Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-09-05

II remains to say, in this place, that the
Supreme Court has not decided that soldiers
canho. vote, but simply that all citizens,
whether soldiers or civilians, must vote in
accordance with the Constitution Of the
Commonwealth G The opinion of the Court,
which will be found ia the 9th volume Of
Wright's Reports, page 4O3, is most full,
forcible, and satisfactory, and should be
read by any one who desires to form an
intelligent and final opinion upon the sab
ject to which it relates.
In consequence Of tho decision that
soldier-voting, outside of proper districts,
was unconstitutional, Joint Resolution
proposing an amendment to tho Constitu-
ton was brought forward at the last session
of the Legislature, and was passed by an
unanimous vote in both Houses. That
proposition is as follows:
"There shall be an additional section to
the third article OF the Constitution, to be
designated as section four, as follows =
SECTION 4. Whenever any of the quail.
ified electors of this Commonwealth shall
be in any actual military service under
requisitiou from the President of the United
States or by the authority Of this Com
monweath, such electors may exercise the
right of suffrage, in all elections by the
citizens, under such regulations as are or
shall be prescribed by law, as fully as if
they were present at their usual place of
election
If this proposition should be again ap-
proved or passed by tho next Legislature,
it can then after a notice Of three months,
be submitted to vote of the people for
lhoir adoption or rejection, and upon adop-
ton by them would become j part of the
Constitution.
1t will be observed that this proposed
amendment follows in part only the pccu-
liar phrascology of the act 1889, in desig'
mating the persons in military service to
whom it extends. 1t speaks in The Ian
guage of that act, of persons "in any
actual military SERVICE" and then, drop
ping the words, in any detachment Of
the militia or corps Of volunteers" contin-
ues, "under a requisition from the PrGsi-
dent of the United States, or by the au-
thority of this Commonwealth. The
effect of the suppression Of the words
stated, is not perfectly clear. The word
"requisition" in the act Of 1899, means o
call or demand made by tho President
upon the State. If it is inteLdcd to have
the same meaning in this amendment
perhaps there is no change Of sense pro-
duced by the suppression, as such rcquisi-
tious would at all events be filed by "de-
tachments Of militia or corps OF volunteers
But the writer Of the amendment may have
intended to give this word ',requisition" d
more extensive meaning, so as to include
any demand er order for troops from thi.
State, whether directed to the State au.
thorities or not. 1t is one of the imper
fectons OF this amendment, that the mean
ing Of this important part Of it, should be
open to dispute. If conscripts are to b'
included in the amendment, and to exer
else the right Of suffrage un1er it, it vii
be important to turn to the Gath Sectior
of the Conscripton act of 3rd March 1868
which provides -
" That all persons drafted under the
provisions Of this act, shall be assigned
by the President to military duty in sucl
corps, regiments, or other branches of the
service, as the cxigencies of the service
may require"
How soldiers dispersed under THE pro
! vision, scattered in all parts of the service
mingled with men and commanded by off
GERS Of other States and countries, can eX'
ercise the right of suffrage under the reg
ulatons of the act of 1889, or of any othe
State act of similar character, it is dif6cul
to conceive.
+ The proposed amendment applies tt
tall election, by the citizens. and is no
confined to general elections as are th'
cts Of 1913 and 1880. 1t is comprehen
sive, and at Presidential elections it woult
doubtless be convenien. and effective il
aid of President who desired q rc-elec
ton, or desired to select his successor
As Commander-n- Chief Of all in militar,
service, he could control the whole pro
ceeding, and the country would be relievo'
from all those harrassing doubts and tina
vexatious uncertainty, as to results, whicl
have heretofore characterized our Presi
Dental elections.
When this amendment again comes VI
in the Legislature for action, it will be i'm
portant to examine carefully its form, tn
Specification of the word "requisition
which il contains. and its probable oDera