, 1862-05-23
THE BOGUS CONSTITUTION.
The Soldiers are not Allowed
to Vote Because they are
Opposed to the 9Windle.

A0FNA~2ENA4N4ANN
=" PADucAH, Ey., May 19, 1862,
The Commissioners appointed by the
late Illinois Constitutional Convention
for the purpose Of cangasstng the vote Of the
soldiers from cur State for and against the New
Constitution, were here last week, and finding
:" Jordan hard road To- trare','' particularly
where there Was gu Egyptian regiment, the
9Th Illinois Cavalry, Governors Legion,} to
guard the pass from rebel sympathy to rebel
lion, they had call to drive ont, after about
one half Of the: votes were taken Of tho two
battalions stationed here and skedaddled,
leaving at least four hundred votes untaken-
When one more day would hare honestly coua-
p1etea their labors. The fiet is that these
functionaries found that the: Egyptian soldiers
s5s tee Perposss, w Rsstsa ass LIKE sss:1
Price at Bonneville, they we're taken
short and couldn't stay-had to report at
scme other point Nov the tact is, out of
over $50 votes can7assed, there we're but two
solitary votes cast for the constitution. To
our camp without completing their work,
they never visited our hospital, which ia on
the came street With the csmp, where there
EtIe from IS to LIS brave, sick and wounded
ll1lnelsians, who had prriled their lives in
'lae defense OF that old tag we all love SO
died to give one retiring salute to an iniquity
that never should have been attempted to be
forced upon US at this critical time. The meru-
bers Of the convention we're chosen after We
were in the service, in the choice Of whom We
had no gay, and now they seek through this
instrument to legisla:e our old State officers
out Of Office and boost into their places some
OF the same stamp OF the convention who cry
Peace; peace, when there is no peace,n aud
won!d wink at treason as It stalks abroad in tile
land. These are the men who bra"l loudly
On the corn rs and in the highways for the
Union, and iu the same breath would stab Gov.
Yates for haviEg supplied our brave soldiers
with better and more clothing to make them
comfortable than any Other troops in the field.
Our soldiers FAT, and with Justice too, TINT the
Old constr ution is good enough to defend the
State and the general Government, aud
as it Las been financially tried and fouad good,
It had better be let alone in times like these
I'LL we all return to cur homes SO that we can
have voice in the selection Of our men, and
afterwards cast our votes understandingly for
| or against my instrument they may make.
Some will say shave we not sent Commission
| e1s clothed with authority to take the senses
| OF the Illinois soldiers % True, you have,
but how has 1t been done? do not pretend
| to FAY how 1t has been III other regiments, but
50 far as the 9th Illinois cavalry Is concerned,
taken the whole vote, We #onld have cast il
| the two battalions stationed here not less
than 500 votes against it. And, therefore,
deem it an act of Justice to those of our friends
at home whose fathers, brothers and hus-
bands are in the army, to let them know no "
We have been treated by these functionaries
Of this Convention, notwithstanding the fact
that We are st least sacrificing health, lie and
the comforts Of home and friends in the de.
ftnse of our country, that was transmitted 70
| us by our fathers, against rebel foe whose
y2nda1 hands would snatch from us our birth.
right. JAMES A. PuTM1RE,
l Assistant Sur0enu 9Th Ill Cavalry