Voting in the Field; a Forgotten Chapter of the Civil War

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVII NEW YORK IN the State compaign in New York in 1862, between Horatio Seymour and General Wadsworth, for Governor, the propriety of passing a statute which would enable soldiers to vote in the field, was discussed, and if General Wadsworth had been elected he doubtless would have recommended the Legislature to pass such a statute. But Seymour was elected and although in his annual message he discussed national affairs at unusual length and with great freedom, bitterly criticizing the administration in its conduct of the war, he made no reference to a soldiers' voting law, nor did he communicate with the Legislature by any special message recommending such a law. A bill was introduced however on February 10, 1863, in the Assembly to authorize volunteer soldiers to vote in the field, which with other bills for the same purpose was referred to the Judiciary Committee. On April 8, the Judiciary Committee reported in the Senate a bill entitled "An Act to Secure the Elective Franchise to the Qualified Voters of the Army and Navy of the State of New York," and recommended its passage.1 On April 10, it was amended in various particulars and passed by a vote of 19 to 7. The bill then went to the Assembly.2 On April 13, the Governor sent a message to the Legislature, in which he said, "The question of 1 Assembly Journal, 1863, pp. 195, 205, 537, 869. 1 Senate Journal. 1863, pp. 351, 367, 381, 395. a method by which those of our fellow-citizens who are absent in the military and naval service of the nation may be enabled to enjoy their right of suffrage, is a question of great interest to the people of this State, and has justly excited their attention." He then pointed out objections to any bill not based upon a constitutional...