The Portland daily press., 1864-09-07
Shall the Soldiers Vote?

This Is the naked question, when Invested of
all verbiage and legal formalisms and techni-
calities, upon which the people of Maine are
to pass Judgment on Monday next, In voting
upon the proposed change of the State Consti-
tuition. Shall the soldiers in the field, fighting
to uphold their countrys honor, aud unable to
come home to enjoy freeman's highest priyi-
lege, be denied the exercise OF that privilege
because Of their fidelity to their flag, or shall
they be allowed TO vote In the field, under the
regulations prescribed by law? This is the
question, and the answer at the polls on Mon
day next will show how numerous are the
friends of the soldier at home, and who are
the men that are unwilling to trust him. No
Union man will deny him the privilege. He
that lights to defend his country with bullets
should be allowed to do so with ballots. None
are more worthy to have voice in the selec-
ton OF our rulers than those noble-hearted,
brave boys who risk their lives to uphold and
protect country to be ruled by the voice OF
free people.
See. A, Art. III. OF the Constitution of the
State, provides that The election of Governor,
Senators and Representatives. Ito the legisla-
ture shall be ON the second Monday of Sep
TENDER annually"
The Constitution prescrlbes no time for the
election OF representatives to Congress. nor
does 1t decide where or when the vote shall be
taken for electors of President and Vice Pres
ident of the United States. The laws of the
U. s. do provide, however, that the Electors
shall be chosen on Tuesday next after the
first Monday in November
| At the last session of the legislature Re-
solves providing for an amendment of the con-
stitution SO as to allow soldiers absent from
the State to vote for governor, senators, rep
resentatives and county officers" passed both
houses by the necessary two-thirds vote, and
to make them vital, and to incorporate them
| into the fundamental law of the State it be-
next, to sanction them at the polls. The bal
lots will contain simply "Yes' or "No" those
in favor of the amendment voting Yes, and
those opposed voting No.
| II the amendments is adopted proclamation
of the fact will be made bp the Governor, and
1 tiC otiuicEb III tnt uctit uuutI ChfttuIy pre-
pared regulations made by the legislature, will
vote on the day OF the Presidential election
not only for Presidential Electors, but also for
Representative to Congress, for Governor,
Senator's and other officers, precisely as though
they were at home, under equally severe reg
ulations, and with equally sale checks against
illegal voting. and their vote for State and
County officers, and Representatives 10 Con-
gress will be counted precisely as though they
had voted at home, and will have the same ef-
feet.
We say they will vote for Electors and Rep
re,entatives to Congress, though these officers
are not referred to in the question submitted
for the amendment of the Constitution.
1t was not neediul to allude to them In this
connection, because the constitution now con-
tains no prohibitions or regulations touching
the election Of these officers. But the legis-
lature passed law tChap. 27S of the laws OF
last winterl authorizing soldiers absent from
"the state in the MILITARY service to vote,
which provides ISee Sec. 0 of the lawi for
their voting for Representative to Congress
this year on the same day they vote for Presi-
DENTAL Electors, but after this year to vote on
the same day OF the regular election in the
State; this law to have effect provided the
constitutional amendment referred to shall be
sanctioned by the people.
We have said that, Is a matter of course
all Union men will be careful to vote for this
amendment, for they will not be SO unjust a:
to deny the soldier such great and sacred
privilege, while asking him to fight and peri
his life in defence Of sil they professedly hold
most dear.
And the Democrats-of course tisy will
vote for the amendment, for are not the sol
diers all Dem ocratsi In the latter part Of
March Of last year, the Argus complained
because Republican legislature did not pro-
vide for the soldiers to vote, aad when the
Lewiston Journal limited at the difficulties
in the way OF making such provision, that pa
per said, "All the difficulties we see abou. it.
$50 lar as the legislature Is concerned, Is that
"the soldiers would vote Democratic. An or.
"ganized regiment is like an organized town
meeting. Give them 0 chance and they
could vote-just as easy" We now look tc
the Argus and TO all OF its friends, TO join
with the Union men of the State in giving
this chance" 90 the soldiers. and then no "
easy they will avail themselves Of its ad-
vantages.