Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-29
Gov. SeymOur's Veto Message on the
Soldiers Vote Bill.

Gov. SeymOur's Veto Message on the
Soldiers Vote Bill.
STATE OF N. Y, EXECUTIVE DEpAarMENrl
| ALBANY, April "a, 1863.
/ return without my signature the bill enti
tied IAN act to secure the elective franchise
TO tho qualified voters of the Army and NAVY
Of the State of New York"
1t 10 90 clearly In violation OF the Constitu
ltion, In the judgment of men Of all parties, that
10 needless to dwell upon that objection to the
bill. While 1t only received 10 the Assembly
the number of voted necessary TO its passage,
some OF those who voted for Il openly stated
their opposition to the measure After its
passage that branch OF, the Legislature, with
great unanimity, and without regard to politi-
cal differences, adopted the resolutions for an
amendment OF the institution, to secure the
objects OF this bill, 10 accordance with the rec.
concentrations of the message which | lately
scns TO the Legislature on this subject. do
not doubt that the Senate will also pass the res.
olutions, with the same uranimity, and then
the whole subject will be disposed Of With the
assent and approval OF all, and In o mode free
| from oil doubts and uncertainties.
This bill Is not only unconstitutional, bat II
Is also extremely defective and highly objeo.
tonable.
| The time yet remaining of the present sea-
sion wall not permi. me to specify all tho OBJ.
jections to it's details. 1t does not require the
proxy OF the soldier to be proven before the
representative of the State, but gives the power
olly to field officers of regiments, who have been
recently brought within the operation of the
most arbitrary rules Of military government ;
it does not permit the soldier to choose the
friend in whom he would most confide as bis
proxy, but requires him to select one from the
class of freehoders, who are not recognized BY
our Constitution as entitled to special priv.
ileges 1t subjects the person appoint.
ed though without bis consent) as O
proxy, to the penalties Of q criminal Of
fense, foe, and imprisonment, for refusing OF
neglecti1g to deposit the vote he receives
though he may believe that Il 10 not genuine;
il provides no means OF verifying at the polls
the authenticity Of proxies; Il requires the in,
spectors to deposit in the ballot-box, under tht
penaltie, of a criminal offense, the ballo.s re-
ceived, with any proxy, however much reasor
there may be 10 doubt its authenticity; il al.
lows proxies and ballots to be sent by mail o
otherwise, which permits messenger to be sc
leoted by other persons than the voter; 1t doe
not require the messenger to be sworn; 1t doe
not require him TO deliver the proxies aud bal
lots to the persons named as proxles, but per.
mits him to destroy or change the proxies an
ballots, or deliver them to any unsWorn and m
authorised Person no may select; it does no
make the change or destruction Of the bal ots
except BY the person appointed proxy, o Grimm
al offense, or punish such an act in any man
ner; II fails to protect the secrecy of the ballot
and 1t requires the person named as proxy Il
deposit in the bAllot-box the ballots Delivers
80 him with a proxy by an unknown person
although they may be different from those b,
knows we're sent by the voter. This briefstate
ment will be sufficient to sstlsfy all OF tn,
many opportunities this bill affords for gros
frauds upon the eeotofa In the army and upol
the ballot-box at home. The deposit of bal
lot 10 q fnal and irrevocable act, and the peopl
will never permit ballots to be received unles
with abundant guarantees that they srS beJonl
doubt the free act ofthe electors. -r p,
il The bill 10 In conflict with vital principles o
electoral purity and independence. Il Is vol
said by DIR. Lieber, In his work ON "Civl Lib
erty and Self-Goverlment," that "all elections
must be superintended by election judges anC
officers, independent of the Executive, or an,
other organized or unorganlzsd power Of th,
Government. The indecency as well as the ab
surdity and immortality of the Government 70
commencing what 10 to be voted, ought neyel
to be permitted" = 'a,.-,
Thls bill not only fails 10 guard against
abuses and frauds, but IL offers every induce
pent and temptation to perpeEate them, by
those who ara under the Immediate and partio.
ular control OF the Geaersl Government. THAI
Government has not hesitatcd to interfere dl
recly with the local elections, by permitting
officers of high rank to engage in them, in
States OF which they are not citizens. Ii
marked instances, high and profitable military
commissions have been given to those wht
have never rendered one day of military duty
who have never been upon battle field; but
who have been In the receipt Of military Pc,
and military honors, TO support them In thel
jnterference, 10 behalf of the Administration
with the elective franchise of different sover
eign and loyal States. al
Not only have some thus been rewarded 70
going beyond the bounds of military prophets
but others aud subordinate officers have bee
I punished and degraded for the fair and inds
pendent exercise of their political rights, O
their own homes, and in the performance, Q
their civil duties. call the attention Of th
Legislature and the public TO the followln
order: t,JBGs- .ef11Ee.ilsugo.l
Wan DEPARTMERr,
: ADJuTANr-GENERAL's OFFIcE,}
WASHINGTON, March l3, 1868