American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-27

the State who insist that disfranchisement
should follow the highest service which
man can perform for his Government
There is strong party to-day in Penn
sylyania, regularly organized, controlled
| by able leaders and sustained by astute
and well learned advocates, insisting that
the service of a citizen as a soldier-the
perilling of life and limb in the support OF
the Government, the giving up of domes-
tic endearments, the sacrifice of business
interests, and the yielding of all personal
comforts forfeit for those thus engaged all
political right, every franchise of free
born or constitutionally adopted American
citizen. The monstrous iniquity of such
a claim is at once apparent, however 1T
has been maintained by our highest judi
cial tribunals Its injustice can only be
sustained by sophistries founded in the
worst political prejudices, so that Tie soon
er the Constitution and laws an made
plain and rendered explicit on this sub
ject, and posted where every man can read
and understand them, just so soon do we
secure the strength and majesty of the
Government in the confidence and respect
of the governed Just SO soon do we make
our good old State worthy of the past val
or OF her sons, and gloriousin the future.
American citizenship has its virtues, and
these their merits Each virtue can only
be exalted by serving the Government un-
der which they flourish; but if that serv-
ice is made badge of degradation, will
it not be more natural for men of honor
and spirit and true courage to resist its
rendition tlan voluntarily to accept its
duties? The citizen soldier feels when
he takes up arms it is to defend, not de-
stroy his political rights. The man who
sacrifices his business interests, and for a
stipulated time surrenders his personal lib
erty, cannot understand why he should
be deprived of mis- political rights. The
service Of arms does not blunt the judg-
ment or blur the ability of a citizen to ex-
ercise the elective franchise. 1t rather
, gives him a new title to the enjoyment of
such right, and fits him for the highest
privileges of free Government I'm
like the masses of Europe, the great body
of the American people are intelligent,
possessed of educations affording the high
est knowledge. While war for time
may change the habits of such people, il
cannot affect their sense of justice, theil
appreciation of power, and their love Of
Government. II cannot lessen their obiI
tn for selt-goreynment If it could, the
war in which we are now engaged for the
defense of the Government and the safety
of the public veal, had better be stopped
Immediately.
, The Democratic leaders now oppose the
, enfrahchisement of the soldier. In the
olden time the Democratic leaders, such as
Jefferson, jackson, Snyder and Shuttle
insisted that the elective franchise follow,
t ed the flag under whicha soldier fought
: IF that flag was potent on the sea and the
, land to protect man in war, why should
it not possess the other virtues of contin
r uing his political franchises IF it made
| the. deck of vessel above which it way
. e3Lthe soil of the country represented
/ bVit, regardless of the sea or cline il
| which it fioatcd, so also does it carry with
$ it for the soldier who fights beneath its
t folds any political rights which these he
roes enjoyed before they were mustered
: into the service and on this soundly
. democratic argument the soldiers wht
/ I fought in Mexico were able to exercise (
freemans right, in the wilds of the chap
, peral, the hearts of the seashore. the dir
: of conflict, and in the shadow of battle
: mented castles the same as if they had
G been at home in their respective ward'
0 and precincts. If men fighting thousands
, of miles from home-cut off from al
: communications scarcely informed at thu
r time on the issues of the political cam
: paign, were able and entitled to exercise
the right of the franchise, is it not fair Il
< suppose that citizens of like intelligence
: engaged in the same service of the gov
A ernment within the limits of its authori
r ty, distant only few miles from home
e conversant with all the issues involved il
r the political contest, in daily communica
ton with their friends, and in perusal. ais,
i of journals discussing the question a
Y stdke-is it not fair to suppose that sucl
f men are entitled to the exercise of al
a their political rights Only those WHIT
G act from perverted policy on this subject
a will seek to eyade the responsibility o
/ such a question. This is proven by thu
t judicial history already attached to thil
. question. When it was deemed expedi
: ent, as it was undoubtedly considered b.
G the Democratic leaders then, the electiv,
4 franchise was extended to the absent sol
/. diers in Mexico; but in the midst of |
: war waged by the upholders Of an insti
| tuition from which the Democratic leader
G derive all their strength, Geo. W. Wood
Y ward, Justice of the Supreme Court
and lately the candidate or the Democrat
t ic party for Governor, .judicially denieC
a the soldiers tho exercise Of the elective
4 fanchise; denied our brave defenders th'
o right almost in the same breath in which
: he declared the right Of the States of th'
: South to rebel and seeede from the Un
| ion Fair. men can see no difference IL
e an American soldier voting in Mexico
/, while fighting beneath the Flag of hi
, country, and the same soldier citizen un
J der the same circumstances voting In re
r II;e,,a Cto4o T;na nor nlace within