I guess it really is going to be a long war. Here’s an editorial by a Republican-leaning paper urging the New York state government to do whatever it took to let soldiers “vote by proxy” for the 1864 elections.
From The New-York Times April 18, 1863:
The Soldier’s Right to Vote.
We trust our State Legislature will lose no time in taking steps so to amend the Constitution as to permit citizens of the State, while absent in the military service of the nation, to [v]ote by proxy. The required amendment can be passed by this Legislature, — and also by the next; and can then be submitted to the popular vote soon enough to secure to our soldiers in the field the exercise of their right of suffrage in the Presidential canvass of November, 1864. It is due to them and to the country, that they should have this right: and the Union men of our Legislature should see to it that nothing is left undone which they can do to secure it to them.
Gov. SEYMOUR, in his recent Message to the Legislature, gives that body distinctly to understand that he shall veto a law conferring upon soldiers the right to vote except in person, in the election district where they reside. He regards such a law as unconstitutional. We do not doubt the sincerity of his convictions upon this point. It certainly is not free from doubt, and many of the soundest and ablest lawyers in the Republican party agree with Gov. SEYMOUR in his opinion. Nevertheless, if the majority of the members of the Legislature believe that such a law would be constitutional, let them, pass it — and then let Gov. SEYMOUR, acting upon his convictions of public duty, return it with his objections. Both will then have, done their duty, and each branch of the Government will bear only the responsibility which devolves upon it.
But the measure itself ought not to be defeated by the conflict of opinion between the Governor and the Legislature. The soldier should not be deprived of his right to vote in consequence of such a collision. If it can be secured to him by a simple law, very well; but if not, then let it be secured by an amendment of the Constitution. The Governor has pledged himself to approve such a measure; let him not be enabled to throw the responsibility of its defeat upon the Legislature.
As it turned out New York and 18 other Northern states allowed absentee ballots for their soldiers in 1864.[1]
- [1]McPherson, James M. The Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. New York: Ballantine Books, 1989. Print. page 804.↩
