Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-25
SOLDIERS VOTE BILL.

SOLDIERS VOTE BILL.
Mr. Speaker announced the 81 ecial order viz
The consideration of the judiciary committee
amendment TO Mr. Branhsm's bill, 1874 bill
providing for voting by electors Of the state
absent IN The military or naval service of the
y ! directing the methods BY which the same
might be done. and prescribing penalties for VIC
lstions OF any rights and privileges granted by
this bill
The question being on an amendment, Mr.
Buskik made an ineffectu Al effort TO postpone
the matter until o'clock tonight.
The amendment was then read thro' q.
MIR Speaker Petit (Mr. HenrcAs in the
chiir,) moved the correction OF ceicsl errors
In the printed copy. and they were corrected
Mr. Brown proposed 10 me I'd the l4h sec
ton so as to unite the attorney general, auditor,
treasurer and secretary Of state with the gov
ornor in the distribution of ballots to absep,
electors
Mr.. Petit would not charge an executive with
duty on such multfarious Affairs.
Mr. Brown said it made the governor the ab-
solnte judge with regard to the distribution OF
ballots He (Mr. Brown saw nothing wrong
10 uniting the state officers with the governor
abou, this matter Certainly. in so far, public
confidence would DC additionally inspired BE
was for securing, as far as may be, fair and
II,
the safeguards OF the Law. has rendered it al.
most impossible that an executive could DO
wrong, the peor'e would have that much more
confidence IN him. He demanded the yeas and
navs OF his men inient
IL was rejected by 80 to 46.
Mr. BuskiIk moved to insert the word "Oc,o-
Der" instead OF annual" in the 18th section.
Nr. Petit hoped u would be done with sim
lar change in the oh section Aud it was done
Mr.. Buskk should vote against the bill be-
cause the constitutional power 10 pass il was
wanting. he made very sble argument. 8,
length. citing authorities IL was not competen,
for the legislature to extend enlarge, or restrict
the specific provisions OF the constitution. BE
laid down the proposition that TO msn can vote
by proxy So he supreme court Of New H4mp-
shire bad decided He also referred 70 he de-
oisIons OF The Pennsylvania supreme court. The
voter, bv these authoritative p-ononncements,
must make manual delivery" OF his ballot ct
the proper time and place Connecticut. Yer
mon: and Michigan. all States heard from e1cert
lows, bad by the decisions Of their ultimate tri
hunsls. agreed with Pennsylvania and New
Hampshire In Iowa the constitution did moth
ing more than prescribe the residence OF the
electors
Then, are the decisions of sill these courts; the
opinion Of Governor Morton. ss presented in bis
messages: is the constitution. Is all precedent; IL
all contempcEaneOus action la other sovereign
stsies-are sll these 10 be 81; aside, and all law
and justice overridden Or the passage OF this bill
Our only safety vas an adherence 10 the eoEsti-
tuition Ii that did not authorize us to proceed
in the direction indicated. let Us do ss Governor
Morton had recommended-smend IL
Mr. Petit eonbatted at length and with great
clesrness. on his side Of the question. the ohec
tons and arguments urged ey the gentleman
from Monroe (xr. Bsskisk) Particularly did