The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1863-09-09

amendment follows in part only the peou-
lar phraseology Of the act 1899, in desig-
mating the persons in military service to
whom it extends. 1t speaks in the Ian
guage Of that act, of persons 'in any
actual military service" and then, drop
ping the words, in any detachment of
the militia or corps Of volunteers conlin-
ues, :. under a requisilion from the Presi-
dent Of the United States. or by the su-
thority Of this Commonwealth The
effect of the suppression Of the words
stated, is not perfectly clear The word
''requsition' in the act of 1899, means
call or demand made by the President
upon the State. If it is inteLded to have
! the same meaning in this amendment,
perhaps there is no change of sense pro-
duced by the suppression, as such requisi-
tions would at all events be filed by de-
tachments of militia or corps OF volunteers
But the writer Of the amendment may have
intended to give this word .requisition'
moro extensive meaning, so as to include
any demand er order for troops from this
State, whether directed to the State au-
thorites or not. 1t Is one of the imper-
fections of this amendment, that the mean
ing Of this important part OF it, should be
open to dispute. If consoripts arc to be
included in the amendment, and to exer-
else the right Of suffrage under it, it win
be important to turn to the 34th Section
Of the Conscription act Of 3rd March 1868,
which provides =
g That all persons drafted under the
provisions of this act, shall be assigned
by the President to military duty in such
corps, regiments, or other branches of the
service, as the exigencies Of the service
may require"
How soldiers dispersed under this pro-
vision, scattered in all parts of the service,
mingled with men and comma nded by off
GERS Of other States and countries. can ex-
ercise the right of suffrage under the reg
ulations of the act Of 1889, or of any other
State act of similar character, it is difficult
to conceive.
The proposed amendment applies to
'all elections by the citizens" and is not
confined to general elections as are the
acts of 1913 and 1899. It is compreheu-
sive, and at Presidential elections it would
doubtless be convenient aud effective in
aid Of President who desired re-elec-
ton, or desired to select his successor
As Commander-in- Chief Of all in military
service, he could control the whole pro-
coediBgi and the country would be relieved
from all those harrassing doubts and that
vexatious uncertainty, as to results, which
have heretofore characterized cur Presi-
Dental elections.
When this amendment again comes up
in the Legislature for action, it will be inn
portanl to examine carefully. its form, the
sgnifcation OF the word "requisition'
which i. contains, and IT'S probable opera
ton and effect in future Preside ential cleo
items; inshort, whether its departures from
the physiology and provisions, of the act
Of 1889, are improvements or not. This
is rendered particularly necessary by the
introduction into th5 policy OF the United
States OF the plan or system Of couscrip-
ton. which as already stately dispenses
with calls or acquisitions upon the State
government and acts upon the citizea, es-
tablisbing an entirely new military rela-
ton between the citizens of the State and
the government of the United States. 1t
viii be necessary that the amendment
have such form that it will fairly accom-
plish It's purpose aud stand nndisturbed
T and uHperverted by contact with new
plans of military action or policy adopted
by the United States Otherwise, it may
possibly happen, that complete control
over State elections will be transferred to
the Federal Government, although such
result is neither desired nor contemplated
in amending the Constitution.
Appeals are now made to soldiers by
party newspapers and orators, to oppose
Judge Woodward at the coming election
because, in the regular course Of his duties,
t he was obliged to decide the question of the
constitulionality of the act of 1899, and
, did decide it, along with other judges OF
the Supreme Court, honestly and truly
Neither he nor his colleagues could
change the Constitution. They were, as
honest men, bound to declare it as they
, found it, and apply it to the case before
them That their decision was correct
3 and stood upon sound. honest reasons