Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-07-13

acy inherited from the Fathers Of the Re
public
That the exceptions to the general rule
! prevail, in regard to the sentiments Of those
who have gone forth to fight their country S
| battles, | do not deny. To assume other
wise, would be to reverse the order of things
| which has prevailed since the world began.
| There are dhCdyS those whose minds have
| been so vitiated and distorted. by he infiu-
ences that are brought to bear upon them,
which makes them callous to the influence
of every good and noble aspiration, but it
viii ever be borne in mind that these eXcep-
| tions can never determine the sentiment that
obtains with the masses.
1t has been subject of some controversy,
within the last three years, whether the cit
lzen, who has for the time assumed the pro
tession of the soldier, has sunk his rights of
citizenship in the profession, thereby rem
derlng him unfit to perform the highest pre-
negatives known by our laws, or whether III
| the light of COMMON justice he is not fairly
| entitled to- and as fully capable of exercis-
ing the privilege of the elective franchise as
intelligentiy in the camp as at his place of
residence? Surely, the soldier has not for
gotten the tradition of his early training, or
the inspiration that has been inculcated in
his being in loyal atmosphere, by the re
latiOn he at present sustains to the atmos-
pheTe Of treason.
The patriot finds no difficulty n determn-
ing these questions satisfactorily but the
carping sycophant of an abstract idea, pro
fesses to see much injustice in extending
the privilege of voting to the soldier, and
will doubtless leave no means untried to de-
prive hlm of the boon, notwithstaH6 they
unblushingly assert that the ideas of the
soldiers and their own assimilate and flow in
ho oh - +bs- ba Lot ba,
busy themselves in providing facilities for
the test.
Although the Constitution of Pennsylya-
MIA did not explicitly provide for the cyl
gencies Of the present, but required all the
citizens thereof, claiming to exercise the
right of suffrage, should be present IN per-
son at the place OF election in their respec-
tive districts yet, without doing violence to
the institutions Of the Commonwealth, the
right of suffrage might have been extend
ed to her soldiers in the field, had not such
liscense been frustrated by the decision Of
the highest judicial authority in the State,
the majority Of whose members were, self
evidently, controlled by a subserviency to
partisan interests. But the present Legis-
lature, controlled by the popular will, as
shown in the Difference it has paid thereto,
has wisely taken such action, which, if rat
flied by the people, will totally invalidate
the decision of the Supreme Court and
this action of the Legislature has been char
acterized with such unapimity as should car
ry conviction to the minds Of the masses IS
to their duty on the first Tuesday of August
next. In order that the decision OF the
people may be overwhelmingly successful In
favor of the proposed modification OF the
Constitution, it is absolutely necessary that
the Union loving men should squarely and
determinedly come up to the work.
No argument that | could use, would per
haps influence any voter Of Clearfield coun-
ty to relinqulsh any conclusion he may have
arrived at in regard to this question; but
in behalf of the Pennsylvania soldiers who
are associated with me, and whom | EnO'C
to be intensely anxious to have a decision
IN their favor, | would appeal TO every 70
ter TO give every consideration compatible
with justice, to the desires of the soldiers,
before he decides TO cut them off from the
only personal privilege they have ever asked
directly at the hands of the people OF Penn
sylvania, and rest assured, if the privilege
is extended to them, they will use it wisely
ard iudiciously In favor Of those principles
which have for their object, the perpetuity
of the American Union No circumstance
can aieuate our affections from any objects
which seek the hoior and glory Of this great
Nation; and though our persons are some
what under restraint, our minds and our
hearts are still unfettered and ever beat re-
sponsive to those measures which viii give
the priceless boon of Liberty to every man,
woman and child within this our vast domain,
and will make an example Tor emulation
throughout the nations Of the earth.
Yours truly, w. r. r.