Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-30
THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE.

The Legislature Of New lo,k closed its session and ad
journed sine die Sa uday last OF between five aud
SIX hundred billie which passed of them have been
generally discussed in the NV York Journals The
Soldiers Proxy Vote Bill" Whit this bill pending
Governor SEYMOUR by special message, advised the Le-
gislaure that il unconstitutional and that to
psh the object proposed would require amendment of
the State Constitution The Governor censured by
those of opposite politics for this alleged interference with
their Legislation, aud the close OF the session the bill
was passed. Previously motion had been voted down
which proposed to place the votes of the soldiers sealed
envelopes and requiring the soldier voting to write his
name etc across the face and the authority Of the citizen
to deposit the motion had also been voted down
which proposed to make penal offence for officers to
soldiers in voting When the BILL after it had final
y passed presented to the Governor he vetoed it
The Senate again passed the bill the Governors Veto
adopted resolutions denuncaory of the Veto and sent the
bill to the Assembly where failed to pass Then both
Houses adopted constitutional amendment to allow sol
ders to vote in accordance with the previous
daon of the Governor. This proposition which was
adopted by unanimous VOTE must first 60 to the people
and be adopted by the next Legislature We append the
message in which Governor Seymour gives bis for
Disappearing the original bill, as follows:
STATE OF New York EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Aibanu, april "a, 1863.
return without my signature the bill entitled An act
to the elective franchise to the qualified Of
the army and navy of the State of New York"
1T il clear in violation of tho Constitution in the
judgment of Of all parties that it is needless dwell
upon that objection to the bill While it only received
the Assembly the number Of woes necessary to its pas
sage Of those who voted for it openly stated their
opposition to tha After its passage that branch
of the Legislature with great unanmty and without
gard political differences adopted the resolutions for
amendment of the Constitution to the objects of
this bill IN accordancs with the recommendations Of the
message which lately sstto the Legislature this sub
ect not doubt that the Senate will also pass the
solutions with the unanlmity, and then the whole
subject will be disposed of with the assent and approval
of all, and in mode free from all doubt, and uncer
tanties. xtnn
This bill is not only unconstitutional but it is also
extremely defective and highly objectionable. The time
yet remaining of the present session will not permit
specify all the objections to its details 1t does not require
the proxy the soldier to be proven before the represent
tatve of the State but gives the power only field officers
Of regiments who have been recently brought within the
operation of the most arbitrary rules OF military govern
ment it does permit the soldier TO choose the friend
ia whom he would most confde his proxy but qures
him select from the class Of fire holders,who
not recognised by Constitution entitled to special
privileges il subjects the person appointed hOugh with
out his consen proxy to the penalties OF criminal
offence fine, and imprisonment Tor refusing or neglectng
to deposit the vote he receives though hs may believe that
it is genuine it provides OF verifying at the
polls the authenticity of proxies; requires the inspectors
deposit in the ballot under the penalties OF nal
offence ballots received with any proxy however much
proxies ballots to be sent by mail otherwise which
permits messenger to be selected by other persons than
the voter it does not require the messenger to he
it does not require him to deliver the proxies and bal
lots TO the persons named proxies, but permits HIM
to destroy change the proxies and ballots or deliver
them to any unsworn and unauthorized person he may
select it does not make the change or destruction OF the
ballots except by the person appointed proxy, criminal
offence punish act in any manner; it fails to
protect secrecy of the ballot and it requires the per-
named proxy to deposit in the baotbox the ballots
ALI b, hu nunnrn mar
although they may be different from those he knows were
sent by the voter
This brief statement will be sufficient to satisfy all Of
the many opportunities this bill affords for gross frauds
upon the electors in the army and upon the baobox at
home The deposit OF ballot is final and irrevocable
act and the people will never permit ballots to be rec ved
unless with abundant guarantees that they beyond
doubt the free act OF the electors
The bill is in conflict with vital principles Of electoral
purity and independence 1t is we'll said by Dr. Lieber
in bis work "Cvil Liberty aud Self Government"
that call elections must be superintendent by election
judges and officers, independent of the executive any
other organized unoganized power Of the Government
The cency well the absurdty and immortality of
the Government recommending what to be voted ought
to be permitted"
This bill not only fails to qua against abuses and frauds
but offers every inducsment and temptation to perpt
trats them by those who under the immediate and
particular control Of the General Governm That Gov
eminent has not hesated to interfere directly with the
local elections, by permitting officers of high rank TO
gage Them in States Of which thy not citizens in
marked instances high and military commissions
have been given TO those who have rendered day
of military duty who have never been upon battlefield
but who have been n the receipt of military pay aud mill
tary honors to support them their interference in behalf
Of the Administration with the elective franchises of diff
rn sovereign and States Not only have some thus
been rewarded for going beyond the bounds of military
propriey but others AM subordinate officers have been
and degraded for the fair and independent exercise
of their political rights, at their own homes and in the
performance of their civil duties. call the attention OF
the Legislature and the public to the following orders
WAR DEPARTMENT
Adjmant Generals Office,
Washington. Morch Is, 1868.
SPECIAL. ORDERS No. li9. (Extract)
"a BY direction Of the President the following officers