George G. Meade Autograph Letter Signed "Geo. G. Meade." Two pages with integral blank, 7.75" x 9.75", on Headquarters, Third Military District letterhead, Atlanta, March 21, 1868. Writing to Gen. Thomas H. Ruger, military governor of the state of Georgia, he discusses a possible problem with employees of the Georgia State Road in the upcoming gubernatorial election, in part: "While I have no desire to control the opinions or votes of any individual I consider myself justified in prohibiting, any active participation in politics, by any of the officers or employees of the state without reference to the side on which they propose to erect themselves. You will therefore please to take such measures, as you may deem necessary to ensure the neutrality of the State Road in the coming contest." Smoothed folds. The lowest line of text on the recto and a portion of Meade's signature show some smudging, but are still entirely legible.

Two months before this letter was written, Georgia Governor Charles Jones Jenkins, who was elected in November 1865, was forcibly removed from office by Gen. Meade. The year before, Jenkins, an outspoken opponent of the Fourteenth Amendment, was ordered to pay $40,000 to fund the constitutional convention so as to rewrite the constitution of Georgia to comply with federal requirements. Jenkins refused. In anticipation of being ousted from office, Jenkins ordered all collection of taxes halted. Jenkins fled the state and Gen. Ruger was instated as military governor [January 1868]. In April, Georgia held new elections (those mentioned in this letter) and Republican candidate Rufus Bullock was elected governor.