365]           The Maryland Constitution of 1864.              19

had aroused bitter opposition in the Southern sympathizers
and also the more conservative Union people of the state,
who were stated above as opposing the policy of the ad-
ministration. On the other hand, the outspoken Unionists
had, in many cases, enthusiastically supported General
Schenck. A good instance of this is found in the fact that,
when in July, 1863, he levied damages on known Southern
sympathizers in Harford county to reimburse their Union
neighbors for wanton destruction of their property by un-
known persons,²⁰ the Second Branch of the City Council
on August 10 passed unanimous resolutions thanking him
for this severe measure, and endorsing his administration.²¹
Now, on October 27, 1863, General Schenck issued his
famous "General Order No. 53," in which he practically
took military control of the ballot-box in the coming elec-
tion. After stating that "It is known that there are many
evil-disposed persons now at large in the state of Maryland
who have been engaged in rebellion against the lawful
Government, or have given aid and comfort or encourage-
ment to others so engaged, or who do not recognize their
allegiance to the United States, and who may avail them-
selves of the indulgence of the authority which tolerates
their presence to embarrass the approaching election, or
through it to foist enemies of the United States into power,"
it was ordered, first, that provost-marshals and other mili-
tary officers "arrest all such persons found at, or hanging
about, or approaching any poll or place of election on No-
vember 4, 1863;" second, that these officers should require
of voters who were challenged on the ground of disloyalty
the. following oath: " I do solemnly swear that I will sup-
port, protect and defend the Constitution and Government
of the United States against all enemies, whether domestic
or foreign; that I hereby pledge my allegiance, faith and
loyalty to the same, any ordinance, resolution, or law of
any State Convention or State Legislature to the contrary

²⁰ "Sun," July 30, August 8.                     ²¹ "Sun," August 11.