A. 8., Capt. Coup.A,one huudredand thirty-first reg't Pa. Vols. C. I). Coinp. A, one hundredaml thirty first reg't Pa. Vols. E. P., Comp. xV. one hundred and thir ty-first reg't l'a. Vol*. , Judge of Elections. Attest, J, K., L. M., Clerks. RETURNS OF THE ELECT/ON*. SEC. 17. After canvassing the votes in manner aforesaid, the judges shall putin an envelope 0110 of thej poll-books, with i»s tally list, and return of each city or county, together with the tickets, and transmit the same, properly scaled up. and directed through the nearest post office or by express as soon as possible thereafter, to the prothonotary of the court of com mon pleas of the city or county in which well electors would have voted if not in the military service aforesaid, (being the city or county for which the poll-book was kept, and the other poll book of said city or county, euclosed in an envelope, and sealed as aforesaid and properly directed, shall de delivered to one of the commis sioners hereinafter to be provided for. if' such commissioner calls for the same in ten days, and if not so called for the same Khali be transmitted by mail or by express as soon ns possible thereafter to the Secreta ry of the Commonwealth, who shall care fully preserve the same, and on demand of the proper prothonotary deliver to said prothonotary under his hand and official seal a certified copy of the return of votes so transmitted to and received by him for said city or county of which the demand ant is prothono'ary. SEC. 18. It shall be the uuty of the prothonotary of the county, to whom such returns shall be made, to deliver to the return judges of the same county a copy, certified under his hand and seal, of the ret urn of votes so transmitted to him by the judges of the election as aforesaid or as officially certified by the secretary of the Common wealth as aforesaid to said pro thonotary. WHEN RETURN JUOF.S TO MEET. SEC. P.). The return judges,of thescv eral counties, shall adjourn to meet at the places, now directed by law, on the third Friday, after any general or presidential election, for the purpose of counting the soldiers' vote; and when two or more counties arc connected in the election, the meeting of the judges, from each county, shall be postponed, in such case, until the Friday following. SEC. 20. The return judges so met shall include in their enumeration the votes so returned, and thereupon shall proceed in all respects in the like manner as is pro vided by law in cases where all the votes shall have been given at the usual place of election : Provided , That the several courts of this commonwealth shall have the same power and authority, to investi gate, and determine, alt questions of fraud or illegality, in relation to the voting of the soldiers, as are now vested in said courts, with regard to questions of fraud and illegality, arising from the voting of persons, not in military service, under the present laws relating thereto. SEC. 21. In elections for electors of President and Vice President of the Uni ted States, it shall be the duty of the Sec retary of the Commonwealth to lay be fore the Governor all returns received by him from any election as aforesaid, who shall compare the same with the county roturus, and add thereto all such returns as shall appear on such comparison not to be contained in said county returns, in every case where said military returns for such counties shall have been received by said Secretary at a poriod too late for trans mitting them to the proper prothonotary, in time for Uie action of the judges of the said counties. SEC. 22. All said elections shall be sub ject to contest in the same manner as is now provided by law, and in all cases of contested electionsall legal returns which shall have been bona fide forwarded by said j in the manner hereinbefore prescribed, shall be counted and estima ted, although the same may uot have ar rived or been received by the proper offi cers to be counted and estimated in the manner hereinbefore directed before issu iig'the certificates of election to the per sons appearing to have a majority of the votes then received, and the said returns shall be subjoet to all such objections as other returns arc liable to when received indue time. PROVIDING BLANKS, POLLS, ETC. SEC. 23. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Commonwealth to cause to bo printed a sufficient number of cop ies of this act, with such extracts from the general election law as shall be deem ed important to accompany the same, and blank forms of poll-books, with tally lists and returns as prescribed iu this act, which with the necessary postage stamps to de fray expenses and postage on returns, shall, in sufficient time before and such election, be forwarded by said Secretary at the expense of the commonwealth, by commissioners, or otherwise, as shall be deemed m6st certain to insure delivery thereof, to the captain, or commanding officer, of each company, or in case of de tached voters, to the officer having charge of the post, or hospital, who shall retain the same until the day of election, and then deliver the same to the judges elect ed, as provided in this act: Provided, That no election shall be invalidated, by reason of the neglect, or faiiuro, of the said secretary to cause the delivery of soid poll-books to the proper persons, as afore said. APPOINTMENT AND DUTY OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS. Sec. 24. That for the purpose of more effectually carrying out the provisions of this act, the governor shall have power to appoint and commission, under the great seal of the commonwealth, such number of commissioners, having the Qualifica tions of an elector, in this state, as he shall deem necessary, not exceeding one toeachregiment.of Pennsylvania soldiers, in the service of this state, or of the Uni ted States, aud shall apportion the work among tie commissioners, and supply such vacancies as may occur iu their number. Such commissioners, before they act, shall take and subscribe ajj oath or affirmation, and cause the same to be filed with the secretary of the commonwealth, to the following: "I appointed com missioner, under the act to regulat elec tions by soldiers, in nctual military ser vice, do solemnly swear. (or affirm,) that I will support tlic constitution of the Uni ted States, and tlio oommonwealth of Pennsylvania, and impartially, fully and without reference to political preferences, or results, perform, to the Lest of my knowledge and ability, the duties impos ed on me by the said act; and that I will studiously endeavor to prevent fraud, de ceit and abuse, not only, in the elections to be held under the same, but in the re turns thereof." And if any commission er, appointed by, or under, this act, shall knowingly violate his duty, or know ingly omit, or fail, to do his duty, under this act, or violate any part of his oath, he shall be liable to indictment for perju ry, in the proper county, and, upon con viction, shall be punished by a fine, not exeee ing one thousand dollars, or impris onment in the penitentiary, at labor, not exceeding one year, or both, in the discre tion of the court. SEC. 25. It shall be the duty of such commissioners to deliver, as far as prac ticable, at least four of the copies of this act, and other extracts of laws, published as hereinbefore directed, and at least two blank forms of poll-books, tally lists and returns, entrusted to them, as mentioned in the twenty-third section of this act, to the commanding officers of every compa-* uy, or part of company, of Pennsylvania soldiers, iu the actual military, or naval service of the United States, or of this state; and to make suitable arrangements ijnd provision for the opening of polls, un der this act; it shall also be the duty of said commissioners, assoou as practicable, after the day of election, to call upon the judges of the election, and procure one poll-book, containing the returns of the election, and safety to preserve the same not only from loss, but from alteration, and deliver the same, without delay, to the secretary of the commonwealth. SEC. 20. Said commissioners shall re ceive, in full compensation for their ser vices under this act, ten cents, per mile, ingoing to and returning from their re spective regiments, estimating the dis tance of travel by the usually traveled route ; and it is hereby made the duty of the auditor general and state treasurer to audit and pay the accounts therefor, in the same manner as other claims are now audited and paid, by law; all command ing and other officers are requested to aid the commissioners, herein appoiuted, and to give them all proper facilities, to ena ble them to carry out the design and in tention of this act. SEC. 27. No mere informality in the manner of carrying out. or executing,any of the provisions of this act, shall inval idate any election held under the same, or authorize the return thereof, to be re jected or set aside ; nor shall any failure, on the part of the commissioners, torcach or visit any regiment or company, or part of company, or the failure of any compa ny, or part of company, to vote, invali date any election which may be held un der this act. SEC. 28. The several officers, authoriz ed to conduct such election, shall lir.vo the like powers, and they as well as other persons, who may attend, vote, or offer to vote, at such election, shall be subject to the like penalties and restrictions as are declared or provided in the case of elec tions, by the citizens, at their usual pla ces of election ; and all of the provisions of the general election laws of this state, so far as applicable, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, nor sup plied thereby, shall apply to all elections held under this act. SEC. 29. No compensation shall bo al lowed to any judge or clerk, under this act. DUTY OF SHERIFF. SEC. 30. When the Sheriff of any city or county shall issue bis proclamation for an election, for a presidential, congression al, district, city, county or state election, under the laws of this state, he shall trans mit, immediately, copies thereof, to the field officers and senior captains iu the service, aforesaid, from said city or coun ty- APPROPRIATION. SEC. 31. The sum of fifteen thousand dollars, or so much thereof as maybe nec essary, is hereby appropriated from the general revenue, to bo paid upon the order of tlio secretary of the commonwealth, to carry this law iuto effect. now DETACHED MEN ARE TO VOTE. SEC. 32. When any of the electors mentioned in the first section of this act, less than ten in number, shall bo mem bers of companies of another State or Territory, or for any sufficient and legal cause shall be separated from their prop er company, or shall be in any hospital, navy yard, vessel, or on recruiting, provost, or other duty, whether within or without this State, under such circumstances as shall render it probable that he or they will beunabled to rejoin their proper com pany, or to be present at his proper place of election, on or before the day of the elections, therein mentioned, said elector, or electors, shall have a right to vote iu the following manner: SEC. 33. The voter aforesaid is here by authorized before the day of election to deposit his ballot or ballots properly folded, as required by the general elec tion laws of this State, or otherwise, as the voter may choose, in a sealed envel op, together with a written, or partly written and partly printed statement con taining the name of the voter, the coun ty, township, borough or ward of which he is a resident, and a written or printed authority, to some qualified voter in the election district, of which said voter is a resident, to cast the ballots, contained in said envelope, for him, on the day of said election. Such statement and authority to be signed by the said voter, and attest ed by the commanding, or some commis sioned, officer o£ the company, of which he is a member, in the case of a private, and of some commissioned officer of the the ease of an officer, if any of such officers are conveniently accessi ble, and if otherwise, then by some oth er witness; aud there shall also accompa ny said ballots, an affidavit of said voter, taken before someone of the officers afore said, aud in the abseuce of such officers, before some other person duly authorized to administer oaths, by any law of this state, that he is a qualified voter in the (election district iu which lie proposes to vote, that he is in the actual military eer vice of the United States, or of this state, describing the organization to which he belongs, that he has not sent his ballots to any other persou or persons, than the one iu such authority mentioned, that he will not offer to vote at any poll, which may be opened on said election day, at any place whatsoever, and that lie.is not a de serter, and has not been dishonorably dis missed from the service, and that lie is now stationed at , in the state of the ballots, statement, authority and affi davit as aforesaid, to be sent to the prop er person, by mail or otherwise, having written or printed on the outside, across the sealed part thereof, the words, " sol dier's ballot for township, (bor ough or ward,) in the county ol ." SEC. :i4. The elector, to whom such bal lot shall be sent, shall, on the day of elec tion, and whilst the polls of the proper district are open, deliver the envelope, so received, unopened, to the proper election officer, who shall open the same, in the presence of the election board, and depos it the ballots therein contained, together with the envelope, aticj accompanying pa pers, as other ballots are deposited, and said board shall count and canvass the same, iu the same manner as other votes cast at said election ; and the person de livering the same may, on the demand of any elector, bo compelled to testify, on oath, that the envelope, so delivered by him, is in the same state as when receiv ed by him, and that the same has not been opened, or the contents thereof changed, or altered, in any way, by him, or any other person. SEC. 35. The right of anyperson, thus offering to vote, at any such election, may be challenged, for the same causes, that it could be challenged, if he were person ally present, anil for no other reason or cause. SEC. 30. Any officer of any general, or special, election, in this state, who shall refuse to receive any such envelope, and deposit such ballots, or to count and can vass the same, and any elector who shall receive such envelope, and neglect or re fuse to present the same, to the officers of the election district, endorsed on the said envelope, shall be guilty of a misdemean or, and on conviction thereof, shall be pun ished by imprisonment, in the state pris on, not exceeding one year, and by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or either, or both, in the discretion of the court. SEC. 37. Any person, who shall wilful ly and corruptly make and subscribe any false affidavit, or make any false oath, touching any matter or thing provided in thin act, shall be deemed guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprison ment, in the state penitentiary, not ex ceeding five years, and by fine not exceed ing one thousand dollars, or by either, or both, in the discretion of the court. SEC. 38. That it shall be the duty of the secretary of the commonwealth to pre pare the necessary blank forms, to carry out the provisions of this act, and to fur nish the same for the use of the persons so ensratrcd in the military service afore said. SEC. 39. In case any qualified elector, in military service aforesaid, may be in any hospital, military or naval, or in any vessel, or navy yard, the statements and affidavits, in this act mentioned, may be witnessed by, and made before, any offi cer of the vessel, navy yard, or other place, in which said voter is, for the time being engaged. DUTIES OF ASSESSORS. SEC. 40. It shall be the duty of every assessor, within this commonwealth, annu ally, to assess and return, in the manner now required by law, a'county tax. often cents upon each ev%ry non-commissioned officer and private, and the usual taxes upon every commissioned officer, known by them to be iu (he military service of the United States, or of this state, injhe army ; and when any omission shall oc cur, the omitted name) shall be added, by such assessors, to the assessments and lists of voters, on the application of any citizen of the election district, orprecinct, wherein such soldier might, or would, have a right to vote, if not in such serv ice, as aforesaid ; and such non-commis sioned officers, and privates, shall be ex empt from all other personal taxes, dur ing their continuance in such service; and said assessors sluiil, in each and every case, of such assessed soldiers, or officers, without fee, or reward, therefor, give a certificate of such regular, or additional, assessment, to any citizen of the election district, or election precinct, who may, at any time, demand the same; and upon the presentation thereof, to the tax col lector of said district, or the treasurer of the said county, it shall "be the duty of such officer to receive said assessed tax, of, and from, any person offering to pay the same, for the soldier, or officer, therein named, and to endorse, upon such certi ficate, a receipt therefor; and it shall al so be the duty of said collector, or coun ty treasurer, to receive said assessed tax. from any person who may offer to pay the same, for any of said officers, or soldiers, without requiring a certificate of assess ment, when the name of such persons shall have been duly entered upon the as sessment books, and tax duplicates, and give a receipt therefor, to such person, specially stating, therein, the name of the soldier, or officer, whose tax is thus paid, the year for which it was assessed, and thedateof the paying thereof; which said certificate and receipt, or receipt, on ly, shall bo prima facie evidence, to any election board, provided for by this act, before which the same may be offered, of the due assessment of said tax, against, and the payment thereof by, the soldier, or officer, therein named, offer.ingthe same, as aforesaid ; but said election board shall not be hereby precluded from requiring other proof, of the right to vote, as spec ified by this act, or the general election laws of this commonwealth ; and if any of said assessors, collectors, or treasurers, shall neglect, or refuse, to comply with the provisions of this section, or to per form any of the duties,- therein enjoined upon them, or either of them, he, or they, so bo considered and ad judged guilty of a misdemeanor in office, and shall, on conviction, be fined, in any suin not loss than twenty, nor more thau two hundred dollars : Provided, the additionalassessments, required to be made by the above section, in the city*of I'hil adclphia. shall bo made, 011 application of any citizen of tlie election district, or pre cinct, thereof, upon oath, or affinuatiou, of such citizen, to be administered by tho as sessor, that such absent soldier is a citi zen of the election district, «i precinct, wherein such assessment is required, by such citizen, to be uiado. Sf.c. 41. This act shall not apply to the election of members of council, or toward and division officers, in the city of Phila delphia. HENRY C. JOHNSON, Speaker of the House of Representatives. JOHN P. PKNNEY, Speaker of the Senate. ArrnoVF.D—The twenty-fifth day of August, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. A. 0. CURTIN. Ol'll CiIIKAT VICTORIES. Proclamation by the President * Glory to God Who Giveth tho Victory." WASHINGTON, Sept. 5.— 11 u. m. To Maj. Gen. Dix : The President has issued the following recommenda tion and orders in relation to the re cent successes of tho United States forces at Mobile and Atlanta. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. EXECUTIVE MANSION, 1 Washington, Sept. S3, 1804. J The signal success that Divine Providence lias recently vouchsafed to the operations of the United States fleet and army in the harbor of Mo bile, and in the reduction of Fort Powell, Fort Gaines, and Fort Mor gan, and the glorious achievements of the army under General Sherman, in the State of Georgia, resulting in the capture of the great city of At lanta, call for devout acknowledge ments to the Supreme Being, in whose hands are the destinies of na tions. It is therefore requested that on next Sunday, in all places of wor ship in tho United States, thanksgiv ing be offered to Him for his mercy in preserving our national existence against insurgent rebels who. have been waging cruel war against the Government of the United States for its overthrow ; and also that prayer be made for Divine protection to our brave soldiers and their leaders in the field who have so often and so gal lantly periled their lives in battling with the enemy, and for blessing and comfort from the Father of inercy to the sick, wounded and prisoners, and to tho orphans and widows of those who have fallen in the service of their country ; and that He will continue to uphold the Government of the United States against all efforts of public en emies and secret foes. [Signed] ABRAHAM LINCOLN. EXECUTIVE MANSION. "I WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, IKO4. j The national thanks are tendered by the President to Admiral Farra gut and Maj. Gen. Canby for their skill and courage with which the re cent operation* in Mobile Ilarbor and against Forts Powell and Gaines and Fo"t Morgan, planned and executed; also to Admiral Fanagat and Major- General Granger, under whose imme diate care they were conducted, and the gallant commanders on bay and I ad, and to the sailors and soldiers engaged in the operations, for tho ability and courage which, under tho blessing of providence, have been crowned with bril iant success, and has won for them the applause and thanks of the nation. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. EXECUTIVE MANSION, | WASHINGTON, Sep. 8, 1864. J The National thanks are tendered by the President to Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman and the gallant officers and soldiers of his command before At lanta for the distinguished ability, courage and perseverance displayed in their campaign in Georgia, which under the Divine Power resulted in the capture of the city of Atlanta. The marches, battles, sieges and other military operations that have signalized the campaign must render it famous in the annals of war, and have entitled those who have partici pated therein to the applause and thanks of the nation. (Signed,) ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Executive Mansion, 1 Washington, Sept. IBIJ-I. J Ordered, First, That on Monday the sth day of September, commenc ing at the hour of 12 o'clock, there shall be given a salute of 100 guns at the Arsenal and Navy Yard at Wash ington ; and on Tuesday the sixth day of September and on the day after the receipt of the order at each Ar senal and Navy Yard in the United States for the recent brilliant achieve ments of the fleet and land forces of the United States in the Harbor of Mobile. The Secretary of War will issue the necessary directions in their respec tive Departments for the execution of the order. Second, That on Wednesday, the 7th Sept., commencing at the hour of twelve o'clock, noon, there shall be fired a salute of 100 guns at the Ar senal at Washington, and at New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Balti more, Pittsburgh, Newport, Ky., and St. Louis{ and at New Orleans, Mo bile, Pensacola, Hilton Head, and Newborn the day after the receipt of this order for the brilliant achieve ments of the army under the com mand of Gen Sherman, in the State of Georgia, and the capture of Atlan ta. The Secretary of War will issue directions for the execution of this order. (Signed,) ABRAHAM LINCOLN. <£h* Cittern. THOMAS BOBINSON, l EditoP . CYRUS E. ANDERSON, p aitors - JI. W. SPKAR. Publisher. BUTLER PA. Y NI:P. I I. imji. H*-" Liberty end Union. Now and Forever, One and'nteparable.''—D. Webster. F"R PRESIDENT IN IHC>4: AISltAlIAtt LIKOLS. of Illinois. FOB VICE PRESIDENT: AXWRKW JOIISSTOX. of Tennessee. Presidential Electors. SKUTORI IL Morton M'Michael, Philadelphia. Thomas 11. Cnmiiii|shani»B6»vi>r county. TIK RESXT AT!V K. 1 Robert P. Kinp. |I3 Klla* W. Hall, •_> (100. MorrisonCoatee, 14 Chariest!. Shrlner, .1 Henry Datum. ti John Wlster, 4 William 11. Kern, 110 David M C