Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-02-25
Democracy and the Soldiers Vote.
DEBATE IN THE PENNSYLVANIA SENATE
Who is the Friend of the Volunteer?

! introduced by Mr.. johnson, the talented Senator
| from the Lycoming district, providing for an a
mendment to the Constitution which will allow the
men who are fighting for their country to exercise
the right of suffrage in the tented field 1t will bt
observed from the full proceedings, that while the
Democrats in that body did not dare to oppose the
| provision openly, every strategy was used to de-
| feat the object of the same. Let every man who
believes that the soldier possesses rights cti-
zen. notwithstanding he fights for his country read
tn is discussion carefully It will prove the
try conclusively that the Democratic leaders are
opposed to soldiers voting. The Democratic Su-
preme Court has unjusty deprived the soldier of
his vote by its decision and these men of lesser
grade are carrying out the principle. The discus
sion in the Senate on this subject, is as follows:
Mr.. JOHNSON. 1 move that the Senate pro-
ceed to consider bill [Sen. No. l0l entitled
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to
the Constitution, extending the right of suf-
frage to citizens in actual military service.
The motion was agreed to, when the bill
was read, as follows:
Be ii resotred By the Senate and House of Rep
resentatire, Of The Commonwealth Of PennsylUa-
mia, in General .4ssembiy met, TEat the follow
ing amendment be proposed to the COnstitu-
tion OF the Commonwealth, in accordance with
the provisions of the tenth article thereof:
There shall be an additional section to the
third article of the Constitution, to be deSig-
mated as section four, as follows:
SECTION 4. Whenever any of the qualified
electors of this Commonwealth shall be in any
actual military service, nnder requisition
from the President of the United States or by
the authority of this Commonwealth, such
electors may exercise the right of suffrage in
all elections by the citizens, under such regu-
lations as shall be prescribed by law, fully
as If they were present at their usual place of
election.
The bill was read third time, and coming
before the Senate on its final passage.
The yeas and nays were required by Mr..
Hiestand and Mr.. Nichols, and were as fol-
Lows, viz:
YEAs-Messrs. Boughter. Bound, Bucher,
Clymer, ConnelI, Donovan, Fuller, G latz Gra-
ham, Hamilton, Hiestand, johnson, Kinsey,
LambertOn, Lowry, M'Candiess, NJ fishery,
Mott, Nichols. Penney, Reilly, Ridgway,
Robinson, Serlill, Smith, Stark, Stein, Stutz-
man, Turrell, Wallace, White, Wilson and
Lawrence, Speaker-33.
NAYs--Nons.
So the bill was passed by unanimous vote.
Mr.. Wilson moved that the vote just taken
be reconsidered for the purpose Of amending
the bill.
The motion was agreed to and the bill be-
ing again before the Senate on its final pas
sage.
Mr.. Wilson moved that the Senate resolve
itself into committee of the whole for the pur-
pose OF special amendment of the bill by in
serting the words 'are orr after the words
'ssuch regulations as'' near the conclusion of
the section.
Mr.. CIymer. 1 would like to have the opin-
ion of the Chairman of the Committee on the
Judiciary: (Mr. Penney,) whether in an "a
mendment to the Constitution 1t would be
proper to adopt any legislative enactments
that may have heretofore existed-whether it
is not obligatory thai the enactment of minor
details of the general provision set forth in
the amendment should be made in conformity
with that amendment and therefore made sub
Sequently. In the present case, the amend
ment proposed by the Senator from Tioga
would have the effect of adopting as legal and
constitutional an enactment at present upon
our statute book. | simply desire to have an
expression of opinion on this subject. l would
feel, in this matter, very much disposed to be
governed by the opinion of the chairman of
the Judiciary Committee, and l desire that
every Senator may have al opportunity of un-
derstaDding exactly what are his views.
Mr.. Penney. l Go not know that am pre-
pared to answer very irtellgibly the question
put by the Senator from Berks. 1t occurs to
me, however, on the impulse of the moment,
that it is not unusual in a constitutional pro-
vision to refer to laws existing at the time of
the adoption of that provision, certainly not
at least so far as some of the provisions are
concerned. l am not prepared to express an
opinion as to the propriety ofthe amendment.
The question is one of Importance and is en-
titled to some consideration.
Mr.. Wilson. / had not previously reflected
upon this subject, but upon hearing the bill
read by the clerk, it occurred TO me that the
adoption of the amendment which have pro-
posed would obvi late the necessity OF passing
a further law on this subject. 1t will have the
effect of regulating the manner of holding e.
lections in the army without an additional
provision being rendered necessary for that
purpose.
Mr.. Clymer. While still entertain doubt
upon the question which propounded to the
chairman of the Judiciary Committee, it ap-
pears to me that another query which has sug-
gested itself to my mind as to the effect of
the amendment would be appropriate at this
time. We are all aware that citizens of our
State in actual military service participated
in the election of 1861, and that that election
was conducted in the army under the suppo-
sition that the laws then in force entitled SOL
ders beyond the limits of the State to exsr-
else the right of suffrage. We know by the
RESULT that the laws then existing were inefi- |
cient for the purposes to which it was sought |
to apply them, and that the holding OF the e.
lection occasoned fraud, confusion and diff |
Guilty. The subject has occupied the atten- |
tion of our Supreme Court and Of our courts |
of common pleas, almost every county of the
State having had some difficulty with regard
to it. Now, sir, if the existing laws upon the
statute book 50 imperfect as to render the |
holding of an election almost useless so far as |
concerns its proper results, think it would
be piece of folly for the Senate, by consti- |
tutional amendment, to re-enact aud revive |
the laws which have led to so much confusion
and difficulty heretofore. This subject is one
that is not confined to any of the parties rep |
resented upon this floor. Both Of the politi-
cal parties of the State have possibly had
cause to complain of the frauds committed
under the laws as they stand. There were no
safeguards thrown around the baIIot-box du-