Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-03-05

waiting the acton OF TIE iAst lie 5niasoe- -
rs, related to the right Of suffrage, aud reads as
follows: Laws may be passed fixing az quail
scAtion Of voting. the length OF time during
which an elector shall have resided in the coun-
~ and township. precinct or ward in which he
offers to vote under this Constitution. See
Acts Of 1861. p. I55.
This proposed amendment contained restric-
ton and limitation aud not an extension or en-
Iargement Of the right of suffrage. The other
two propositions related to the school law. See
Acts Of 1861. .. ls6
These propositions were pending before the
last session OF the Legislature What could
they dot The Constitution expressly declares
that while an amendment or amendments,
which shall have been agreed upon by one Gen
eral Assembly. shall be waiting the action of a
succeeding General Assembly or OF the electors,
no additional amendment amendments shall
be proposed ="
Let Us now inquire what action was taken by
the last Legislature upon this subject.
On the FIRST day OF the session. Mr. GRFFrrH,
of Lagrange. submitted resolution ins,ructing
the judiciary Committee TO report bill amend
ing our election laws to permit our soldiers
IN the field TO vote. which was passed The
Judiciary Committee was composed OF four Dem
ocrats aud three Republicans, and it unanimous
ly reported that the election laws could not be
changed in the mede asked without change in
the Constitution, and this report was unanimous
Iy conquered in by the House. See House Jour
nal Do. IA aud LIS.
On the 24tli OF February Mr.. ANDERSON, Of
St Joseph. introduced bill to amend the cleo
ton law so as to permit soldiers TO vote. This
bill was, on its second reading referred to select
committee: but Mr.. ANDERSON, shortly after
wards, following the example of JEFF. DAVIS,
TOXINS Co violated his oath of Office by va
eating his seat, with others, thus preventing all
legislation: and the bill was, on the last day OF
the session, reported back without action.
On the 10th of January Mr.. CAsoS, OF Boone,
introduced joint resolution Gin reference to
amending the Constitution. so as to allow SOL
diers of this State to vote at the annual State
and county elections" On the second reading
of this Joint resolution. Mr. MORGAN, Republi-
can member from the abolition county of Henry
raised the constitutional question that this amend
ment could not be proposed while the amend.
ments proposed by the Legislature Of 1861 were
awaiting the action OF that Legislature, and II
waS referred to the Judiciary Committee. which
through Mr.. ANDERSON, u Republican. unani-
mousy reported chat it would be unconsitutiou-
al to propose An amendment to the Constitution
while there is proposed amendment TO the same
pending and undisposed of" and this report was
concurred in by the House. See House Journal
Do. IO2. 222. 223, 247. 2s4 and 2s5.
Where now rests the responsibility Ii the
Republican Legislature of 1861 had proposed an
amendment to the Constitution so to permit
the soldiers to vote. the last Legislature could
and would have passed il, and is could have been
submitted to the people at the April election oil
1868, and our brave and patriotic soldiers could
have voted last fall and at the elections this fall
The Journal says, "But the late Legislature
through which alone the steps to secure this RICH
could be taken controlled in both branche
by copperheads, who refused to allow anythin:
to be done, just the same party has done il
Maine. Connecticut. Wisconsin, New Jersey, an,
5 everywhere where the attempt has been made Il
e recognise the civil rights of the citizen in arms
a
. paragraph contains three deliberate lies. Lii
e No /. If the Joint Resolution of Mr.. CAso
8 had been pissed by the late Legislature, it won
have to be submitted to the Legislature tina
meets in January. 1865; and if passed bv tina
Legislature, then il would have to be submitte
to the people for their approval or rejection som
time in the year 1865. So il could not have be
: ~ al A.
the elections this fall
( Lie No. = The Journal says that the copper
5 heads defeated the same proposition in Maine
: Connecticut and Wisconsin The editor know
! that the Legislatures of all Of these States ar
largely and intensely Republican. and that III
copperheads had no power to defeat the measure
and besides he knows that the Republican Legi.
latures of Connecticut and Wisconsin passe
laws on this subject which their Repubca
\ judges held to he unconstitutional
Z Lie No 3 The Journal saws that the last Leg
islature the only time. and through il wa
: the only way in which steps could be taken I
amend the Constitution. The editor knows tha
to amend the Constitution in the mode pointe
out therein SO as to permit the soldiers to vot
f%~c'~'"NN'N
1861 to have taken the first step. The editC
5 knows that this was the only way in whc
the Constitution can be amended. There IS
y much shorter mode, and that il by calling
e Convention. Ii Governor MoRTos and his Re
publican friends are so anxious for the soldiers
o vote. he and they give them that right. Ia
Il him cali an extra session of the Legislator,
;. Let it call a Convention to amend the Constitu
), ton Let the Convention amend the ConstitI
v ton so as to allow soldiers vote in the felC
n Ii can all be done in time for the October eeC
n ton Will Governor MoRroS and his friend
pursue this courseg Ii not. they should have ii
): decency to quit slandering and defaming bette
men and purer patriots than themselves
e The Journal could not close its article withoU
Z going out Of it, way 10 assail aud SANDER N
Supreme Court The right of the soldiers
d vote hes not been aud cannot be Sithou; legisla
d ton. before that Court The judges thereof hav
!, expressed 10 opinion or taken any action on 81
subject. Then why drag them into the contr'
a versy. The only reason that can be assigned i
hat he ait 81