Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-02-24
Tno soldloro' Right to vote.


CAMP NEAR CENTERv11IE, UpsHuR Co. !
-.s5.2' sis.g West5Virgiuia, Feb. / 6 '63.
Editors IntttIigcncer s.l -
see.in the Daily issue of the L,tclligencs,
OF February 10th that there is u move in
some quarters for the purpose of trying To
prevent the soldier from voting in any Of
the elections; thatthe Legislatures of some
of.the States are trying 10 pass bills to tbnt
effect. Now | propose, through the Col.
umus of your valuable paper, to make n
few practical remarks upon that point
First, | would say that ever since the in.
auguration OF this unholy rebellion. that
there isia party of men, not in other States
alone, but iu West Virginia, that, if not in
open rehellton against this GOvernrnent.
they are the av0wed enemies or the willinG
tools OF some .Of4the leading men in trviug
to overthrow this Government, and break
up the institutions of free people. and
enslaye them under the iron heel Of n slave
oligGFchy. They are the sympathizers Of
jeff. Davis & Co. against the institutions of
n hGoTernment that hns stood the storms Of
neaE century, against the fAnaticisn,. and
the intrtgues of the worst men that Cod ,.v
er permitted to.live: men whose characters
are stained with perjury, aud who never
had an, honest emotion in their souls in
their lives. Treason is the highest crime
known in the laws of civilized nations
ngainst any government. And why it is
that such meu are permitted to run at
large and give expression TO their trenson-
able sentiments, is something that do not
understand. But there is Que thing know
There IS too much leniencyl shown by
ouHmen in authority. Whenever any man
gives utteranCe TO the sentiment that n
| EOl1jpr ahonI1 ha = .lLn
| lege of voting, or the right of suffrage in
any way. in any of the lending questions
of our Government, he should be huup
without trial by "A jury of our common
country. he does not deserve the sympu
thles OF any man, or loyal government.
tTheisoldters are the bone and sinew of
our, country, and deprive them of the rieh,
OF voting and you at ouce sap the foania
ton of our free institutions, and Law the
foundation to completely destroy this Upi-
on, and the liberties secured to us by our
forefathers, and cemented by their blood
on the battle-felds of the Reyolutinn
And not only that, but the Constitution
and the enforcement of the laws which we
are trying to sustain in the present con-
i tiicc against an armed rebellion against
onc;SE the best Goyernmentsthis world ev-
er. zSR.
4
camp life, and face the cannon's mouth IN
defence of our rights and liberties. and
then be denied the privilege of voting, is
too mean and contemplate for moral CON
temptation. 1t is not only the secession
1'rehegades of our country, but hirelipp
lpTess that islnade the cats paw of certain
individuals in West Virginia. These men
had not the moral courage to take up arms
against a rebellion inaugurated by the
worst men that God ever permitted to live
lupon this earth. And these reneuades
and hlreling press do the sueaking, COW
! ardly work OtJeG. Davis l. CO. And when
we crush out this rebellion, which We
certainly will, | would like to head reri.
ment of men from West Virginia and
hang the last man iu this State who has
dared to say that the soldier should not
vote in Spyzof the elections whatever, and
Fare trying TO accomplish their hellish pur.
l'Peses by deGepuOn, fraud, lying, and false
swearing. The soldiers are not iguorant of
these tacts, and their vengeance slumbereth
not. But these men will be made 10 feel
1.-The scord and contempt that they have for
| all such men, who have taken adynn-
tage of their rights in Their absence from
| their different States
Now, Messrs. Editors, an idea of that
kind never entered the head of anr rn.r
that is an honest. loyal ana Law.
abiding man. but just sach mea as John. :
Garlile ard the editors of certain sbeeIs ~
secession origia In West Virginia, Who are
trying to defeat the ueW State measute, in
the absence of all moral honesty. Take ,he
right of voting away from The soldier. and
you destroy every yesGge of Uuion tseIino
In his bosom, and the cause for which he
has enlisted. What, take away The yery
principle for which he is conteuding? Why
such an idea is the offspring of his Satanic
majesty; 1t was Matched in bell aud preach !.
ed by the devil, and these men are his ac-
cotDPiices engaged in all those nefarious :
: schemes to break this Government sn5