The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-05-13
Wo0DsFIELD MONROE COUNTY OHIO MAY - 1868.

- - 1
tions fer amendment of the Constitution
to secure the objects Of this bill in accor-
dance with the recommendations of>the
message which I lately sent to the Legis-
lature on this subject. do not doubt
that the Senate will also pass the resolu-
tions with, the same unanimity, and then
the whole subject will be disposed of with
the assent and approval of all, and in
mode free from all doubts and upcer-
tainties.= 9 3 3f
This bill is not only unconstitutional,
but it is also extremely defective and high
Ily Objectionable. The time yet remaining
of the present session will not permit me
to specify all the objections to its details.
1t does not require the proxy of the sol
dier to be proven before the representa-
tive of the State, but gives the power only
to field officers of regiments who have
been recently brought within the opera
ton Of the most arbitrary rules of mill
tary government; it does not permit the
soldier to choose the friend in whom he
would most cohfde as his proxy, but re-
quires him to select one from the class of
freeholders, who are not recognised by
our Constitution as entitled to special
privileges; it subjects the person appoint
ed (though without his consenD as aproxy
to the penalties of criminal offence, fine,
and Imprisonment for refusing or neglect
/ ing to deposit, the vote he receives, though
| he may believe that it is not genuine; it
provides no means of verifying at the
pells the authenticity of proxies; it re-
quires the inspectors to deposit in the
ballot box, under the penalties of a Grim
inal offence, the ballots received with any
proxy, however. much reason there may
be to doubt its authenticity; it allows
proxies and ballots to be sent by mail or
otherwise. which permits a messenger to
be selected, by other persons than the
voter; it does not require the messenger
| to be sworn; it does not require him to
| deliver the proxies and ballots to the per-
sons named as proxies, but permits him
to destroy or change the proxies and bal
lots, or deliver them to any unsworn and
unauthorized person he may select; it does
not make the change or destruction of the
ballots, except by the person appointed
proxy, criminal offence, or punish sue h
q, act in any manner; it fails to protect
the secrecy of the ballot; and it requires
the person named as proxy to deposit IN
the ballet-box, the ballots delivered to
him with proxy by an unknown person,
although they may be different from those
he knows were sent by the voter.
/ This brief statement will be sufficient
to satisfy all of the many opportunities
this bill affords for gross frauds upon the
electors in the army aud upon the ballot
box at home The deposit of ballot to
final and irrevocable act, and the people
will never permit ballots to be received
unless with abundant guarantees that they
are beyond doubt the free act of the cleo
tors.
The bill is in conflict with vital prinei
pies of electoral purity and independence.
is we'll said by DIR. Lieber, in his work
ION s'Civil Liberty and Self-Government,
that !. all elections must be superintended
by election judges and officers, indepen-
| dent of the executive or any other organ
lied or unorganized power of the Govern
ment. The indecency as well as the abb
surdity aud immortality of the Govern
ment recommending what is to be voted
fought never to be permitted. Us d
! The bill not only fails to guard against
!. abuses and frauds, but it offers every in
ducemcnt and temptation to perpetuate
them, by those who are under the imme-
! diate and particular control of the General
! iGovernment That Government has not
hesitated to interfere directly with the
local elections, by permitting officers OF
high rank to engage in them, in States OF
which they are not citizens. In marked
instances, high .and profitable military
. tcommissions'have been given to those who
4 have never rendered one day of military
duty, who have never been upon a battle
field, but who have been in the receipt OF
: military pay and military honors, to sup
tport them in their interference, in behalf
J, Of the Administration with the elective
f franchises of different sovereign and loyal
States. Not only have some thus been
rewarded for going beyond the bounds OF
military propxiety, but others and subor-
: dinate officers have been punished and
i degraded for the fair and independent ex
terciss of their political rights, at their
7 own homes, and in the performance OF
: their civil duties. / call the attention oi
! the Legislature and the public to the fol
lowing odrer: 1t sas 9g
WAR DEPARTMENT, ss
Adiutant Generals Office, 4
2s7eq Eashington, 1Narct 13, 1853.
I = SPECIAL ORDERS No. 119, (Extract.)