Litchfield enquirer., 1864-08-04
Shall the Soldiers Vote {?
UNION STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE,
 II HARTFnRn Inlp ! IoeA

F1eeanen of Connecticut:
 On the 18th day of August next, you vii be called upon to decide by your votes wbeth 1 CT the Constitution of this State shall be s amended that the citizen soldier may be allow cd to exercise the elective franchise. whethe at home or in the field.
 Elsewhere throughout the country this priv ilege has been accorded, not as a favor but a a right, and We trust that you will now say and by an overwhelming majority, that those citizens who protect your fresides from the invaders torch, and your country from destruc ton, shall be entitled to vote for those who may govern the country which they have per filed their lives to save.
 Surely, there can be no higher qualification for all the priveleges of American citizenship than that acquired by actual service in the ar my by which those privileges are made se- cure. And yet, there are those, who, to serve the mean ends of political party, would render their service brand of degradation, by denying the soldier those very privileges which he has taken up arms to defend.
 Two successive Legislatures have passed the amendment, which is now submitted for your ratification, thereby endorsing the prlnci- ples laid down by Jefferson, Jackson, and oth- CT democratic leaders of the olden time that the elective franchise followed the flag under which the soldier fought" In like manner, then, as the flag renders the deck of ship above which it waves the soil of the country ,, whose name it bears, regardless of the sea or cline in which it floats, so also will it carry with it all the rights and franchises which the soldier fighting beneath its folds enjoyed at home. This, indeed, was sound democratic doctrine when war was declared with Mexico in the interest ofslavery; always more consis- tent, however, in their devotion to Mm inter- est than the maintenance of {, political prin- cipe, the same leaders of the same party who, in some States, extended freuman's privilege to soldiers in the wilds of Mexican chapperel, now deny it to those who are with in our own borders, fighting for freedom and the preservation of our national life. 1 The soldier who sacrifices his business in terests, leaving his family, and snrrenders for three years or moro his personal liberty to serve his coaatry cannot understand Wliy those less patriotic than himself, many of whom would sooner sec their country torn into lr0g ments than share his privations and dangers should G!o1te have the privilege of making laws and laweiyers. which lie aud bis children are bound to respect and obey.
 If you rnject the amendment he under stands you to say, and you do say, tlat to en ter the service Of his country is a p"silive dis qualification to vote for the rulers of lis cour-- try but if you accept the amendment you tell him that he has thereby acquired new and more exalted title to the highest privilege of a freeman and a government. You assure him, moreover, that just so far as he follows the Nationa: flag to protect our National honor, just So far you will follow him to protect his National privileges.
 Be not deceived with the hope that ques- tion so manfestly just and fair, will not meet with opposition and that your vote will not be needed. We advise you in time that a we'll organized and bitter opposition to this measure will be made by those who justify se eessou and apologize for treason. Let every l ono, then, discharge this duty for himself, and say by your opn ballot whether the elective franchise shall be enjoyeRby the citizen sol der, or whether you can with clear con science ask him to accept as duty the dan gers and hardships of the battle field, and voz- unteer to fight for the protection of your po- litical rights, when by that act and your vote, and the want of it, he has been made to for felt his own.
 | JAMES c. PATTERSON, Chm. Geo. s. Gilman, Truman A. Warren, James Nichols, Bradley R. Agard, N. D. Sperry, WIT. Elmer,
 Jho. J. Jacques, H. NJ. Stannard, H. H. Starkweather, F. w. Smith,
 Edw. Prentiss, w. A. Cummings, Jeremiah Olney, Marcus Lillie,
 Richard s. Lathrop, L. E. Pease,
 Union State Central Committee.