Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-11-12
TIE Elective FraD. hiss.

X, right il held moe sacred BIZ free
zen than that Of depositing in the ballo,
hax the names Of the persons preferred by
individuals 10, the various Offices IN the
gift Of the people The right to determine
wl.o shall make and who shall administer
our laws, belongs to those who are to he
governed be those laws. as general rule
In this country, eFery white male citizen,
Of mature age. having complied with GER
tain conditions, has the right e vets, AMI
shershas the privilege as enc OF sovereign
capacity The poor man ~ho secures (
livelihood | V the hard pittanee Of daily
foil, in this respect, is On IA equality 'slth
him who resides in a palace, living upon
the income Of his wealth.
AT the late special session of the Leyis-
lature, an act WAS passed. tbon-h We are
sorry to say with much opposition frozi
the Democratic members, ALLOWING our
brave soldiers whoare temporarily sbsens
from their homes IN defence Of t!aeir com
trys rights and conatrys hoaor, the priv
:lc..e OF exercising the sacred right of
the Elective Franchise, while yet guard
in our homes against the ruthless hzni-
OF rebels and enemies Ia our country. The
sane party that opposed the pa.ssae of
this law. are nov talking Of cont-.tn-- the
election thathas been decided against them
BY the Soldiers vote. Heretofore they
have boosted that more than thee EfthS
ofthe soldiers were Le.aocra t.s-froin their
own party Their opposition Ia the Jaw
allowing soldiers TO vote, proved the ill.,
eincerity Of that boast, and their threats
to contest against the countin. Of those
votes IS equally conclusive OF the fa'sity OF
their boas ed friendship for oar brave vol
unteer soldiers. Ia a,msst all wars here
tofnre, the Elective Franchise has been
extended to soldiers, and none were found
to oppose it o. doubt its propr e.v. Blu
il has been LETT FOR certain class eff nan
CRY politicians, Sho claim 70 le Demo
Gratis; TO call in question the .o.dierr
right to say whether they, er otter per
sons should hold the oiices in the lit OF
the people. Men whose PATRIOTISM aud
voluntary selfdevotion h.s- lea Them from
thcir peaceful homes and quiet Preside,
10 the uncomfortable camp and blood,
battle field, those claiming To lie Demo
Gratis would place on an equality only with
tie slaves of the South They would l,t
ihem do the fighting, ahi!c they remain II t
home and yote men into Office who - ou.d
cut OF the soldiers supplies, cripple the
government IN lis Efforts to suppress the
rebellion, and force u into q d.-konora-
bic compromise, or an acknowledgement OF
the independence OF the Southern Conled
e-acyl
We did suppose that common gratitude
- cur brave volunteers would have 81
fenced opposition, AMI the right to vote
would lie thankfully conceded To them a
= token Of appreciation oi tie dsn-eT- aud
tolls to which they have suliecesd them
selves. But the right is denied by the
Democratic party and we -!.u the stis
ma to rest where it belongs. ii they ~i-l
10 contest an lection ca the ground OF
the unconstitu.ionality of tiae soldiers vote,
let them do it, bat let the soldiers know
who are their friends, AMI who their
enemies. The Slave master wishes his
save to perform all the hardships to
which he would be sihject in his absence
but not to enjoy any Of the privileges OF
d freeman; 80 with those who threaten
to contest the soldiers right to vote