The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-07-27
To the Polls -!
See that the Soldiers are not
DISTINGUISHED !!
Don't forget the Election next Tuesday
August End. -

1t is to be hoped that, in the midst of
the hustle and excitements of the times,
the freemen of Potter will not forget the
special election of the I'd cf August,
proximo. On the contrary, we hope they
will remember the occasion to some pur-
pose On that day the people of Penn
sylvania are to decide whether a man
who puts on the blue and shoulders gun
in defence of his country, thereby be-
comes disfranchised, and disqualified for
the exercise of the privilege of freeman.
1t is no light and triaing question. Let
US meet and decide it with due solemnity.
Judge Woodward, it will be remem-
bered, decided that the soldier could not
vote, under the Constitution, while on
duty in the field. That decision was
based upon technical rendering of that
portion of the Constitution relating to
the elective franchise; but it stands in
the bar of the exercise of the right of
suffrage by the soldier. There can be
none so good removal Of the disability
as that proposed to be effected on the
second day of August next-an amend
ment of the Constitution of the Com
monwealth.
| The friends Of the Government may
not be aware that the Copperheads in the
State, and more particularly in the lower
part of the State, are bent upon defeat
ing this amendment 10 the Constitution.
Where they are too weak to vote it down
they hope for such an apathy Oh the part
of the Union men as shall result in a de-
feat of the measure by default 1t is for
the Union men of such loyal counties as
Potter to dsappoint these domestic trail
tors, or to play into their hands. There
is no concealing the fact. If every friend
of the soldier goes to the polls that day
the measure will be carried by an over
whelming majority. 1t cansot fail.
1t has been suggested to US by friends
in various sections of the county that the
people are not fully aroused to the i'm
portance of the issues involved in the
result of this election. If there be any
appreciable truth in the statement the
fact is to be regretted. The people of
Potter are among the most intelligent in
the whole country. Such is their repu-
,ation in every district in Pennsylvania,
save those in which the people have gone
mad in the drunken fury of ignorance
Each citizen has the responsibility of
this good repute upon his hands Indi-
vidual effort must sustain it if it be sus.
tanned. There is no discharge in the
war upon wrong, We cannot avoid the
stern questioning of an accusing con-
science. Every life worth living is an
unreleved round of duty. When each
man makes the worlds quarrels his own,
and prosecutes it with half the energy he
is ever ready to expeDd upon petty law
suit, the permanent triumph Of right will
not be delayed long.
The importance of this election cannot
be overrated 1t is to decide whether
100000 soldiers, citizens of Pennsylva-
MIA, shall be permitted to vote while 10
the military service, or whether they shall
remain on the political level of the alien
and the negro, to which Judge Wood
ward has reduced them. That is the di-
rect, unvarnished question, which the
loyal men of this Commonwealth are to
decide op the second day of August next
We do not forget that the vote on tha:
day will also decide for or against most
pernicious system of legislation, known
as "omnlbus legislation" All the pro-
posed amendments are important. Ref
erence to the proclamation will of course
be had by our readers.
esa- AT the Sociable, for the Soldiers Aid