Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-11-12

The following is an abstract of the de- |
bate in the House, on Wednesday, upon |
the Bill providing for soldiers voting.
There seems TO have been no disagree |
ment expressed as to the propriety of al
lowing our volunteers to share in our cleo
hons, except that our State Constitution
presented an insuperahle obstacle:
Mr.. Wheeler, Of South Hero, called up House
bill providing tor soldiers voting. The question
was upon ordering the bill 10 third reading.
Mr.. Wheeler supposed the House would not
be surprised at his calling up this bill. lie had
good comuany in supporting he bill The Cover
nor ana some OF the most loyal and able men in
the State favored its passage. Ii was matter of
congratulation that the committee who had re-
ported against the bill on cons itutional grounds,
were yet in favor of the object sought ii il could
be obtained in q proper manner. All we've In
sympathy with the soldier, and were anxious
that his privileges should not be eurtailed The
soldier, too peculiarly fitted 10 discharge the
duties of freeman in welding the elecrpe fran
chise. lie was raised by the discipline Of war and
the baptism Of blood above the platform Of politi-
cal strife He should, then, be allowed TO use
the ballot as we'll as the bullet. He was qualified
70 use it, and would enjoy the privilege, The
campaigns in which the ballot Is used, are as i'm
pOrtant to the well-being Of the Government as
those in which the bullet decides the contest.
The Importance OF the elections can hardly DO
over estimated Now is it right to allow our SOL
diers to be defeated by the elections at home If
there is a possibility OF doing so, the soldiers
should be allowed to vote.
In reference to the question of the constitution
atty OF the bill, Mr.. Wheeler held that II not
opposed to the spirit OF the Constitution, II It was
% the letter. He could not believe that if the
trainers Of the Constitution had foreseen the pres
emit emergency, they would have failed TO provide
for it. They did not intend by any means to ex-
Clude citizens from voting. The fact that the
committee made so much Of, that the elections
were to be held in the several towns, he looked
upon o. 4 mere technical objection that should
not be regarded as placing a restriction upon the
common right of citizens to vote. Soldiers were
70 all the purposes of the law, residents of the
towns where their homes were. The fact that
there could be an objection mad. out of the Con-
etitution was no reason why "our brave boys"
should DO denied the right of welding the cleo
tive franchise. There were times when it was
right to tread closely upon constitutional restr1c-
tions. At the present time desirable end could
be attained, and that without treading very close
ly upon constitutional provisions. In justice to
the soldiers he believed it should be done. II
would gladden. the hearts of soldiers TO know that
they are so remembered at home.
Mr.. Deane, OF Cavendish, believed that all
would agree that the honor which the gentleman
from South Hero wished to confer upon the sol
di rs would be gladly given them, if it could be.
But in his view the report of the committee was
conclusive upon this point 1t would not do for
the Legislature TO give its construction to the
Copsti ution. 1t would not do to violate the pro-
visions Of the Con >tituion that plat, as the
English Ian suage can maxi them The Constitu-
ton provides with great particularly as to the
place and manner in which citizens shall vote
He was speak ng against his own wishes and
feelings, but must abide by what he bel eyed to bt
right. The soldiers thems Ives would not desire
that the Constitution of the State should be vlo.
lated TO srant them this privilege He was COM
PEELED to 60 against the bill
The corn nittee had given time and labor to thu
subject and had come to the conclusion that NJ
way could be devised t, grant this privilege TO th'
soldiers. 1t was not ad isable to strive TO tine
specious excuses for disregarding the plain re
auremens Of the Constitution.
Mr.. Vince er noticed that everything that ha
been said in opposing the bill was founded up
the superstition tn it it was plainly against provis
ions OF the Con tuition to grant this right to sol
diers. He was not ready py any means 10 gran
this He believed that men who favored the b
had o rlsht 70 Judge and had judged with regar
to this for themselves. They we're probably me
Of common sense aud capable OF understandin
the English language, and yet they had come 70
conclusion entirely different from that upon whlc
the gentlcm IN from Cav ndish had based ms re
marks. There w re omissions IN the Const tuu 9
which he believed were providential. II was onl
for the T. eislature 10 fill those omissions, or tax
advantage Of tie privileges which the COnsttt
ton left TO provide for soti rs vo'ing. II IN
framci of the 20 .stitution had aniicilatcd tins
anybody by any kind OF quibbling would prevet
OF try to prevent a portion OF me citizens iroi
voting, then there would have been he bviieve'
. special prousion that citiz"ns nignt vote whe
away from home Tor purposes OF war
The House refused the bill a third reading,