The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-11-11
Tho SOldiCrs' ole.

GB' Since the election and the almost
unanimous condemnation Of Democratic
men and Democratic measures. by The
soldiers, the members of chat party have
suddenly realized that it was a great out
rage to enfranchse the troops, and talk
very loudly of applying to the courts
tor redress Of their Affections. Martin,
the Democratic candidate for Congress
in the 4th district, voted for, and advo-
Gated, in the legislature, the bill permit
ing the soldiers to vote, but since he has
found that the soldiers have beaten him,
he has become we'll convinced that the
law was unconstitutional. Judge WILL
SON, we learn, is another person who has
become convinced that the soldiers ought
to have been disfranchissd, and talks Of
trying the legality of their votes. The
effect upon their party, Of any measure,
makes wonderful difference in the
minds Of Democrats as to its propriety
and constitutionality. When the WILMor
Proviso was esteemed popular, every
Democratic Legislature, every Democrat
ic Convention nearly, that met north Of
MASON and DIxoN's line, declared in
solemn tones that it was just, expedient,
constitutional, and for the good Of the
country, that slavery should be prohibit
ed from entering the territories, and that
it was very unwise and very improper
to admit any more Slave Safes into the
Union. Now, that same doctrine held,
that same policy advocated, by the Re-
publicans, they denounce as unconstitu-
tional, fanatical, reasonable, and damna-
Bile in its every essential. This new light
has come upon them through the instru-
mentality of party interest, through the
channel of party emergencies and ncces-
sites.
And thus it is with the law permit.
ting the soldiers TO vote. The suppose
interests of party Swallowed forth no
constitutional objections upon the minds
of the Democratic members of the legis
lature, nor upon those of the Democratic
State Central Committee. The members
of the legislature voted for the law, and
the gentlemen of the committee, week
or two previous to the election, were
free TO issue an address to the soldiers
congratulating them upon having pre-
served to them +" the ines,imable right of
suffrage" Tho address began
"SoLDIERs BY an act OF the Legislature
of this State, recently convened in extraordi-
nary session, the inestimable right of suffrage
has been preserved to you, and You are invited
to participate in the determination of our State,
Congressional, and County elections while
absent from your homes, demonstrating with
your lives upon the battle field your fidelity to
the Government we would all perpetuate.
But new light has been reflected up
on these gentlemen and upon their par
ty. They have suddenly found that the
/" inestimablo right of suffrage " accord
ed the soldiers, is right initiating
wonderfully against their political aspira-
tons, and they are now for bringing in
the courts to take from the soldiers that
" inestimable " privilege, upon the pos
session Of which they felt to congralu.
lale the troops of the State. The behests
of party have demanded this sudden
change of tone and of opinion, as they
have demanded similar changes before.
And no sense of shame for pretensions
OF principles thus suddenly eschewed-
for assertion Of doctrine thus sudden
ly abandoned Will be felt. No theory
Of consistency will be suffered to inter-
vene between the party, and success.
The triumph Of the Democratic party
is alone constitutional with these fellows.
They make the Constitution, they mako
the preservation Of the country, they
make their religion, they make Justice
and Right and Humanity, they make
everything, subseryien. to the cause OF
party. Success is the goal for which
they strive, and patriotism, principle,
honor, consistency, they unblushngly
overstop in their easerness. The doc
trine strenuously urged to-day is eschew-
ed for its opposite to morrow. Princi-
pies antipoda in character and effect,
are exchanged one for the other with
celebrity, provided only that the change
promises 10 redown TO party triumph
This is Democracy in party sense-cor-
rupt, trcaehcvous, yaci!lating. unscrup.
ulous.
The Removal of Gen Mcclellan