The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-07-14
Address Of the Union State Central Com
mittee.
To the People of Pennsylvania:

mittee.
To the People Of Pennsylvania:
In the midst of fierce conflict for the
national life-responding to calls for large
reinforcements to enable our armies to sue
cessfully combat with traitors-cheerful-
| ly meeting the payment of extraordinary
taxation to supply the Government with
money to conduct the war, and submit
ting to an immense increase in the prices
ofliving, the people of Pennsylvania have
nevertheless been able for three years to
maintain prosperity, and secure heal
thy operation in all the branches of their
trade, unprecedented in the annals of any
country while engaged in the prosecution
of a war. In the trials of this bloody
war, with the struggle just reaching its
climax. the people of Pennsylvania sud
denly find themselves involved in a po-
litical contest invested with the highest
importance, because fraught with the
most momentous issues. Ordinarily
heretofore, political contests meant only
choice of policy as to the manner of ad-
ministering the Government. The strug-
gle of parties was for the possession of
the powers of Government, and merel y to
control their operation. Now, however
our political contests have resolved them
selves into direct and positive issue
for the safety and the permanence of the
Government; because, politically as well
as sectionally, the contest at the ballot
box and in the battlefield must decide
whether the Union shall exist or perish
with the triumph or defeat of one or the
other Of the contending parties. Hence
the unwonted importance with which our
political campaigns are now invested
Parties are now divided on issues which
vitality concern the Government They
are composed Of friends and enemies of
that Government. To choose between
these parties equally interests the cause
of loyalty and that of treason. No man
can stand neutral between the two, and
all that are not fairly for the Government
will be justly recognized as its enemy
Admitting that such is the new import
ance assumed 5y our political contests, We
have an excuse as we'll as justification
for entering on the contest fast approach
ing, for the amendments to the Constitu-
ton, with all the zeal in our nature, and
all the devotion that should characterize
the patriot and the lover of his country
in his effort to serve it.
1t would seem that on an amendment
to the Constitution granting the soldier a
right to vote there should be no division
Among free people particularly, who
are admitted always to be the most intel
igent, such right should be so we'll
grounded in common and statute law as
to need no action, at this late day, for it's
exercise and vindication. The soldier, in
all lands, alike among civilized and bar
barrie nations, has ever been admitted to
the highest honors conferred by the
governments beneath whose banners he
fought His valor, his sacrifices, and his
devotion, have ever been regarded as
themes for the poet, subjects for the
painter, and material for the historian :;
and thus the calling of arms became one
of honor-one which elected the noble
rivalries of compatriots, and, where civil
ization refined the instincts and elevated
the character of men, war has been so
conducted as to force combatants to re-
speet ard homer each others qualities
the victor still TO t,eat the vanquished as
"a MAN. The Constitution and laws ex-
pressly declare that no man shall be de-
prived of his citizenship, except for high
crimes of which he shall be charged and
proven guilty. He must be summoned
to meet such charge of criminality in
the presence of judges whose oaths bind
them to do him entire Justice He must
be insured trial by jury sworn impair
TALLY to consider his case. If found gull
ty, the sentence of his judges may result
in his disfranchisement-but disfran-
chisement is not aimed at as result of
his punishment. Disfranchisement as a
direct punishment is only made to follow
the highest crime known against the
State. Yet in the face of these facts
and in opposition to all equity, there are
those in the State who Insist that dis
franchisement should follow the highest
service which man can perform for his
There is strong party to.
day in Pennsylvania, regularly organized
controlled by able leaders and sustained
by astute and learned advocates, insisting
that the service of citizen as soldier
the perilling of life and limb in the
support of the Government, the giving
up of domestic 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-boru or constitutional
ly-adopted American citizen. The mon
strous iniquity of such claim is at once
apparent, however it has been maintained
by our highest judicial tribunals. Its in
Justice can only be sustained by sophis-
tries founded in the worst political pre-
udices, SO that the sooner the Constitu-
ton and laws are made plain and render
I'd explicit on this subject, and posted
where every mar can read and under
stand them, just so soon do we secure the
"a l. Il