Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-08-05

pam on subject, ana
posted where every man can read aud understand
them, Just so soon do we secure the strength and
majesty OF the Government in the confidence and
respect OF the governed-just SO soon do we make
our good BID State worthy the past valor of her
sons, and glorious in the future american citi-
zenship has its virtues, and these their merits
Each virtue can only be exalted bv serving the
Government under which they flourish but if
that service is made abadge Of fdegradation. viii it
not be more natural for men Of honor and spirit
ard true courage to resist Its rendition than vol
unfairly to accept its duties The citizen sol
der feek when he takes up arms it is to defend,
not dessroy, his political rights. The man who
sacrifices his business Interests, and for stipula-
ted time surrenders his personal liberty, cannot
understand why he should be deprived of his po-
itcal rights The service ofarms does not blunt the
judgement or blur the ability Of a citizen to exer-
else the elective franchise. 1t rather gives him a
new title 10 the enjoyment of such right and
fits HIM for the highest privileges of a free Coy
ernment. Unlike the masses OF Europe, the
great body Of the American people are intelligent,
possessed Of educations afording the highest
knowledge. While war for time may change
the habits of such people, it cannot affect their
sense of Justice, their appreciation of power, and
their love of 1t cannot lessen their ability for
selfgorefgiment If it could, the war in which we
are now engaged for the defence of the Govern
ment and the safety of the public veal had better
The Democratic leaders now oppose the eBfran-
chisement of the soldier In the olden time the
Democratic leaders, such as Jefferson, Jackson.
Snyder and Shuttle insisted that the elective fran
ehise followed the flag under which asoldierfought
1t that fiag was potent on the sea and on the
land, to protect a man In war, why should 1t not
possess the other virtues of cOntlnueing his polit
ical franchises? 1t is made the deck of vessel
above whiGh it waved, the soil of the country rep
resented Ey il, regardless of the sea or cline in
which ID ioated, so also does it carry with it for
the soldier who flights beneath its folds any polit-
ical rights which these heroes enjoyed before they
We're mustered into the service and on this sound
ly democratic argument the soldiers who fought
in Mexico we're able to exercise freemans right
in the wlds of the ehapparel the heats of the sea
shore, the din of conflict, and in the shadow of
battlemented castles the same as If they had been
at home.in their respective wards and precincts
If men fighting thousands of miles from home
cut off from all communications informed
at the time on the issues of the political campaign,
were able and entitled TO exercise the right Of the
franchise is it not fair to suppose that citizens of
like intelligence engaged in the same service of
the Government within the limits of its authority,
distant only few miles from home, conversant
with all the issues involved in the political contest
in daily communications with their friends and in
perilsal also of journals discussing the questions
at stake--ls It not fair to suppose that such men
are entitled to the exercise of all their political
rights? Only those who act from perverted pol
icy on this subject will seek to eyade the respon-
slbllltles OF such question This Is proven by
the Judicial history already attached to this ques-
ton When it was deemed expedient, as it was
undoubtedly considered by the Democratic leaders
then, the elective franchise was extended TO the
absent soldiers in Mexico bnt in the midst of a
war waged by the gpholderS of an institution from
which she Democratic leaders derive all their
strength, Geo, w. Woodward, a Justice OF the
Supreme Court ard lately the candidate of the
Democratic party for Governor, judicially denied
the soldiers the exercise of the elective franchise
denied our brave defenders the right almost in the
same breath in which he declared the right of the
States of the South to rebel and secede from the
Union Fair men can see no difference IN an A
herican soldier voting In Mexico, while lighting
beneath the flag his country, and the same sol
dier citizen under the same circumstances voting
in rebelious State Time nor place, within the
limits of a free government or in the service
thereof cannot influence, should be permitted to
affect, the rights of freeman The government
which is not able to insure HIM these inherent
rights is unworthy his support The authority of
q free government, which seeks to degrade free
man while periling his life in its defence, is des
potism more fearful than that which denies the
right to be governed 1t is not possible that such
a government can last. At some period IN its
history if the rights of its defenders be disregard
of the franchise to the soldiers, it will need arms
to protect it both from foreign and domestic foes,
and perish eventually an object to mean for de-
fence
In adyneating the soldier right to vote. the
loyal men of Pennsylvania are sustained by a faith
in the fact that his service is such as to secure
him not Merey all the rights he enjoyed before he
entered the army, but increased dignity and power
at the hands OF the Republic The enemies of
IL. of
expediency. There was time when the Demo
cratic leaders claimed that the army was largely
and even almost wholly composed of their partisan
followers. When they were most clamorous in
insisting upon the recognition ofsueh claim, the
supporters of the principle, opposed politically TO
these leaders, were most earnest and even persist
ent in its advocacy. To them it was principle
ofjustice too sacred to be disreg4rded-too noble
to be reected-too important in its relations to
the very genius and vitality Of the Republic to be
denied to all the people thereof, alike those who
risk the perils of battle in its defence and those
who run no danger of life limb or property in the
service of the Government and who still claim It's
highest immunities and most sacred privileges.
Onth second day of August ensuing this ques-
ton 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
soldier right to vote. But we would be false to
the party which we represent and reereant to the
creed which we adore, II we tailed TO aVoW IN ad-
vance our approval of granting this great right to
our brave defenders Pennsylvania has many
thousands of her citizens now in the army. They
have all gone forth inspired by sublime faith in
the strength of free Government to crush a
wicked conspiracy, and does it become US, while
enjoying the halcyon blessings ofpeace at home,
while the limbs of soldiers are wet with their
own blood, and their weapons are dmpPlng with
the gore of traitors, to say to them Hou hare for
feited vo,r citizenship you are no longer tcortly
of ,gyf;;sSpatia0 n he control Of free Gocein-
9ept voar positions must be ,oith The sares Of the
iSoutle-an,oag the, disaroced and de919ded of
neonle Of Pennsylvania are prepared to send such
message to their fellow-citzens in the armies OF
the Republic We cannot believe that so foul
disgrace awaits our war worn but still intrepid he
roes The hearts of the great majority Of the peo-
ple ut home are too full of gratitude for return
IF GREAT service by Calling neglect Our faith in
~ s;.;o of tbo neonle renders us confdent In the