Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-29


ING The SoLDIERs To y~orE-PRorrsT AGAINST
CoERoIox-DEMASD ron a CoSsrIrUrioSAL
GUARANTEE.
To the Legislature:
The question Of a method by which those OF
our fellow citizens who are absent in the military
and naval service OF the nation may be enabled
to enjoy their rights Of suffrage. Is one OF great
interest 10 the people Of this State. and has just
" excited their attention. do not doubt that
the members of the Legislature participate in a
general desire that those who SO nObly endure ia
tigue aud suffering. and peril life in the hope that
by such sacrifices our National Union may be
preserved and our Constitution upheld, shall. IL
possible. be secured an opportunity for the free
and intelligent exercise OF all their political
rights and privileges The Constitution of this
State requires the elector to vote in the election
district in which he resides: but IL is claimed by
some that a law can be passed. whereby the vote
of an absent citizen may be given by his author
lied representative IL is clear TO me that the
Constitution intends that the right to vote shall
only be exercised by the elector in person. it
would he an insult and injury TO the soldier TO
place the exercise of this right upon a doubt
full or unconstitutienal law, when it can be
readily secured TO him by a constitutional amend
ment.
While my own opinion upon the point is decid-
ed and will govern my action, it is well TO cor
slider the matter under a less positive aspect IL
We concede that il is Que of doubt, we should not
close our ewes to the possible results OF an at
tempt to exercise il. in view of that doubt which
is felt by men OF all parties in both branches of
the Legislature and elsewhere 1t Is possible
that the next Presidential election may be decided
by the vote of n single State; and ID votes 10y
proxy are authorized, il is not impossible that
such votes would. in such State. decide the cleo
ton in favor OF one party or the other. ltsuIely
cannot be necessary TO impress upon any patriotic.
thoughtful mind the fearful danger which would
attend the complication of the disastrous civil
war which now aflcts the country by the inter
position of a well founded doubt as t. the person
rightfullv entitled to the Presidential office. The
most intense earnestness and the most desperate
determination which have ever marked the con-
hicts of men would characterize such a contest.
The decisions of the partisan officers. the Sc
cret p~lottings. excited debates, and interested
conclusions of the two Houses of Congress; and
the action more or less violent, of the people. at
a period when the public mind is violently in
famed, and when the principles and rules which
have formed the real strength of our institutions
are dangerously unsettled, would convulse this
community. That man must be sanguine in
deed who can hope that our National Govern
ment would survive such contests.
1t is not necessary that the effort to secure to
our gallant soldiers and seamen a just participa-
ton in the choice of the next administration of
the National Government should be subjected TO
such dangers A proposed amendment OF the
Constitution, giving the Legislature the needful
power upon this subject can be adopted at the
., eSent session. and if concurred in by the next
Legislature. can be unlimited to the people in
such season that if their decision is favorable,
the action which would be afterwards necessary.
could be taken by that Legislature. | respect
fully that this course be taken rather
than the passage OF an unconstitutional law, or
one of questionable validity.
Great care should he taken to prevent, bv the
most efficient checks. the abuses and frauds to
which the exercise of the right of suffrage by
absentees would be liable These safeguards
would properly be = matter of legislation after
the adoption OF a constitutions amendment
Measures should be taken for securing perfect in
dependence TO absent soldiers and seamen in Civ
ing their votes, which shall be so comprehensive
and efficient as to relieve any reasonable appre
hension upon this point.
The conduct and policy of high officials have
caused great distruSt in relation to the freedom
from restraint and coercion which should be &C
corded IT, the abSen1ees in the exercise of this
right. The people of this st re will never con
sent that their absent brethren in the National
service shall be declared, when they discharge
I lUc it's StCsC u NuNh vi NHC AhC Nu
10, ment of that entire freedom of opinion which
they will firmly maintain. 1t would be worse
than a mOckery to allow those secluded in camps
or upon ships to vote, if they are not permitted
to receive letters and papers from their friends, or
it they have not the same freedom in reading
public journals as are accorded to their brethren
at home, to aid them in the formation of their
opinions in respect to the conduct of those in
power. the issues to be decided at the election,
aud the character OF the opposing candidates.
If the expression Of their opinions by the votes
they give or by customary political action is to
subject officers to dismissal FROM service, and
soldiers to increased privaiion. hardship. and ex
pnsure, the q tines OF civil war will be kindled at
the North. | nave noticed. with deep regret, ut
tempts or the part of some of the officers of the
National Government to interfere with the free
endowment of their political opinions by persons
in the army. There have been marked instances
of this kind which have Justly excited deep feel
ing throughout the country. These inexcusable
acts of Official tyranny are rendered more Obiec
tionable by the language used in their execution,
which is at once Opprobrions in terms, and a
wanton and unjust attack upOn One-half of the
people of sovereign an loyal States While sub
~orlinate Officers are thus punished for doing their
duty as citizens at their homes. those of high rank
have been employed to interfere in the elections
of States in which they are not residents.
No reasonable nan can suppose that the people
of this country will permit the noble army. enlist
ell for the purpose of maintaining the n ltional
Government. to be used for electioneering Durpo
ses by those who are charged with the temporary
administration of the Government, or who are
seeking an additional term of power. | hope
thar the wisdom of those to whom the destinies
OF the nation are now confded by the Constitu
ton, will admonish them in ~easOnof the dangers
of acts marked by these features of wrong and
oppression. Whether il does or not. | have con
flemce that the wisdom Of the people and the
Legislature Of this State viii be sufficient to Sc
cure TO It's absent soldiers and seamen the Tree
dom of political opinion and action which is their
inaliensble righ', and in that confidence | have
made the recommendation above expressed.
HoRATIo SEYMOUR
RESOLUTIONS of the DemOcracY of