Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-04-01
military Suffrage


AMH
The Republican committee on elections
in The Bichiguh Legislature have just cub.
ml,led IN able and candid report on the
question OF permitting soldier, 10 VOTE
After giving the opinion that the propo.
sed law " unconstitutional, the commits
tee 20 on TO say
Your committee are further unanimously
of the opinion, that the passage of this
bill, IL IL could consistently be done, would
be unwise, and its objects could only be
partially realized, or its provisions but
partially carried into effect.
The constitution and laws OF this State
are limited in their operation and force to
the State. W. can pass no election or
other laws that will be OF any Binding aus
thority outside Of the State or over the
soldiers, officers or armies o! the United
States. There is no power in Michigan
that can authorize the opening Of polls in
amy regiment, battalion, battery or COM
pany OF Michigan soldiers, while in the
service of the general government, out
side of the State. 1t is perfectly manifest
that if we were to pass this bill and ats
tempt TO carry into effect the objects in
tended by it, that we should have 70 de-
pend for its accomplishment upon the
will of the commander OF each post where
might happen 10 be stationed a company
of Michigan soldiers oil the day of the
| election and when we consider the nus
merous points in all sections of the wide
extended range of this great rebellion
where are TO be found bodies of Michigan
troops, and diversities both in character
and politics, Of the officers in command
of these soldiers, rendering it very doubt>
full whether their assent could, in but a
portion of the cases, be obtained TO the
holding OF such elections and the variety
of duties in which the numerous regiments
or detachmenls Of Michigan soldiers are
almost sure TO be engaged on any given
day, making it impossible to hold any
election in very many OF them upon the
day of our general election, without detri'
ment to the service in which, ut the time
they are engsged,i it must satisfy every one
that but a partial vote of the electors o!
this State SO engaged in the military ser
vice could be obtained.
Another objection TO this bill Il TIE OPP
portunity it affords, without power of re
dress, for illegal voting. 1t may be fairly
estimated that at least one third OF the sol>
diers who have enlisted from Michigan,
and who are now in the military service OF
the United States, are not qualified cleo.
tors, but either minors or aliens, who have
not taken the preliminary steps necessary
10 entitle them to vote in this state. When
the polls are opened in the regiments and
companies, as provided by this bill, what
power or authority is there TO prevent
these persons who are not qualified voters,
from coming forward and Offering 10 vote,
and, if objected TO, from swearing their
votes in 7 The laws and authorizes OF this
state are impotent 10 prevent them, or TO
punish them for it.. Those men are Meth
er within the jurisdiction of Michigan
courts or laws, nor in her service, and Mich
igan can neither impose the penalties 70
illegal voting, moi punish them for tEeper'
Jury in falsely swear ing in their votes,
neither at the time, nor when they shall
hare returned to this state. The person
so offending, being at the time neither
within the jurisdiction OF Michigan, nor in
its service, could commit no crime against
the state. There being no power to en-.
force the election laws, the ballot.boxes
might be stuffed or destro, ed by a disord
erly rabble, either ofsolGiers or of people
in the towns through which the commits.
Toner would have TO pass on his return TO
this state, without any greater penalty be-
ing incurred than thas for breach OF the
peace.
The soldier has nc reliable means Of be
coming acquainted either with tkeir char
acter, politics, or qualifications Of the can
didate for the respective offices for which
they are running. Is it, therefore, depriv-
ing the soldier Of any privilege, by refus
ing to extend to him, under such circum.
stances, the right of voting? Is the right
TO vote for q candidate, Of whom we know
nothing, a privilege 1t is believed that,
with tho vast majority Of the men in the
army, there is no desire TO vote for the
greater portion of any of the candidates
which this bill would present before them.
Thei. mines should be, and it is believed
arc, in most cases, intent upon matters ofa
very different character from that of fill
ing the many local offices at home.
As it would be extending TO those cleo
tors no vsluble privilege, neither would it
operate, if the statements above set forth
are in the main correct, as q benefit to the
country ; but might, without any such in.
~tention on the part of the electors in the
army, work great injury TO the country, by
placing in positions Of trust III unworthy
and incompetent public officers
Your committee believe the passage OF
this bill would be unconstitutional, IS vel
as imbractic,.ble,