Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-27
TO THE VOTERS OF MADISON. OR

ANNAu anl deeut CrlLhNss MY
card addressed you BY VIM L. Early relation
uns hem by and private means he has paraded II in the
columns q the metropolitan journals purp0sy avoided do
always thought moons with propIley and good taste
AZ the newspapers with articles relating to local elections In
which the general public feels interest 1t Is In jadg-
particularly this time when the attention Of all Is
ken directed to the sugg o. our soldiers in the ed and
absorbed In the crisis Of national affairs Mr. Eary has
however e alternative but to adopt the Oh ne Of
c1umuuea lon To much thsts 10 his
descend 70 make answer In public and will content myself
with exposing the a0Wnes and sophry OF the argument by
aging OF his In relation TO the OF soldiers
H. Early with great Ssiiuly blows bot cold all through his
vrd. He e1eep my statement thai "he warmly opposed the
passage OF the bill cOHerng soldiers the fell the privilege
o. y5 and yet admits by long and abored argcme t. that
the bin rs amendlbs stages md very conveniently alb
when the vote ksn. He contents at the bill
NE. ne OonaLoa Eno yer ate an elaborate gumelt 70
@ eject be ms nuat cunlgy thate night Of the soldier 70
ander The cLVgev virtually eoneSes its truth, ani yet
ss a last 20 escape 1m his own conclusion But this second
denying Convention pass Ordnance
and b eony aeng ySeo b. Ign E.rd ~ 'ae s On
vea0n unless ratified By the sople a. ne polls condemn Mr.
Et on OF ms own ou as 1nnt 70 sen yoa IN the senate
rlshe intel SIss ye Mr.. Early says Constu
not charged uni IS Il change be tatsi b. the pepe Ne
7 Constitution As dny 70 ders in the service ofhe
United Stss (n1t Confederate st) Che right Nov,
pats himself ia tbs dilemma Constitution MS been
c1snd Ia Important particular, changing the word
Jf States for Confederate Sae and that without the ord
the people or Corsu51 Of Ngnia contains denial
rh 81 soldiers the Conf service bat
psdy allows them 70 do So Nh IA ~ can take either horn OF
But VIII not DO him the inuscs to suppose that even he can
be ineE uay guilty Of great sb5uriy. lie mus. have
kooWn hs slndy ordinances cf the Convention radical
maea changes ben made The organic law Of the STATE
which hav asvs keen ratified by the people a. the polls
re erred 10 them for rata All
The Constitution which Mr. Early Clngs With such touching
devotion reoogns the Consu ion Of the United States yet
the sen9n Of g. b Is ordnsnes has adopted confirmed
iny HIM that ah not binding the people,
not admitted 70 cote II tie people, Mr. Early as Senator Of
fhpC
the Confederate states and would doubtless Indignantly
deny any mPgAton on his yay TO Il 1etsli ms argument Is
support the Constitution Of he Uatet States.
The Constuhn of Mr. Early Eecon provides that per-
son holding Iucrstive Office shan be eligible to position in the
changed ana that too, Without ratification by people, and
N "a " constitutional seFuPles have never apparently tou
b.ed him 90 that SEQ =.
Constitution Gear Mr., ElrJs heart provides that the
State shall Sp's nted In the Congress Of the United
Vt - OonysnbOa Of 6 by ordinance, VIII Oh SUBJ
ou TO represent the Washington. Earys argu
correct ought 20 send Representatives to Washington
Uhr night cited but enough
shov that tie Constitution Of Yrgnia Of lS0 orvanc law
has oeel rslasd changed ey ordinances OF me Convention OF
SOL With at tie changes having been t tied the people for
70 pass es ordnances or tatos people are bound by them
He does not certainly his card but when the question arises
70 the comforting The privilege Of voting the sodie OF his
country his patriotic mpuls all aroused and he hnd enty
Of constitutional sruples TleR his virtue Is awakened, snd al
exercise ofihe franchise Of freeman.
The bin pass pursuance enc third section OF the ordi-
g TO tbs right given by the rauanse OF the
90 v=uon, but merely decided how Aad In what mode
soldier might the right TO vote Unless this bill had
passed 70 the service could have voted Governor
mb o. Congress although By virtue OF the first section, they
could have voted for members Of the General Assembly
that this by simple sTdinance
ITSELF which quoted In Mr.. Eary's card How, then he
that TIE soer had such right voc WhOSt The bill
With ~ The fact hsi the legislature by large lry,
passed the bin, shows that Of very lawyers in the
State considered the ordinance valid and TIE Tasge Of the BILL
under the ordinance, necessary.
The election dy too close 70 admit Of elaborate legal
these pOin trust however "a 10 snough has
sii 70 show the unsoundn Of Mr. Earys argue Ny tine
much taken with the Of actual
warfare With Mr. Eary. That kind OF the
only Gort which to suit his tastes and lncnations
Respectfully, &C,