Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-11


There Is at least one bill pending in
Congress proposing to make provision
for tho voting OF soldiers for members
OF Congress, but we cannot believe any
such measure will pass. Aside from
constitutional objections In the way. 1t
would require most extraordinary ge-
MUS for any map, or set OF men. TO draft
bill which would conform to the DIFF
ferent requirements of the different
States. And so. for many reasons. u
| would be better for Congress to leave
| the whole subject severely alone.
| The Legislature OF New York is to be
| called together in extra session to make
provision for allowing the soldiers OF
| that State to vote wherever they may
be on election-day, but other questions
are to be disposed OF at the same time.
Indeed, we suspect that the extra ses-
sion would not have been called at all,
but for the desire of the Republicans to
thwart Mayor Van Wyck In the course
he has recently pursued with respect TO
the removal and appointment OF the New
missIoners have certain ,duties 10 dis
charge In connection with popular cleo
tions. and the Republicans affect to be-
Iieve Van Wyck would use his power
over the commissioners In the interest
of dishonest elections. And so they
mean to checkmate him If they can.
Certainly. they have the political power
to do what they will ia that State. and |
we can hardly suppose they will be so |
self-denying as TO refuse to use it.
: AS 10 the soldier vote: The Constitu-
ton Of New York was amended during /
the civil war so as to permit the Legisla
ture TO provide for opening polls In the
camps Of New York troops. no matter
where they might be. That provision
of the Constitution seems to have been
retained when the new Constitution was
adopted few years ago, and, therefore,
the Legislature has fun power to act.
Some other States are also taking steps
in the same direction. We presume their
State constitutions permit them to do |
80. In the Virginia Constitution we find
nothing to warrant such action upon
the part Of our Legislature. But we
suppose our Virginia boys who may be
absent from their homes, and absent
from the country, indeed, will have no
difficulty in arranging pairs with pollti-
,al opponents, who are their personal
friends. 1t would be a cruel-hearted old
politician, indeed, VINO would not agree
DC hot p | ,
han "pair'') with a soldier boy who is
absent from his home doing service for
he country. 1t seems clear to us that
he exigencies of the situation in respect
# this matter may be we'll met by such
| system.
During the civil war--that is to say. ;
turing the war for southern independ-
nce-the Virginia soldiers were allowed
O vote in camp; certainly those who
we're in camp in this State were permits
ed to do so. The rules and regulations s
governing the voting could not have
cen very strict, for many soldiers who
,ere less than q years old exercised the I
light of suffrage. They argued with y
heir consci6nces that If they were old i
nough to fight for Virginia they were |
Id enough to vote. and the election off, #
ers Of the occasion were not very in Q
uisitive. SO, in all the camps in Vir- .
mia, voting went on. The viva voce
ystem was then in vogue, and the :,
ames of the persons for whom each S
oldier voted were read out in the hear e
Is of all present. l.
There is great anxiety perceptible on p
ne part Of northern politicians lest the .,
,ldiers lose their votes! In this we sus- G.
act them of playing to the galleries."
the saying Is. The almost universal ! a
pinion is that the soldiers will all be v
home to vote in November. But If
lere should be disappointment as TO
lat, we see no reason at all why the
system should not be ar
lnged. The condition of parties in this NJ
,untry is now such that nearly every e
an knows where he is at'-where he &c
.longs-and thus pairing off is made m
sy and expeditions. -