above men- 

 tioned found within the limits of the depart- 

 ment on or after the date named, without au- 

 thority, cr who by pillaging, counselling out- 

 break, destruction of life or property, or in any 

 manner acting as enemies of the Government, 

 would be regarded as spies, and subjected to 

 summary punishment. All military officials 

 were strictly enjoined to guard well the integ- 

 rity of the ballot-box. 



At the same time, also, Gen. Hooker, com- 

 manding the Northern Department, with head- 

 quarters at Cincinnati, issued an order stating 

 that he had received information that it was the 

 intention of a large body of men on the North- 

 ern frontier, on each side of the line, open on one 

 side and in disguise on the other, to organize at 

 the ensuing election, to interfere with the in- 

 tegrity of the election, and, when in their 

 power, to cast illegal votes ; in fact, in any way 

 to interfere with the honest expressions of the 

 electors. Ee accordingly directed all military 

 commanders and provost marshals to adopt 

 measures at once to prevent this interference 

 with the rights of the people, and to bring to 

 punishment all persons who might offend the 

 laws in this particular. 



On Nov. oth Maj.-Gen. Butler, who had ar- 

 rived at New York a few days previous, issued 

 the following order, which explained his posi- 

 tion and duties in that city : 



HEAIXjrABTEBS ClTT OT N*W TCRK, NOV. 5, 1S64. 



General Orders No. 1. In obedience to the orders 

 of the President, and by the assignment of Maj.-Gen. 

 Dix, commanding Department of the East, Maj.-Gen. 



Butler assumes command of th. troops arrivii. 

 about to arrive, detailed |'.,r dut\ in 

 York, to meet i'xistin<r > 



To correct niUapprc.'lii-n.i..- -} ie f ears o f 



the weak and timid, to allay the IIITVUUMK-S-. 

 ill-advised, to silence all ial- 

 bad men for wicked purposes, and 

 and for all t'al.-r stati.-mi/nt^ ad.i; | 

 Government in the respect and coni 

 pie the commanding General taki 

 clare that troops have been detailed for duty . 

 district sufficient to preserve the \-< ( uited 



States, to protect public property, to prevent and 

 punish incursions into our borders, and to insure 

 calm and quiet. 



If it were not within the information of the Gov- 

 ernment that raids, like in quality and object to that 

 made at St. Albans, were in contemplation, there 

 would have been no necessity for precautionary 

 preparations. 



The Commanding General has been pained to sec 

 publications by some not too well-informed PL- 

 that the presence of the troops of the United - 

 might, by possibility, have an effect upon the free 

 exercise of the duty of voting at the ensuing election. 



Nothing could be further trom the truth. 



The soldiers of the United States are speciallv to 

 see to it that there is no interference with the elec- 

 tion unless the civil authorities are overcome with 

 force by bad men. 



The armies of the United States are "ministers of 

 good and not of evil." They are safeguards of con- 

 stitutional liberty, which is FREEDOM TO DO RIGHT, NOT 

 WROXG. They can be a terror to evil doers only, 

 and those who fear them are accused by their owu 

 consciences. 



Let every citizen having a right to vote act accord- 

 ing to the inspiration of his own judgment, freely. 

 He will be protected in that right by the whole power 

 of the Government if it shall become necessary. 



At the polls it is not possible exactly to separata 

 the illegal from the legal vote "the tares from the 

 wheat ' r but it is possible to detect and punish the 

 fraudulent voter after the election is over. 



Fraudulent voting in election of United States offi- 

 cers is an offence against the peace and dignity of the 

 United States. 



Every man knows whether he is a duly qualified 

 voter, and he who votes, not being qualified, does a 

 grievous wrong against light and knowlt 



Specially is fraudulent voting a deadly si:. 

 heinous crime, deserving condign punishment in 

 those who have rebelliously seceded from, and repu- 

 diated their allegiance to this Government when at 

 their homes in the South, now having fled here for 

 asylum, abuse the hospitality of the Slate and clem- 

 ency of the Government by interfering in the election 

 of our rulers. 



Such men pile rebellion upon treason, breach of 

 faith upon perjury, and forfeit the amnesty accorded 

 them. It will not be well for them to do so. 



There can be no military organization in any State, 

 known to the laws, save the militia and armies of the 

 United States. Bv command of 



'.Mai.-Gen. BEXJ. F. BUTLER. 



R. F. PCFFER, Captain, A. D. C., A. A. A. General. 



On the evening of N>v. 2d ;: large 

 of persons called "War Deiii" - hel 



at Cooper Institute, in New York (.".' 

 Gen. Dix was the principal speaker. Without 

 inserting the lengthy resolutions adopted by 

 the meeting, the following extr, t t'r 

 of General Dix at Sandusk. 

 indicates the geneVal views of the a-ssemb!.. 



I will say one word, however, on the subject which 

 lies nearest the heart of every loyal man I mean the 

 rebellion. It has been my conviction from th* bejin- 



