The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-01-20

object should be pursued with great enthusiasm
aud patriotic energy, bus that T. should AZ the
same time be continuous and not transitOry
The losses of the companies and regiments 10 the
field are constantly and steadily occurring. The
men drop out Of the ranks one by o. into the
hospital Large numbers 0! them never return
to active duty. disappearing 10 The Invalid corps.
or being fusly discharged 10 return TO civil HE
Their places in the ranks ought 10 be supplied
oy steady irfcx Of new recruits. Il is better
eyery way that the number required to keep Up
the number. Of the Michigan regiments IN the
6eld should be obtained by steady aud constant
recruitment Of new men, than that all should
have to be done in period limited 10 a ie"
DAYS, aud consequently By sPasmooic exhaust
iug Effort y hich viii soon need 70 be repeated
Under the present system OF credits 70 the sub
districts, any surplus is always carried forward
IA fact the enrolment law requires that and any
town NAV, by a stesdy system Of recruiting keep
lis quota constantly filed, thus avoiding The ex-
ira expenses aud Effort occasoned by haste aud
strong competition on the eve OF draft
We owe great deb. Of gratitude to the CON-
paues and regiments have put in toe field,
and cali repay it 10 10 way ~ well as by keeping
their ranks full. Il ought not 20 be co.'s der
a iul6umeut Of our whole duty merely to raise
Re quotas assigned Us II is a sacred obligation
resting upon the people TO sustain the troops 10
me field; and for this purpose it Is essential
that the action Dc unremttlng and steadily sus
| famed When 0Ouuties offered, tue ofet
should be continued after the immed ale exigeu-
cy is past, thus providing surplus 10 meet al
other Call.
/ The State bounty which was provided by the
act approved March 6,h. 1868, Was Withdrawn
sJon alter the late Call was made This acgion
vas rended proper BY tEo Considerations FusI,
The war loan fund Vas ms ffieent 10 amount 70
/ pay il 10 so large number Of ueu as the CAL
embraced; and secondly, because the United
States Government hAi 90 gely increased its
b-untes that its payment was considered un
necessary so long a. those should continue to be
paid.
twill be remembered that thi. State bounty
was re- commended in the message Of year ago
10 supply the place, 10 some extent. OF the local
oouuIes which 1t vas spprebended would Cease
a. soon as the draft then progressing vas over,
which proved to be the case. And this vas tor
The purpose ot preventing the entire s0st dOu-
meut VI the recruiting service, which Il also has
/ accomplished. This ls d wnic Is very Ike
y TO occur again, and wish 10 reserve The
,uouui srill remaining ia the var loan fund TO
De used when and where other oountles are
/ 1ithhed, there is so3e especial reason tor
heir being paid. as IN the Of the veterans
who e-eulist, having never received any bounty
from The State. The payment Of this bounty
WAS also confined ol express words OF the act, TO
those Who saoeld "eulis, in any new regiment.
battery or company heretofore mustered from
this State into the military service OF the United
States, or uow then1 organizing in this Sat
FOR such service The purpose Of this was TO
encourage eulislments in old regiments, snd 70
4 scourage she formation Of new ones, a polio,
which has now been adopted by the g. Deral
Governments. To prevent miscOnsructson, this
act will require some eight amendment, more
especially 10 regard 10 the discretion which was
vested ia the Executive. 10 ia main object
however, | believe if TO have been very oene.
6cial aw. aud trust it may De retained.
ENABLING SOLDIERS IN me YIsLD TO vorg.
A, Your session wear ago, bill passed the
House OF Representatives. providing for the ex
erci-e OF the right OF suFage in our elections
oy our soldiers absent from the State IN the
service Of the United States. This dill reached
the Senate at the very heel OF the session aud
failed it was understood, for want OF time 10
consider it, Tne subject was one Of great i'm
portiuce and surrounded win grave doubts and
difficulties.
Perhaps the minds of members we're not alto
sether settled al that time 70 the rightulntss
Or policy Of such law. Tie Coz stitutons OF
the States have al been framed without any
view to such a condition OF things as the pres
vnt; aud there has always been 10 this county,
as in Euglzni, great JEALOUSY of the army ming
ing in tue affairs vt c.yIl administration. Duriu 2
the past year, however, very great consideration
mas been given 10 the subject IN nearly all Ihe
. oval States. IL has coaie into Judgment before
Tie highest tribunals OF severa! OF then. elicit
ing very learned and patriotic opinions from the
- - LIB
aud gone far to establish legal principles which
must guide all proper legslssion in that direc-
ton
That patriotism, justice and sound policy re.
qlire she passage Of such Laws, wherever they
can De cOust utiOnaly enacted seems to be nov
generally agreed. The 70 unterr army Of the
United States is composed II the people OF the
United States. T. ey have left their various oc>
equations il civil Ii and taken up arms at a.
call OF sheir country rot 10 become professional
soldiers, bu, to defend their country aud govern.
ment from destruction, and their ncmes and
property from decoration and pillage. Not TO
/ renounce civil lie and the pursuits Of peace
0u; 10 establish. upon an enduring basis, the
right TO both, Tor themselves aud their pasterty
With patriotism aud courage worthy of ever
lasting remembrance they have periled every
thing, that the country and its free Institutions
]
the polls OF the elections ia their several towns
! snd Wards heating bach shc pV~Si Vr a Eau>r
I less and cruel rebellion in order that those very
elections NAV be held 10 peace, snd that the
/ ri ght TO hold them sad 20 have their results re-
spected and o0eyed shall coatinae forever. II
these volunteer citizen soldiers shall Lot have a
voice in the cisil administration OF the govern
ment for which they tight, then il would De we'll
10 qulre who il worthy Of il. Though soldiers
Trey aave not ceased 20 be citizens aud residents
nor Is their stake less in the country than that
OF those Who remain IN peace at home. Surely,
/ ne " BIO stands faithfully bv his country in the
shock Of battle m4y be safely trusted az the
o Hot box, though i should De carried 10 him at
Vi,ksburg or Chattanooga.
il 10, then, Vithin the constitutional powers OF
This Legislature, 10 enact law granting the tx
ercse Of the light OF suffrage else " here than n
the town or ward where the voter is a resident ?
|; IS not question Of the rgnt to vote, but only
Of the place where the osllOI shall be received.
No clsnge Of qualifications in the voter, nor IN
the msODer OF ais exercising the right, will De
1 required. All the Case demands is the establish
neut Of a poll for the reception Of votes in or
near the camps of the troops No right Of
challenge will be denied nor any safeguard which
the utmost prundence may enact II such po~-
e. exists in your BODY, then by every consdera
ton Of justice and right let il be done but If
lot, theu however much We NAV regre; il, we
must not move step in that direction. since
they would not Be 81 10 make laws who aill not
obey the iuncs mental law. IL becomes u
therefore, TO examine carefully and judge oi.pas-