NY Times 11-7-1864
General Benjamin F. Butler had yet another role to play for the Union cause – help keep New York City peaceful and orderly for the November 8th election. New Yorkers could read his orders 150 years ago today.
From The New-York Times November 7, 1864:
TO-MORROW’S ELECTION; Gen. Butler in Command in the State of New-York. GENERAL ORDERS NO. 1. Troops Detailed to Preserve the Peace and Prevent Rebel Incursions. NO INTERFERENCE WITH THE ELECTIONS Raiders and Rebels and Ballot-box Stuffers Warned.
HEADQUARTERS CITY OF NEW-YORK, Nov. 5, 1864.
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. BU[T]LER assumes command of the troops arriving and about to arrive, detailed for duty is the State of New-York, to meet existing emergencies.
To correct misapprehension, to soothe the fears of the weak and timid, to allay the nervousness of the ill-advised, to silence all false rumors circulated by, bad men for wicked purposes, and to contradict once and for all false statements adapted to injure the Government in the respect and confidence of the people — the Commanding-General takes occasion to declare that troops have been detailed for duty in this district sufficient to preserve the peace of the United States, to protect public property, to prevent and punish incursions into our borders and to insure calm quiet.
beware “Raiders and Rebels and Ballot-box Stuffers”
If it were not within the information of the Government that raids, like in quality and object to that made at St. Alban’s, were in contemplation, there would have been no necessity for precautionary preparations.
The Commanding-General has been pained to see publications by some, not too well-informed persons, that the presence of the troops of the United States might by possibility have an effect upon the free exercise of the duty of voting at the ensuing election.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The soldiers of the United States are specially to see to it that there is no interference with the election 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 constitutional liberty, which is FREEDOM TO DO RIGHT, NOT WRONG. They can be a terror to evil doers only, and those who fear them are accused by their own consciences.
Let every citizen having a right to vote, as according 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 separate the illegal from the legal vote — “the tares from the wheat” — but it is possible to detect and punish the fraudulent voter, after the election is over.
Fraudulent voting in election of United States officers 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 knowledge.
Specially is fraudulent voting a deadly sin and heinous crime, deserving condign punishment in those, who, having rebelliously seceded from, and repudiated their allegiance to this Government when at their homes in the South, now having fled here for asylum, abuse the hospitality of the State and clemency 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. By command of
Maj.-Gen. BENJ. F. BUTLER.
R.F. PUFFER, Captain, A.D.C., A.A.A. General.
You can read all about General Butler’s work in New York City for the election at Mr. Lincoln and New York
General Butler played Falstaff in the following 1864 political cartoon (details at the Library of Congress):
Beast Butler in a supporting role
_________________________________________________________
Clement Secretary of War?
tall little joker
