American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-03-09
The Spring Election.

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the opposition, of a winter campaign
This was something unusual in the politics
Of our county, and people we're naturally
led to conjecture what their real object
was. Many, even of their own party, were
of the opinion, that it was intended to or
ganize their shattered ranks for the pur-
pose of resisting the enforcement Of con-
scription law, while Others supposed that
their real object was to prepare for the fall
election. There is little doubt however,
that their primary object was to carry the
spring elections and by that means gain
prestige with which togo into the fall can
vass; as also to get the control Of the cleo
tion boards by securing the election of in
spectors and judges favorable to Themselves.
The spring election however, resulted gen.
orally, adverse to their expectations, (or at
least to their wishes) and thus the prestige
which they hoped to have on entering the
fall campaign was in our favor, and as we
all remember, remained with US through
out the whole canvass
1t is worthy of remembrance however,
that where they CHANGED to get control of
m election board they abused their pow
er for party purposes. Numerous instan
ces of this kind could be adduced. Indeed
their journals, as also their politicians, had
labored 50 faithfully to poison the mind of
the public, as to the qualifications Of vo-
ters, especially as to the right of soldiers
to votershat many honest men were led
by their prejudices to violate the law.
A few weeks before the election, it was
our lot to be present at political meeting
held in the northern part of this county.
The chairman stated that there was sol
dier present whom he would take the lib
ty to call on for few remarks in behalf of
the army. When the name of the soldier
was announced, he arose, pale and death
like-discase had evidently been praying
upon him for a considerable time. uav-
ing been in a hospital, he had obtained a
furlough for the purpose Of visiting his
friends, and if possible, recruiting his
health. lie informed the meeting that he
was foreigner by birth-thathe had come
here of choice, because he believed it was
the best country in the world, and had the
best Government. He told us, that had
he not seen it, he could never have beliey-
ed that any set of men born in this coun-
try and educated under its Enlightened and
christj0n institutions, could have ever dar-
ed to rebel againstit. Said he, "although
| was not citizen when the rebellion
broke out, felt it to be my duty to assist
in defending it, and therefore at once en-
tered the ranks as private, in which ca,
pacity served until my health gave way.
am now improving however and will
soon return to duty, and now said he
"what | want to say to you Is stand by the
Govcrnmcnt--stand by the Administra.
ton, laboring as it is to preserve it, and
finally stand by him mwho isalike the friend
of the Administration and the soldier-A
G. Curtin" We chanccd to be thrown in
company with this same soldiersom weeks
after the election, then on his way to camp
he looked much better, but was still iaI
from well. In the course of our convcr.
sation, he informed us that he had been
deprived of his vote. On inquiry he in
formed me that he had paid tax on an
assessment that had been made before he
entered the army, but for which the col
lector had received an exoneration during
his absence; that on learning, that his vote
would be contested on this ground, he ap.
piled to the assessor and was regularly as.
sessed, upon which assessment he also paid
a tax-that with these two receipts in his
hand, accompanied by his naturalization
papers, he offered his vote, which offer was
rejected, 1t is. Of little consequence tc
that citizen or to the public, whether that
great wrong was the result af highly
wrought prejudice, orofa deliberate inten-
ton to do wrong, the effect was thesame.
Is it not necessary therefore, that these
things should be avoided in the future ?
Now is the time to attend to those matters.
Let the friends of the Administration and
of the soldier see to it, that there is no
march stolen upon them.
Our friends in the Legislature will doubt
less pass an act submitting the amendment
to the Constitution owing the right OF
suffrage to soldiers. to vote of the peo-
pie, at an early day. As can already be
observed, this measure will be opposed by
the Democratic organization throughout
the State This is an additional reason
why fairness should be secured on the sew
eralelection boards; this can only be done
by preventing the election of democratic c
majority.
Up then and be doing-get out your
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