New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-01

sent eusfs
FROM Our Special Correspondent
ALBANY. March 81 1851.
SOLDIERS VOTING BILL.
The Soldiers Voting bill-by far the most
important measure Of the session. as al VIII agree
camc up again this morning the special order III te
Assembly 1t was discussed as such measure Shou'u
be-tomperatoy inellgonty, and in large ana hoerai
spirit which does credit 10 the good sense ana pario
Ism of the House. It is fortunate That the merDV
entered upon the discussion Of this question uurammeed
by caucus Obligations and uncommitted 10 any peculiar
line Of policy. Many on the Union side entertain the
cravcs apprchenions 10 the effect OF passing tne
Substituted bin which certainly arms on administrator
disposed to strain its we shoni
ever be afflicted with such an adnlhistfanoll WIZ
most dangerous powers. rus Ieei"lF - a'"os' "'i
yerSal on the opposition side Ofthe rouse
Affrr the substitute had been read through this morn
ing Mr.. Gleason OF Suffolk 0nion) Tor the purPose oi
giving opportunity for discussion. moved 10 sire our
he cTeeifnr clause He said that lie believed large
naoritsr Of tho House favorable TO fair bill allowing
soldiers to vote and hoped such t wouid De framed
He WIS opposed TO the principle Of the present b and
was in favor Of the proxy system Under tins OIL the
soldiers vote taken and kept distinct from the home
vote. whdtr Jealousy might exist between the Two
woud thus be aggraY acd and whatever power the army
vote might possess would thus be Obvious NJ glance
With army at present constituted. we would be
sGf bat who can tell what may arise in the iutLei We
should guard the parity Of the banobox as eheetualy
in the field GS at home. When the soldiers vote Dy
y.
throughout the State This bill moreover, involves a
large cxpens in recovering the boards Of State and
County Canyassers, which the proxy system ooylated
A proper bill wOud doubtless meet the apNoval OF tle
LEGISLATURE the Governor and the people oil the state
Mr. q. Parker (UniOu) Of St. Lawrence YVES opposed
% the substituted bill lie thought tho BIZ did not SUM-
cienty protect the purity Of the beotbox The officer
has great influence the soldier and far too much
authority to admit Of freedom and Sanctty OF the
ballot-bOx 10 which every American citizen is entitled
There are many impraeueable points Whlch Suggest
themselves at once 10 an experienced soldier 10 ms
mind the bin OF last year Obvstes THIS radical objection
Mr.. Williams of ChautaaquG (UniOn) regarded the
amendment the Constitution permitting soldiers to
vote as one of the most important measures ever
adopted by the people. In compliance with Inc oG
messed wish of tie peone is the duty OF this Lcsla
turc TO provide tho way and manner IN which the az
sent defenders OF our country shan exercise tbs IN
portant privilege. No one he'd higher regard Tor TIE
wishes and rights Of the soldier than himself But wi
granting this right and carrying out the prov Visions OF
The Constitution not overlook the rights OF the
State jeop1rdize the purity OF tue eectI"
He was opposed TO framing this bill AS to allow Inc
right TO vote the field; hut iu favor of law that
would allow the vote Of the soldier 10 be sent 10 Dis
naco Of residence and there deposited in the balotbox
on tho day Of election To accomplish this purpose ne
in favor of giving the greatest Identities 10 ehaDe
the votes Of those in different portions OF the army
forts. hospitals 70 be gathered ana uanSmtteo 70
their homes Every entitled TO vote should pave az
opprtunity to invest some pgrson IN his election asre
with power to deposit the ballot on the day OF erection
The rights Of those whom this bill is intended TO bene
ft will thus be protected, and the purity OF The ballot
box maintained Permission to vote IN the field wall ln
eyitabv be subject to abuse which will go far toneu
tralize the benefits intended By the friends Of tins
measure but, with bin so framed that the vote 81 all
shall be deposited in the district where they reside
Injustice will be done ~ those untitled 10 vote as
there win be In all our armies however humble nc
NAV be- bat viii have some acquaintance III MS district
90 women for hun he was IN favor OF TINS WAoie SUD
iect being committed 10 Especial committee to sof6rm
law as to embrace the principle which be expressed.
EMr ODODDe of Lewis, (Unlon), sald That ne agreed
In the main with the remarks Of the gentleman that had
spoken in opposition the general features OF the pres
ent bill; he regarded this by far the most important
ia+ hg1
SION and he hoped that the House would defer all other
business and give its undivided attention 10 perfeetng
such bla shall carry out the intent OF the organic
law OF Che land allowing the soldier IN the hed IL vote
The importance of this measure is 80 great that we nay
well every section and line Of the bill for the vote
of the soldier in the field VIII decide matters OF me
greatest importance 10 Us as nation, and unless We
guarded in every respect, may be used by
Tie yepll and corrupt 10 destroy liberties.
He fayored voting by prory and believed that thelaw
should bt framed that the vote OF the soldier In the
field shoL be inclosed in separate envelope and that
envelope and ballot ine!osed III another envelope WIN
certicatC Of authority 10 person, with no ina X
npOn such envelope 30 designate II as soldiers vote
also shat &c first envelope lncosing the ballot sh9ulde
opened only At the polls in presence Of the Inspectors
and thSt person offering tire vote should be bou1d
10 follow the directions Of e soier in the held by the
sanctiiy OF OATH and with severe penalties fer am
violation % il. He would offer such an amendment al
Titus fara.he discussion had been confined entirely
to TIE Administration members. The Opposition IooAed
on well pleased that they had not 70 contend taohe
against the Objectionable features OF ne b and the
tie level Of u rtisansLp -.
Mr. Weaver (DemocraD Of Oneida then took the
floor and stassd that be he'd drafted BIN, which he
Thought avoided the most Objectionable features Of
those under DISCUSSION He acquieoeed in the suggs
zion tat Special Committee should be appointed 20
take Ito consideration al these bills and report neg
one ". ich shosi embOdy the best featursG Oi AL liz
introlg ced tie following 20 he draft:
1t provides that the Governor and Controller shan
be RnissoOeI under tie act each 10 appoint on OF
before the first Monday in september one voting
Aeenttr each regiment Of tSmnteeTs or ~ inta o. ts
States AID for each post feet and hospital at which
there are Volunteers from this state In the service OF
The Unite State, The two agents thU appointed are
10 20 tCge<her AID axe the proxies OF al encd men
and comm STONED officers from this State in the volun
teor regular service who claim 10 be 9ua1ed elect
ors Of this State .,
The Voting Agents are allowed five week flor tie
perforInaIue Of tbe dly and on The secODt Monday ~
october The Comm one are to cause all the Troxeg
received 10 be assorted gnd 20 forward the same rey
Gus to the DAY fixed BY law for making the annual Reg
isry lists fbe Inspectors OF the towns, wards, and
election districts throughout the STATE who reqgiTed
Ia enter the names Of the persons BY whom the proxies
are given upon fnch Isis Each proxy is TO designate
a. agent or substitute ore Of whom ~ 10 cas- the vote
OF the QersOn BY whom il w2S given An agent or arb
sttuf,,ot decT ing in two days is deemed TO have
ecpted he trust Persons thEs registered may be cG
lenged 81 the sane manner AZ otber voters are one
week bel IRE the c, ctiOD. but not on the day OF ecton
Two els before the election the NOLIS Agents i1
70 20 ont ggsn agd receive the votes Of the persons
thus registered No person y 10 be present whel the
Is taksa but the voter and me voting Agents IAe
vote il 70 b. ircose1 in sealod envelope which IS to
be Endorsed that il cannot be opened without deC-
ton and tic Raeloye IL TO be slipped INTO locked ba,,
the key winch is 70 be retained by the COIIi ss0l-
The Voting AgcAts are 10 return immediately
anu die Copwnrsioners to send the envelopes con-
tanning the ballots ~ the Agents or substitutes named
iu the process. The person TO whom
enye ope thus sent IL to take TO the polls and let the
s,ors see tst it has been opened and th Ell he
IL q. mi q H..