, 1864-02-02
From Our Regular Correspondent

From Our Regular Correspondent
WAduNGToN, JAN 3, 1864.
WHY ROT LET TEE SOLDIERS VOTE?
a member has introduced bill into the
House, providing for taking the vote Of the
soldiers for President and members Of Con.
gress. What objection is there to thiss He
who fights for his country should vote
for his country's officials. Docs II
elective franchise because he Inns shouldered
his muEket and rIsked his life in Its defence
Nobody but a copperhead would say yes to
this. They say yes because they know the
soldiers are against them.- They hare whole
some dread of those enormous uaajoritiea
against Vallandighan. They remember, while
they quake In their shoes, the denunciations
Of the copperhead Legislature Of illinois, and
their words OF encouragement and promises
Of future vengeance, sent home to gallant and
true Dick Yates, of Illinois. They do not want
the soldiers to vote. On the other hand they
want to make peace with the rebels at home
willie the gallant boys are fighting them IN
tue field. But it appears strange that party
which proposes to run Gen. Mcclellan for the
Presidency, who 10 clallned ns the Idol Of the
army, will not allow the soldiers who as ar
IDENTIFY admire him to record TINT admiration
at the ballot box. Either the copperhcads
dist1ust their proposed candidates popular
ity, or they have very little confidence In his
ability or the intelligence Of the army. They
can take either horn Of the dilemma. Let
tho elections all take place on one day.
Let the people vote tor President,
Governors and members Of Congress, and
the army can record its preferences. 1t seems
to me that the party which Ia In favor Of tho
soldiers voting, Is the friend Of the soldiers,
and the party that opposes their voting, ,is their
enemy. I will refer to this subject again.
uoMEsTEADs FOR MILITARY SERVICES.
sent you bill, introduced by Senator
Wilson. Of Mass, providing for homesteads
for military services. It is very important
one, and its main object ia to prevent that
speculation in lands Ia the Southern States,
which has proved SO baneful in the West. It
deems all lands purchased BY tho Secretary Of
the Interior unapproprfated lands, and allows
any officer or soldier, white or colored, who
has served two years in the army, or who
may hare been disabled By wounds or dis
same, under the Homestead Bill. It also pro-
yides for the appralsement Of the houses,
fences. &c, In same, which are to be paid
for By the person entering the land. This IL
very important bill, one oi the most impor-
tant Jet introduced respecting the confsca-
ted lands. It Will prevent these lands falling
into the hands Of speculators, and thus pre-
venting not only the settlement, but conse-
quent qualification Of the Southern States.
PERCENTAGE TO DIsTRIcT 4TToRSEYs.
In this connection, an act should be passed
allowing percentage to the District Attor,
neys Of all 1ands confiscated by the courts
This wonld have the effect to make them act
zig orously urcn the law. It is well known
that in those States in which prosecuting at
torneys are paid percentage on penal laada
collected by them, md on fines, &C., collect.
ed from criminals, the law is much better en-.
forced and the ends Of Justice reached. Tho
zeal Of TIE prosecuting attorneys in the Re.
coraers' Court Of your city is standing evi
dence Of the benefit Of such provision.
REPORT OF PUBLIC PRINTER.
Mr.. John D. Defrees, the Public Printer
has sent in his report, from which make q
few extracts, There has been q great in.
crease in disbursements, as will be seen In
this table:
1852. 1863.