Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-18
Gov. Seymour and the Soldiers.

G0V, seymour blu Ilo HUluI6rS,
His Message I'm Favor OF Allowing
mem 20 vote-Protest Against Co.
ercion- Demand for a aCOnsJitutIon-
nj Guarantee.
To the Legislature:
The question Of method by which those Of
our fellow citizens who are absent In the mill
tary and naval service of the nation may be
enabled to enjoy their rights Of suffrage, ia one
of great interest to the people of this State,
and has Justly excited their attention. do not
doubt that the members of the Legislature par
ticipate in the general desire that those who 80
nobly endure fatigue and suffering, and peril
life In the hope that by such sacrifices our ma
tional Union may be preserved and our Consti-
tuition upheld, shall, If possible, be secured an
opportunity for the free and intelligent exercise
OF all their political rights and privileges The
Constitution Of this State requires the elector
TO vote In the election district In which he re-
sides; but IL is claimed by some that law can
be passed, whereby the vote of an absent citizen
may be given by his authorized representative.
Il is clear to me that the Constitution Intends
| that the right to vote shall only be exercised
by the elector in person. 1t would be an insult
and injury to the soldier to place the exercise
of this right upon doubtful or unconstitution-
Al law, when it can be readily secured to him
by constitutional amendment.
| While my own opinion upon this point is de-
cided and will govern my action, 1t is well to
consider the matter under less positive aspect.
IF We concede that it is one of doubt, we should
not close our eyes to the possible results of an
ATTEMPT to exercise it, in view OF that doubt
which ia felt by men oi all parties in both
branches Of the Legislature and elsewhere It
ia poasible that the next Presidential elec-
tion NAV be decided by the vote Of single
State: and IL votes by proxy are authorized, il
IA not impossible that euch votes would, in such
state, decide the election In favor of one party
or the other. 1t surely cannot be necessary to
| impress upon any patriotic, thoughtful mind
| the fearful danger which would attend the COM
nlication of the disastrous civil war which now
sffiicts the country by the interposition of
wel-founded doubt as to the person righttully
entitled to the Presidential Office. The most
intense earnestness and the most desperate de-
termination which have ever marked the con-
ficts of men, would characterize such con-
test.
The decisions of partisan officers, the secret
plottings, excited debates, and interested con-
clusions of the two Houses of Congress; and
the action, more or less violent, of the people
at period when the public mind is violently in'
famed, and when the principles and rules
which have formed the real strength of our in:
stitutions are dangerously unsettled, would
conyulse thisIcommunity. That man must be
ssnguine indeed who can hope that our National
Government would survive such contests.
It is not necessary that the effort to secure 10
our gallant soldiers and seamen just rartici
patton In the choice of the next administration
OF the Natiotal Government should be subjected
to euch dangers. A proposed amendment G
the Constitution, giving the Legislature th'
needful power upon this subject, can be adop et
at the present session, and if concurred in BY
the next Legislature, can be submitted to th,
people in such season, that, If their decision il
J favorable, the action which would be afterwart
necessary, could be taken by that Legislature
| | respectfully recommend that this course bt
taken rather than the pa sage of an uncOnetitu
tional law, or one of questionsb.e validity.
Great care should be taken to prevent, BY
the most efficient checks, the abuses and frauds
to which the exercise of the right OF suffrage
by absentees would be liable. These safeguards
would properly be matter OF legislation aftel
the adoption OF constitutional amendment
Measures should be taken for securing perfect
independence to absent soldiers and seamen in
giving their votes, which shall be so compre-
| nenelVo ana tmCleub 10 w E6liof6 hu1 EodnUu'
able apprehension upon this point.
The conduct and policy oil high officials have
caused great distrust in relation to the freedom
from restraint and coercion which should be
accorded to the absenteee in the exercise of this
right. The people of this State. will never
consent that their absent brethren in the ma
tional service shall be debarred, when they dis
charge the most sacred duty OF the citizen, from
the enjoyment of that entire freedom of opin.
| ion which they have, by an emphatic expression
at the ba'lot-box, secured Tor themselves, and
which they will firmly maintain. 1t would be
worse than mockery to allow those. secluded
| in camps or upon ships TO vote, if they are moi
permitted to receive letters and papers from
their friends, or if they have not the same
freedom in reading public journals accorded I'd
their brethren at home to aid them in the
formation of their opinions in respect ID the
conduct Of those in power, the issues to be de-
cioed at the election, and the character of the
opposing candidates.
| II the expression Of their opinions by the
votes they give or by customary political action
is to subject the officers to dismissal from ser
| vice and soldiers to increased priva.ion, hard
ship, and exposure, the flames OF civil war will
be kindled at the North. have noticed, with
deep regret, attempts on the part Of some ol
the officers of the national Government to in
terfere with the free enjoyment of their political
opinions by persons in the army. There have
been marked instances of this kind which have
Justly excited deep feeling throughout the coun'
try. These inexcusable acts of official tyranny
are rendered more Objectionable by the Ian
guage used in their execution, which s at once
opprobrious in terms and wantOn and unjust
attack upon one.half of the people of sovereign
and loyal States, While subordinate officers
are thus punished for doing their duty as ciizenl
o. their homes, those of high rank have beer
employed to interfere in the elections Of Statel
in which they are not residents.
No reasonable man can suppose that the peo
pie OF this country will permit the noble army
enlisted for the purpose of maintaining the Ma
tioubl Government, to be used for electioneer
ing purposes by those who are charged with
the temporary administration OF that Govern
ment, or who are seeking an additional term o
power l hope that the wisdom of tnOse 4,
whom the destinies Of the nation are now CON
fded by the Constitution will admonish then
10 season OF the dangers of acts marked b.
these features Of wrong and oppression
Whether 1t does or not, have confidence tina
the wisdom Of the people and the Legislator
of this State will be sufficient to secure to il
absent soldiers and sesmen the freedom of po
litical opinion and action, which is their in
alienable right, and in that confidence hav
made the recommendation above expressed.