York county.-J. H. White, P. J. O'Connell, John W. Mead, J. L. Neagle. Fourth. That the following named persons have received a majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors of their respective congressional districts, as established by an ordinance of the convention adopted on the Sth day of March, 1868, and are entitled to certificates of election as members of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States for the said districts, as herein specified: First Congressional district-B. F. Whittemore. Fifth. That the following named persons, voted for under the provisions of the second section of the ordinance adopted by the convention on the 8th day of March, 1868, as representatives at large in the Congress of the United States. have received a majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors of the State voting at large, and are entitled to certificates of election as representatives large in the Congress of the United States, under the provisions and conditions of the before-cited ordinance: Members of Congress at large.—J. P. M. Epping and Elias E. Dickson. The certificates of election will be sent direct to the State executive officers and to the members elect of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States; but for convenience and safety of transmission, the certificates for the members elect of the general assembly will be sent to the commanding officer post of Columbia, for delivery upon application by the persons who are entitled to receive them. A certified abstract of the returns made by the election officers will be prepared and deposited in the office of the secretary of state for the State of South Carolina. the II. Under the provisions of the ordinance adopted by the convention, the general assemby meets at Columbia on Tuesday, the 12th day of May, 1868: and unless otherwise directed by law, the officers of the executive department of the State, elected under the new constitution, will qualify and enter upon duties of the offices to which they have been elected on the 10th day after the approval of the constitution by the Congress of the United States, unless that day should fall on Sunday, and then on the next succeeding day. Under the requirements of the ninth section of the law of July 23, 1867, amendatory of the law of March 2, 1867, "to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States," the officers elect, both of the legislative and executive departments will, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of their offices, take and subscribe the oath of office prescribed by the law of July 2, 1862, "to prescribe an oath of office, and for other purposes." This oath will be taken in dupli cate; one to be filed in the office of the secretary of state for the State of South Carolina, and the other to be forwarded to district headquarters. If any of the State officers elected under the new constitution are disqualified by the third section of the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States, known as Article XIV, or are unable to take the oath prescribed by the law of July 2, 1862, they will not be allowed to discharge any official functions until the disability has been removed by the Congress of the United States, or unless the oath of office required by the ninth section of the above-cited law shall have previously been dispensed with by law, or unless the said ninth section shall have become inoperative by the fact that the people of the State have been declared by law to be entitled to representation in the Congress of the United States. By command of Brevet Major General Ed. R. S. Canby: LOUIS V. CAZIARC, GEORGIA. [Telegram from Atlanta, Georgia, April 29, 1868, received at Washington, D. C., April 29, 1868, in cipher, 11 a. m.] To General U. S. GRANT, Commanding Armies of United States: Election passed off quietly as could be expected; one or two serious outbreaks only. Many complaints of fraud from both sides, and some applications based on them for re-election. Official returns come in slowly; no accurate judgment can as yet be formed, but the probabilities are that the constitution is ratified by a very large majority. Bullock, governor, elected by a small majority, and democrats carried a majority of the legislature. [Telegram from Atlanta, Georgia, May 8, 1868, received at Washington, D. C., May 2, 1868, in cipher, 9 p. m.] The official returns have been received in this State from all but one county, and show constitution ratified by seventeen thousand nine hundred and twenty-three (17,923) majority. Bullock elected by seven thousand two hundred and twentynine (7,229) majority. Senate twenty-seven (27) republicans, sixteen (16) democrats, one (1) doubtful. House ninety-five (95) republicans, twenty-four (24) democrats, and six (6) donbtful. GEO. G. MEADE, Major General Commanding. [Telegram from Atlanta, Georgia, May 11, 1868, received at Washington, D. C., May 11, 1868, 5 p. m.] To General U. S. GRANT, Commanding Armies: Official returns from all counties in which election was held show total vote cast, one hundred and sixty thousand three hundred and sixteen, (160,316.) Majority for the constitution seventeen thousand six hundred and ninety-nine, (17,699.) Majority for Bullock, governor, seven thousand one hundred and ninety-seven, (7,197.) I have issued an order proclaiming constitution ratified under act March 12, 1868, and president of convention will at once transmit it to Congress. GEO. G. MEADE, Major General United States Army. [General Orders No. 39.] HEADQUARTERS THIRD MILITARY District, (DEPARTMENT OF GEORGIA, FLORIDA, AND ALABAMA,) Atlanta, Georgia, March 14, 1868. I. Whereas the constitutional convention of the State of Georgia, which assembled in Atlanta in compliance with General Orders No. 89, issued from these headquarters November 19, 1867, did, in pursuance of the acts of Congress specified in said general orders, proceed to frame a constitution and civil government for the State of Georgia, and provide for the publication of said constitution; and did further, by an ordinance of said convention adopted March 11, 1868, submit for ratification to the persons in said State registered and to be registered as voters under the acts of Congress aforesaid, at an election to begin on the 20th day of April, 1868, and to be kept open from day to day, at the discretion of the general commanding, at such places as may be designated by him; II. And whereas by an act of Congress which became a law March 12, 1865. it is provided that hereafter any election, authorized by the acts of Congress aforesaid, shall be decided by a majority of the votes actually cast; and at the election in which the question of the adoption or rejection of any constitution is submitted, any person duly registered in the State may vote in the election district where he offers to vote when he has resided therein for ten days next preceding such election, upon presentation of his certificate of registration, his affidavit, or other satisfactory evidence of registration, under such regulations as the district commander may prescribe; III. And whereas said acts of Congress provide that the election for ratification of said constitution shall be conducted by the officers or persons appointed or to be appointed by the commanding general and at the date fixed by said convention: IV. It is ordered, that an election be held in the State of Georgia, commencing on Monday, the 20th day of April, 1868, and continuing four days, at which the registered voters of said State may vote for or against the constitution submitted to them by the ordinance aforesaid. Those voting in favor of the constitution shall have written or printed on their ballots the words, "For the constitution," and those voting against the constitution shall have written or printed on their ballots the words, "Against the constitution." V. It shall be the duty of the boards of registration in Georgia, in accordance with said acts, commencing fourteen days prior to the election herein ordered, and giving reasonable public notice of the time and place thereof, to revise, for a period of five days, the registration lists, and upon being satisfied that any person not entitled thereto has been registered, to strike the name of such person from the list, and such person shall not be allowed to vote. And such boards shall also, during the same period, add to such registry the names of all persons who at that time possess the qualifications required by said acts, who have no: been already registered. In deciding who are to be stricken from or added to the registration lists the boards will be guided by the acts of Congress relating to reconstruction, and their attention is especially called to the supplementary act which became a law July 19, 1867. VI. Said election shall be held in each county in the State under the supertendence of the boards of registration, as provided by law, and polls will be opened, after due and sufficient notice, at as many points in each county, not exceeding three, as in the opinion of said boards may be required for the convenience of voters. And in any city or other place where there is a large number of voters it is hereby made the duty of said boards to open as many polls as may be necessary to enable the voters to cast their votes without unreasonable delay. VII. Any person duly registered in the State as a voter may vote in any county in the State where he offers to vote, when he has resided therein for ten days next preceding the election. When he offers to vote in the county where he was registered, and his name appears on the list of registered voters, he shall not be subject to question or challenge, except for the purpose of identification, or as to residence. And any person so registered who may have removed from the county in which he was registered shall be permitted to vote in any county in the State to which he has removed, when he has resided therein for ten days next preceding the election, upon presentation of his certificate of registration or upon making affidavit before a member of the board of registration or a judge or manager of the election that he is registered as a voter, naming the county in which he was so registered; that he has resided in the county where he offers to vote for ten days next preceding the election, and that he has not voted at this election. Blanks for such affidavits will be supplied by the boards of registration, and the name of the voter making oath must be indorsed on his ballot, and all such affidavits must be forwarded with the returns of the election. VIII. The polls shall be opened at each voting place during the days of election at 7 o'clock a. m., and close at 6 o'clock p. m., and shall be kept open between those hours, without intermission or adjournment. IX. All public bar rooms, saloons, and other places for the sale of liquor at retail at the several county seats and at other polling places, shall be closed from 6 o'clock of the evening preceding the election until 6 o'clock of the morning after the last day of the election. Any person violating this order shall be subject to fine or imprisonment Sheriffs and their deputies and municipal officers will be held responsible for the strict enforcement of this prohibition by the arrest of all persons who may transgress the same. X. The sheriff of each county is hereby required to be present at the county seat, and to appoint deputies to be present at each polling place in his county during the whole time that the polls are kept open and until the election is completed, and is made responsible that no interference with the judges of election or other interruption of good order shall occur. And any sheriff, or deputy sheriff, or other civil officer failing to perform with energy and good faith the duty required of him by this order, will, upon report made by the judges of the election, be arrested and dealt with by military authority and punished by fine or imprisonment. XI. The commanding officer of the district of Georgia will issue, through the superintendent of registration for this State, such detailed instructions as may be necessary to the conduct of said election in conformity with the acts of Congress. XII. The returns required by law to be made of the results of said election to the commanding general of this military district will be rendered by the persons appointed to superintend the same through the commanding officer of the district of Georgia, and in accordance with the detailed instructions already referred to. XIII. No person who is a candidate for office at said election shall act as a registrar, judge, inspector, manager, clerk, or in any other official capacity connected with conducting the election. XIV. Violence, or threats of violence, or any oppressive or fraudulent means employed to prevent every person from exercising the right of suffrage, is positively prohibited, and every person guilty of using the same shall, on conviction thereof before a military commission, be punished by fine or otherwise. XV. No contract or agreement with laborers made for the purpose of controlling their votes or of restraining them from voting will be permitted to be enforced against them in this district. By order of Major General Meade: H. Ex. Doc. 291-2 R. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant General. [General Orders No. 74. ] HEADQUARTERS THIRD MILITARY DISTRICT, Atlanta, Georgia, April 29, 1868. I. A board of officers will convene at Atlanta on Monday, May 4th, to receive and count the returns of the election recently held in Georgia, and report for the action of the major general commanding the names of all persons elected, and the offices for which elected. II. In the discharge of this duty the board will carefully compare the returns. with the ballots and registration books and lists, and will investigate and report upon any charges of fraud or malfeasance in office on the part of registrars, managers, or other officers connected with the registration or the receiving of ballots; and in cases where frauds are detected, or where, from the evidence submitted, the board are of opinion that from any cause the election should be set aside, their report with evidence and facts will be presented to the major general commanding. III. The attention of the board is particularly directed to the revision of the registration during the five days preceding the election, and it will examine into the causes assigned by registrars for striking off names, comparing the same with the statements of those whose names have been stricken off. In any case of abuse of authority, or insufficient reasons given on the part of registrars, the board will report the facts in the case for the action of the major general commanding. IV. The board are also charged with the duty of collecting all the facts and evidence in cases where the eligibility of candidates is disputed, reporting the result of their investigations to the major general commanding, for his decision and action. V. In the execution of the foregoing duties the board are fully empowered with all the authority requisite for the same; it is authorized to send for persons and papers, to take testimony on affidavits, and, where necessary, to call on the commanding officer, sub-district of Georgia, to make such investigations as may be desired. The commanding officer sub-district of Georgia, the superintendent of registration and others, are hereby required to answer any calls made by the board to have such investigations made, and to produce any books, papers, &c., that may be called for. DETAIL FOR THE BOARD. VI. Brevet Brigadier General William McKee Dunn, assistant judge advo cate general. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Campbell D. Emory, aide-de-camp. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel S. F. Barstow, aide-de-camp. VII. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary rooms and stationery for the board; and the commanding officer, post of Atlanta, such details of clerks, orderlies, &c., as may be necessary. By order of Major General Meade : R. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant General. [General Orders No. 76.] HEADQUARTErs Third Military District, (DEPARTMENT of Georgia, FLORIDA, AND ALABAMA,) Atlanta, Georgia, May 11, 1868. Official returns of the recent election having been received from all the counties in the State of Georgia in which the election on the ratification of the |
