Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-03-07
rhs Right of suffrage TO soldiers.

ter written by HESRY P. DAYTON. OF Company
EFF" eth Regiment Indiana Volunteers. in which
the following question is ProPoundsd TO the ed
itor: - Will the soliiers who may be in the army
be allowed the right of suffrage at the coming
election or not"
In answer to that interrogatory the Journal
SAYS:
81. Will soldiers in the fed be allowed the
right Of suffrage? If it depended on the Union
men Of the State or on the Governor, they
would, bevond all question. But the late Legis-
lature. through which alone the steps 10 secure
this right could be taken, was controlled in both
branches by COpperheads. who refused 10 allow
ANYTHING to be DONE Just as the same party has
done in Maine, Connecticut, Wisconsin, New
Jersey. and everywhere where the attempt has
been made to recognize the civil rights of the
citizen in arms. We believe the soldier has just
the same right 10 vote now that he had before
he enlisted, aud that in taking up arms he has
added To-, instead of diminished, his claims to
the fullest exercise of the right; but the Copper
heads don't think so, and they, accidentally. had
the power to do as they pleased at the only time
when anything could be done. In New Jersey
tina, party has introduced bill into the Legisla-
tufe not only refusing soldiers the right to vote,
but forbidding them to go within mile Of amy
poll if in the city, i0ifhiR t,cO miles if in the
country. In this State the party, which happens
for the time to own the Supreme Bench, is "dead
set" against soldiers suffrage, and against sol
ders in all relations. and of course possess in
the Court the means to make their hostility eff
fectve. SO we fear Indiana soldiers will be dis
francbsed by the UOpperbeads.
We do not believe that even the editor of the
Journal ever wrote a more false, wicked and
malignant article than the foregoing. We do
not doubt that Mr.. DAYTON wrote his letter in
good faith, desiring and expecting an honest and
truthful answer. Our soldiers in the field are
greatly dependen. upon their friends at home for
correct informant n, and the utmost fairness and
truthfulness should characterize all of our inter
course with them. Who conceive of the
depravity and malignity of the heart that prompts
man to deceive where confidence has been
posed. and to utter deliberate willfuI and mali
cious falsehoOd against his neighbors and fellow
citizensi The object of the Journal was to de-
ceive and mislead the soldiers. and thereby to
excite and exasperate them against the Demo
cratic party.
The Journal, in answer to the question whether
soldiers will be entitled to vote says, elf it de-
pended on the Union men of the State or on the
Governor. they would, beyond all question" If
this be true, then the Union men of the State
and Governor MoRToS are in favor of fragrant
violation of a plain and express provision of the
State Constitution. The trainers of our Consti-
tuition, for the purpose of guarding and protecting
the purity ofthe ballot box declares that all voters
shail be entitled to vote in the township or pre-
cinct where he may reside" We presume that if
the trainers Of the Constitution could have fore
seen the present war, they would have made pro-
vision for the emergency. The same provision
is contained in the constitutions of several other
States. The Legislatures of Wisconsin, Penn
sylvania, Connecticut and New Hampshire, in
violation Of this express requirement of their
constitutions, passed laws permitting soldiers
who were absent from their States to VOTE The
result has been that the Supreme Courts of each
Of those States, composed of Republican Judges,
have decided such laws to be unconstitutional
and void. To remove all doubt upon this ques-
ton, will quote from these decisions. The
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania says:
The term residence. in the Constitution, is
the same as d0mcil-a word which means the
place where a man establishes his abode makes
and political rights, and that the right of the
soldier to vote, under the Constitution. is in the
district where he resided at the time of entering
the military service"
The Supreme Court of Connecticut says:
These provisions of the Constitution, together
with numerous other incidental and accessory
provisions in the same instrument, clearly indcat-
ing an unquestionable purpose. in those who
framed as well AS in those who adopted that ia
strument, to require electors to only within
the several towns where they have their residence
and at the time and place within such towns of
holding the regular annual meeting Of electors
for that purpose, leave no room for construction,
and afford no room to doubt. that any act of the
Legislature authorizing the votes of electors to
be taken at any other place, or any other man
ner. does conflict with the explicit and unequi-
vocal provisions of the Constitution, and is there
fore void"
The Supreme Court of New Hampshire says:
A these views lead US to the conclusion that
this bill, ia its most prominent features, is in
conflict With the provisions and the spirit of our
Constitution, we have not deemed il necessary to
consider whether it might also be objectionable
as unequal in its practical effect, Or a. dispensing
with those opportunities Tor conference and con-
sultatiOn that have heretofore been deemed im
pOrtlnt If not essential. to the successful opera
ton Of COR institutions: or whether it contains
provisions otherwise in conflict with the fuuda
men al law Of the State "
The Supreme Courts of several other States
have decided the same way. but we have not be-
fore US their opinions. The Constitution of New
York contained similar provision to ours. The
legislature OF that State, believing that the SOL
ders could not vote without an amendment to
the Constitution, have proposed ore, which will
soon be voted on by the people of that State.
The only way in which our soldiers who are alb
sent from their place Of residence can vote, is by
amendment to Constitution How can
the Constitution be amended, and how long will
il take7
Sections ! and of article l6 read as follows:
ANY amendment or amendments to this Con.
stituton may be proposed by either branch of the
General Assembly, and if the same shall be
agreed 10 BY majority Of the members elected
to each Of the two houses, such proposed amend
ment or amendments shall, with the yeas and
nays thereon, be entered upon their journals and
referred TO the General Assembly to be chosen at
the next general election; and It, in the General
Assembly 80 next chosen. such proposed amend.
ment or amendments shall be agreed to by a
majority of all the members elected to each
house, then j. shall be the duty of the General
Assembly 70 submit such amendment OF ameud-
meDts to the electors of the State aud if ma
jority of said electors shall ratify the same such
amendment OF amendments shall become a part
Of this Constitution.
eli two or more amendments shall be sub
mitied at the same time, they shall be submitted
in such manner that the electors shall vote for or
against each Of such amendments separately; and