, 1861-03-22
Debate In the AInbnn1 Convention on
Sub n,tttt1E the Constitution -
Vote OF the People.


Vote or tho People.
In spite Of the pressing necessity of seeE1-
ing unanimity in their great experiment, tie
Southern people ARE beginning 10 f1et
ct secret legislation, and especially 1t the
lofty disregard Of the popular in which their
Congress aud State Conventions Indulge.
When the Constitution was hid before- the
Convention IN effort WAS madT to have I.
submitted to the people,: -
Alter the reading Was dn1shed, III. Cochran
OF Barbour said that It was the 6est Constitu-
lion in the world, and he wished to live under
il He, therefore, moved that tho Comuaittee
ing tue new constitutional aud report TO tue
Congress recommending the adoption Of TIC
Conftis utlou.
Mr. Jameson Of Tuscaloosa objected to the
motion He thought the people. whcn they
elected members to this hody, had no ldea
fur consideration. He was in fayor Of allow
ing the people to eject delegates to consider
she Constitution. He thought It IVES the til
" Of this body to do 60. It is known that
there Is division Of sentiment in our State ;
that there Ia dl=aHactlon-not 50 much against
mode Of its ratification. He indorsed the
Consultation aud q / Its provisions. A more
1erfsct instrument could not exist It met
| Ills appreciation, but he wished 1t to go to the
people to elect new Convention to be charged
specially with the ratification of the Constitu.
| report progress, with d view to consider It Mt
| sor1s future time, in order to n1ow lin TIME
| to offer IN amcndnc' t.
Tie motion was lost by yeas 81, r:rs IL
| MIR, johnson of TalEadesn ctf=Tcd an adai-
tioEal section to the ordinance 80 as to sub
| 0,n
ktitution " to The people direct, which vas
ruled ont Of order.
| The Committee Of the WHO'S then decided
tn report the ordinance fer adoption " TIE
Convention.
| Tue urdluauce vas read.
Mr, Jamtrson offered the following amend.
ncat: Strike ont after the wo:d thereby"
and insert the following: g. Be referred to .
| Convention Of the people OF the State, the
| 1nembers OF which shall be elected hy the qral.
| iiied electors for nembtrs Of the General AS
semb'y, at such tilne aod l'1ace IS this Coz
rcatiou may hereafter prescribe"
| Mr. johnson spoke in favor # referring the
| Constitution to tho people lie urged that
| whcn delegates were elected 10 the rrovis-
I toEa1 Congress, a PROMISE WIS made by the
| opposition that any Constitution that might
| bc agreed Epou should lie submitted to the
l,eopl=. lie held them to the promise The
rights OF the people Lad been initinSed in onc
| luBlAQCE. liz GlQ uQb Nl6l Lu otH II u.H24lfl. Il
wss in violation OF Republican principles 10
keep down the voice Of the people
Mr.. Morgan OF Dallas urged ruat II people
| were to tay Etiat Government We were to
have, there wonld never be my Goverrmsnt.
They would vote agalnet it for different ria.
| cons. There would be some things In it tint
! would meet with the disapproyal Of 1nauy-
(! for instance, some who favor the slavetradc
| would vote IN opposition to the Constii ution
all other questions would lare Its friends
and its opponents.
The result is given In the Confederation Of
| the 14th, which eaye:
+: Speeches were made In the Convention yes
1-r5ay by Messrs. Clarke, Br. oks, ERNST,
Suiti,, aud Others, upon tue subject Ct callin::
another nvcntion, In order tnat the peoi.!e
may hare an opportunity Ct voting upon ihe
Constitution just adopted by the Provisional
Congress. This proposition was voted do~n,
f34 ayes, 45 nays) By those who stem to be in
eucL a great fear Of the l'eopie. Inc Corttt"
tuition was then ratified t'y an almost n1a.i-
nous yotc, there being only 1lyc voting in The
NEGATIVE.