Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-07-20
Union Address,

From the address of the Union State
Committee, issued by the chairman, Hon.
S. Cameron, we make the following extract
relative to the amendments to the State
Constitution to be voted for on the LIST
Tuesday of August next:
In advocating the soldiers right to vote,
the loyal men OF Pennsylvania are sustained
by faith in the fact that his service is
such as to secure him not merely all the
rights he enjoyed before be entered the
army, but increased dignity and power at
the hands Of the Republic. The enemies Of
this great princi pie oppose it only for reasons
OF expedlency. There was time when
the Democratic leaders claimed that the
army was largely and even almost wholly
composed OF their partizan followers.
When they were most clamorous in in.
sisting upon the recognition of such u
claim, the supporters of the principle,
opposed politically to these leaders, were
most earnest and even persistent in its ad-
vocacy. To them it was a principle of
justice too sacred to be disregarded
noble to be rejected-too important in its
relations to the very genius and vitality of
the Republic to be deaed to all the peo-
pie thereof, alike those who risk the perils
of battle in its defence and those who run
no danger of life, liub or property in the
service of the Government, and who still
claim its highest immunities and most
sacred privileges.
On the second day of August, ensuing,
this question will come practically before
the people of Pennsylvania We do not
doubt the result of the election as to the
acceptance or rejection of the soldiers
right to vote. But we would be false to
the party which we represent and recreant
to the creed which we adore if we failed
to avow in advance our approval of grant
ing this great right to our brave defenders
Pennsylvania has many thousands of her
citizens now in the army They have all
gone f,rth inspired by sublime faith in
the strength of free government to crush
a wicked conspiracy, and does it become
rs, while enjoying the halcyon blessings
! Ct peace at home, while the limbs Of our
soldiers are wet with their own blood, and
their weapons are dripping with the gore
of traitors, to say to them, you haze for
teited your citizenship; you are no longer
a0orthy Of participating in the control Of a
free Government; your positions mast be
,cih the stures Of tie South-ameong the
disgroced and degraded Of Gods chiL
dren !" We cannot believe that the peo-
pie of Pennsylvania are prepared to send
such a message to their fellow citizens in
the armies Of the Republic We can
not believe that SO foul a disgrace awaits
our war worn but still intrepid heroes.
The uearts Of the great majority of tho
! people at home are too full of gratitude
! for return of great service by CALLING
neglect Our taith in the justice Of the
| people renders US confident in the. sseab-
lishment and vindication of TIE political
rights of the soldier. But that faith must
be accompanied by works. Hence it be.
comes the duty of the State Ceatral Com
mittee to urge on the friends Of the soldier
actively to labor for the triumph of this
effort in his behalf Let it be said OF our
fellow-cittzens now absent as soldiers, that
| as our victorious armies planted their ban.
ners in the capital of treason, it was be-
meath their folds in Richmond, each hero
of the Keystone State exercised the free.
mans right OF the elective franchise for q
President to admiRister the government to
re united Union, to States once more
loyal, to people again at peace and blessed
with prosperity.