The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-07-21

mentS beneath whose banners he fought
His valor, his sacrifices and his devotion,
have ever been regarded as themes for
the poet, subjects for the painter, and
material for the historian; and thus the
calling Of arms became one of honor-one
which elected the noble rivalries of COM
patriots, and where civilization refined the
instincts and elevated the character of
men, war has been so conducted as to
force combatants to respect and honor
each others qualities-the victor still to
respect the vanquished as a man. The
Constitution and laws expressly declare,
that no man shall be deprived of his
citizenship, except for high crimes of which
he shall be charged and proven guilty He
must be SUNNI 5Hed to meet such charge
OF criminality in the presence Of judges
whose oaths bind them to do him entire
justice. He must be insured trial by a
jury sworn impartia!ly to consider his
case. If found guilty. the sentence of
his judges may result in his disfranchise-
ment- but disfranchisement is not aimed
at as result of his punishment Dis
franchlsement as direct punishment is
only made to follow the highest crime
known again st the State. Y ct in the face
of these facts, and in opposition to all
equity, there are those in the State who
insist that dislranchisement should follow
the highest service which a man can per-
form for his Government. There is a
strong party to-day in Pennsylvania, reg
ularly organized, controlled by able lead
ers, and sustained by astute and learned
advocates, insisting that the service of a.
citizen as soldier-the periling of life
and limo in the support of the Govern
ment, the giving up of domestic endear-
ments, the sacrifice Of business interests,
and the yielding of all personal comforts
forfeit for those thus engaged all political
right, every franchise Of free-born or
constitutionally adopted American citizen.
The monstrous iniquity of such claim
is at once apparent, however it has been
maintained by our highest judicial tribu-
mails. It's injustice can only be sustained
by sophistries founded in the worst polit-
ical prejudices, SO that the sooner the
Constitution and laws are made plain and
rendered explicit on this subject, and
posted where every man can read and
understand them, just SO soon do we secure
the strength and majesty of the Govern
ment in the confidence and respect of the
governed-just SO soon do we make our
good old State worthy of the past valor of
her sons, and glorious in the future
American citizenship las It's Virtues,
and these their merits. Each virtue can
only be exalted by serving the Govern
ment under which they flourish; but if
chat service is made badge of degrade
ton, will it not be more natural for men of
honor and spirit and true courage to resist
its rendition than voluntarily to accept its
duties? The citizen soldier feels when he
takes up arms, it is to defend, not to de-
stroy, his political right. The man who
sacrifices his business interests. and for a
stipulated time surrenders his personal
liberty, cannot understand why he should
be deprived of his political rights The
service of arms does not blunt the Judge
ment or blur the ability Of citizen to
exercise the elective franchise. 1t rather
gives him new title to the enjoyment of
such right, and fits him for the highest
privileges of a free Government. Unlike
the masses of Europe, the great body of
the American people are intelligent, pos
sessed of educations afrording 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
Government. II cannot lessen their ability
for self-gouernnaent IF it could, the war
in which we are now engaged for the
defence of the Government and the safety
of the public veal, had better be stopped
The Democratic leaders now oppose the
enfranchsement Of the soldier. In the
olden time the Democratic leaders, such
as Jefferson, jackson, Snyder and Shuttle,
insisted that the elective franchise follow
ed the flag Under which a soldier fought
If that flag was potent on the sea and the
land, to protect a man in war, why should
it not possess the other virtues of contin-
uing his political franchises? If it made
the deck Of a vessel above which it waved,
the soil of the country represented by it,
regardless OF the sea Or cline in which it
foated, so also does it carry with it for the
soldier who fights beneath its folds any
political rights which these heroes enjoy
cd before they were mustered into the
service; and on this soundly democratic
argument the soldiers who fought in
Mexico were able to excise freeman's
right, in the wilds of the chapperal, the
heats of the sea-shore, the din of conflict,
and in theshadow of battlemented castles,
the same as if they had been at home in
their respective wards and precincts. If