The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-05

pose of electing Superintendent of the State
Prison, in place of Hiram Harlow, resigned !;
adopted on the part of the Senate.
On motion Of Mr.. Keith the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE-.4fernoon.
REPORTS ~s
By Mr.. Torrey for Committee on the Library
favorably to resolution donating certain books and
documents to the College of Liberi.; ordered to
lie.
By Mr.. Parker for Committee on Education,
against bill for changing time Of holding annual
school meetings ordered to lie.
THIRD READING OF BILLS
An act to amend Chapter ITO of the General
Statutes relating to the Militia passed.
An act explanatory OF Section As of Chapter
10 of General Statutes relating to the Militia /;
passed. H
An act in amendment OF Section of Chapter
SO of General Statutes relating to taking deposi-
tions passed.
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE SUPPORT OF
GovERNMEN passed.
An act providing extra pay for certain State
officers re.committed to Committee on Ways
and Means, on motion of Mr.. Chandler.
APPOINTMENT.
The Speaker announced as Committee to whom
was referred the claims of Milo L. Bennett -
Messrs. Dorr of Rutland, Deane of Cayendish,
Fisher of Vergennes, Marcy of Royalon, Fisk of
Mortified, Haskell Of We9thersfed, and Wires
of Underhl.
Mr.. Wheeler of South Hero called up House
bill providing for Soldiers voting. The question
was upon ordering the bill TO third reading.
MIR. Wheeler supposed the House would not
be surprised at his calling up this bill. He had
good company in supporting the bill. The Gov
ernor and some of the most 10y al and able men in
the State favored its passage 1t was a matter
Of Congratuation that the committee who had re-
ported against the bill on constitutional grounds,
were yet in favor of the object sought if it could
be obtained in a proper manner. All were in
sympathy with the soldier, and were anxious
that his privileges should not be curtaed. The
soldier, too, is peculiarly fitted to discharge the
duties of freeman in welding the elective fran
ohise. He was raised by the discipline of war
and the baptism of blood above the platform of
political strife. He should, then, be allowed to
use the ballot as we'll as the bullet. He was
qualified to use it, and would enjoy the privilege.
The campaigns in which the ballot is used, are as
important to the well-being of the Government
as those in which the bullet decides the contest.
The importance of the elections can hardly be
soldiers to be defeated by the elections at home
III there is possibility OF doing so, the soldiers
should be allowed to vote.
In reference to the question Of the constitution
atty of the bill. Mr.. Wheeler held that it was
not opposed to the spirit Of the Constitution, if it
was to the letter. He could not believe that i'll
the trainers of the Constitution had foreseen the
present energency,they would have failed toI
provide for it. They did not intend by any
means to exclude citizens from voting. The fact
that the committee made 80 much Of that the
elections were TO be held in the several towns, he
looked upon as a mere technical objection that
should not be regarded as placing restriction
! upon the common right Of citizens to vote. Sol
diers were to all the purposes of the law, resi-.
| dents of the towns where their homes were. The
J fact that there could be an objection made out of
the Constitution was no reason why " our brave
| boys " should be denied the right of welding
the elective franchise. There were times when
it was right to tread closely upon constitutional
/ restrictions. At the present time desirable
end could be attained, and that without treadng
very closely upen constitutional provisions. In
justice to the soldiers he belle we'd 1t should be
done. 1t would gladden. the hearts of soldiers to
! know that they remembered at home.
Mr.. Deane of Cavendish, believed that all
x
from South Hero wished to confer upon the SOL
diers would be gladly given them, if it could be.
But in his view the report of The committee was
conclusive upon this point 1t would no, do for
the Legislature to give its own construction to
the Constitution. 1t would not do to violate pro-
visions of the Constitution that are as plain as the
English language can make them. The Consti
| tuition provides with great Particularly as to the
place and manner in which citizt ms shall vote lie
was speaking against his own wishes and feelings
but must abide by wnat he believed to be right
| The soldiers themselves would not desire that the
Constitution of the State should be violated to
grant them this privilege. lie was compelled to
go against the bill.
The committee had given time and labor to
the subject, and had come to the conclusion that
no way could be devised to grant this privilege to
the soldiers 1t was not advisable to strive to find
specious excuses for disgregarding the plain re-
! quirements OF the Constitution.
Mr.. Wheeler noticed that everything that has
been said in opposing the bill, was founded upor
the supPostion that it was plainly against provis.
ions OF the Constitution to grant this right to sol
diers. He was not ready by any means to gran
this. lie believed that men who favored the bill
had right to Judge and had Judged with REGARD
to this for themselves. They we're probably msr
OF common sense and capable of understanding the
English language, and yet they had come to q con
clusion entirely different from that upon which tn,
gentleman from Cavendish had based his remarks
There were omissions in the Constitution which