The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-04-30
From New York.

From New N0rIx.
Gov. SErMoUR's MESSAGE IN FAVOR OF AL
LOWING THE SOLDIERS TO vOTE-PRoTEsr
AGAINST CoERcIoS-DKMAND FOR 4 Cox.
sTITUTIuSAL GUARANTEE.
To the Legislature:
The question of a method by which
til OF our fellow. citizens who are abseut
in the military and naval service Of the ia
ton may 6e enabled TO enjoy THAR rights
of suffrage, is one OF great interest to the
people OF tbs State, and has Justly excited
their attention. do not doubt that the
members OF this Legislature participate in
~ general desire that those who So l. obly
endure fatigue and suffering. and peril life
in The hope that by such sacrifices our Ma
tional Union may be preserved and our
Constitution upheld, shall, If possible, be
secured I'll opportunity for tie free and in
teihgent exercise Of all their political
hts and privileges. The Constitution
of this State requires The elector TO vote in
h.. election district in which he resides
but 1t is claimed by come tina. Ihe law can
be passed, whereby the vote OF an absent
citizen may be given by his authorized
representative. |, Is clear 10 ms tina. the
Constitution intends that the RIGHT to vote
shall only DO exercised by the clec,Cr in
person. /, would be an insult and injury
TO the soldier 10 place The exercise OF this
right upon doubtful or unconstitutional
law, when it can De readily secured to him
by q constitutional amendment
While my own opinion upon the point
is decided aud will govern my action, il Is
vel to consider the matter under less
positive aspect. If We concede that it is
one of doubt. We should not close our eyes
TO the possible results Of al attempt TO ex-
ercise il, in view Of that doubt which is
felt by men Of all parties in both branches
of the Legislature and elsswhers. 1t is
possible that the next Presidential election
may be decided by the vote of single
State; and if votes by proxy are authorized,
II Is not impossible that such votes would I.
in such State, decide the election in favor
of one party or the other. Il: sur. ly can
not be necessary to impress upon any pat
rioIic, thoughtful mind the fearful danger
which would attend the complication Of the
disastrous civil war which now aflicts the
country by the iuterposition Of a well foun.
ded doubt as to the person righttully en-
titled to the Presidential Office The most
intense earnestness and the most desper-
the conflicts OF men would characterize
such contest.
The decisions Of the partisan officers
the secret plottings, excited debates. and
interested conclusions Of The two Houses
Of Congress; and the action. more CT less
violent, of the people, at period when
the public mind is violently inlamed, and
when the principles and rules which have
formed the real strength of our institutions
are dangerously unsettled, would convulse
this community. That man must be san
guine indeed who can hope that our Ma.
tional Government would survive such
contests. 3 lasua me
1t is not necessary that the effort to Sc
cure TO our gallant soldiers aa1 seamen a
just participation ia the choice of The next
Administration of the National Govern
ment should be subjected to such dangers.
A proposed amendment Of the Constilu.
ton, giving the Legislature the needful
power upon this subject can DO adopted
at the present session, and IT concurred in
by the next Legislature, can be submitted
to the people in such season that. iftheir
decision is favorable, the action which
would be afterwards necessary. could be
taken by that Legislature. respectfully
recommend .bat tbs couTso be taken oath