, 1855-01-20

/, regular soldiers of the U. s. A. should not
be allowed to vote in our territory. list,
they pay no taxes-2d, they are not re-
quired to work on public roads-3d, they
! are incompetent as jurors-and in the
fourth place they are not liable to civil suits.
The general government in enumerating
her inhabitants does not embrace them as
citizens, but as soldiers, showing there very
clearly that they are not regarded as any
part Of the civil, but part of the military
power and cannot well see how gentle
men on this floor will at this period in our
country's history, insist in placing them
side by side as it regards the elective fran
chise with the civil power. To do so would
be at war with all the writer's on political
economy from the earliest period in the his
tory Of our country up to the present time.
No State or territory allows the regular
soldiers to vote at their elections, and l
know Of no good reason why the privilege
should be extended here. believe the
rule to be good one which guards the
elective franchise as much as possible
against surpatior-against frauds-to al,
low no class of men TO vote for lawmakers,
who have no interest in the laws so made.
4 would ask what interest the regular sold
ier has in any laws made by State or ter
ritory? None whatever they are not
subject to any of the civil laws Of any State
or territory, nor can they be made so /;
they cannot be regarded as citizens, for
they are subject to the order of the Secre-
tary'of war and be removed from one ex-
tremity Of the Union to the other at his
bidding, and if SO removed can never re-
turn except ordered to do so by the same
authority while connected with the army.
Mr. Speaker, have had some little prac-
tical experience relating to soldiers voting.
live in a county where there is military +.
post, and where the soldiers vote consti-
tutes the balance Of power. If the candi-
dates for Office are in favor with the sold,
iers, then their election is next thing to
certainty, if otherwise defeat is equally GER
tain thus giving the election Of all our (,
county Offices into the hands Of the regular
soldiers class Of men who have no In
terest 'attstake, not subject to our civil
laws, neither indeed can be, 1t gives to q
class who pay no taxcs-who are not SUBJ
jects of taxation, the entire control over
those who are subjects Of taxation and who
do pay the taxes in the comfy whichI
have in part the honor to represent. san
Aspiring men who look beyond county
Offices may favor the idea Of extending to
the soldier the right Of suffrage, but as for
me regard the policy as anti-repoblican
and anti-democratic, and will cast my vote
to exclude them from the privileges Of the
-. r. L
elective franchise. ..as1uG isl EucA
Mr.. Clark replied by stating that he
could not vote to deprive any freeman Of !
the right Of Suffrage He believed Il anti
republican and anti-democratic to do so,ii
and be could not see why men persisted in }
doing so. He would not say that he was
in favor Of all soldiers voting, but all such
soldiers as lived here at the time Of enlist
ment, owned property and paid taxes
should be allowed tovote. e9l y,aii.m
Mr.. Hendrickson said that there might
be some single instance where injustice
might be done, but he had seen the evil '0f
allowing the soldiers to vote and he was
certain his constituents desired q bin Of the
character Of this before the house. He had.
much respect for the officers and he aid
not believe that they desired to exercise
the right Of franchise. 's.a o. i,5 8 n
The motion was lost = aie7' 2a21 ''iio' 2
| Ayes and noes called by Mr.. HeAdrick-
son. r &
Briscoe, Carson, Clark, Doyle,
Head, McCaw, Stiles, Wallace aud Mr.,
Speaker-9 '...'o =
Noes-Aberncthy, Cock, Denny, Guth-,
rie, Hendrickson, Hennis, Irby, McCool,
Spinning, Watkins, Wells and White-12.
House adjourned. r's ~. .'
AFTERNOON SESSION.
H. B. IL, still up was laid on the table
till tomorrow. re- rq leGl ietcii
H. B. 81, read q second time. "a
II. B. 38, read q second time a'!'
H. B. 80, laid on the table. 9ii
H. B. II, relating to fences and fence
viewers-read second time. 'f1f
Mr.. Abernethy moved to amend by
striking out 90 sections and inserting g.
lost. '-3a ls..4 a. t.. $3.50. oI sY.ih
After various amendments proposed, all
of which were lost, and some considerable
discussion, the bill was read third time
and passed. tra-e ~
Governors message taken up, read and
referred to select committee. hra $50
Denny, Briscoe, Doyle, committee. ~ W
House adjourned. .aLl1Ht Il
SATURDAY, Jan. IS, 1855.
House met pursuant to adjournment
After some preliminary business Of the
morning, on motion Of Mr.. Irby, H. B. IL,
1 al II. 4. :.