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which can only be efficiently carried out under the circumstances
by the greatest promptitude. I hereby proclaim to the citizens
of Baltimore, that in virtue of my powers and duties under the
constitution and laws of the State, I have directed the proper
military officers to enroll and hold in readiness their respective
corps for active service at once, and especially on the approach-
ing day of election; and I have issued to them full instructions
to preserve the peace of the city, and secure to the legal voters
their rights against the violence and intimidation of the lawless
ruffians who have disgraced the city, and outraged the elective
rights in the recent election.

In thus acting, I have sought merely to discharge my duty,
and insure to the citizen the rights pledged to him by the consti-
tution and the laws, and I earnestly invoke the moral support and
aid of all good citizens who value their government and its privi-
leges.

Especially do I forewarn all persons against all illegal conduct
in the obstruction of voters, and admonish them of the serious
responsibility which awaits the infraction of the law.

it is to be seen if republicanism is adequate for its own pro-
tection. The Governor confidently relies on the loyalty of the
citizens of this great metropolis, and in the hearty readiness with
which they will co-operate in the vindication of the city and State
from any ignominious submission to lawless ruffians. If they do,
all parties will rejoice in the triumph of government, and every
good man that the pledges of the constitution are not an empty
mockery. At all events, the Governor will do his duty, if con-
stitutional authority and law are not upheld and vindicated, the
responsibility must rest elsewhere.

But there is no reason to fear any adverse result. The Gover-
nor will not question the fidelity or the military arm, or doubt its
ability for any emergency that may arise. The military officers
with whom I have consulted, express their readiness to serve
the State, and I have no doubt of their sufficiency for the occa-
sion; and good citizens may confidently trust that their title to a
constitutional government will be fully redeemed.

Let all citizens therefore, exercise their rights, abstain from
disorder and violence, and trust in the genius of the constitution
and the laws.

Let no man leave the precincts of his own ward, unless or-
dered to do so by competent authority. Thus he will promote
the fairness of the election, and avoid the just retribution that
will be dealt to those vagrant emissaries of disorder, who wander
from polls to polls, for the purpose of illegal voting, and to deter
peacable citizens from the exercise of their rights; but it is the
sincere hope of the Governor, that the majesty of the law, sup-
ported by the countenance of good citizens,                                    will make the en-