The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-29
Alabama Legi-rar"re---Neasase from

FeSeD tatIVeS. GOV. PARSONS, on the SdHl
day, sent In message to the Legislature
which we find published in our Alabama
exchanges.
He takes decided ground in favor of th,
adoption of the Constitutional Amend
ment, and recommend that the same pro
lection be given by law to freedmen a
to the non voting white population.
The following extract from bis message
will show his views on these importan
"a estions:
"Our Federal relations are steadily anc
favorably progressing. All seems now t
be working well, and l trust the result
| will be a complete triumph of the Presl
dents policy Of reconstruction or restora
ton, at an early day. TO render this cer
tain, we must omit on our part nothing
which is necessary to put the State in line
with him and those who sustain him IL
its adoption.
On the first of February, 1865, the Con
gress of the United States adopted a joint
resolution, entitled "a resolution submit
ting TO the Legislatures of the several
States, proposition TO amend the Con-
| stitution of the United States, ''as follows:
"RcsoLved by the Senate and House Of Re
presentatiVes of the United States of America
in Congress assembled, (two-thirds of both
houses concurIing,) That the following
article be proposed to the Legislatures oi
| the several States as an amendment to
| the Constitution of the United States
which, when certified by three fourths OF
said Legislatures shall be valid to all in
| tents and purposes as part of said Con
stitution, namely:
ARTICLE XII-Section l. Neither sla
very nor Involuntary seryitude, except a.
| punishment for crime, whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted
| shall exist within the United States, OF
any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Sec. 2. Congress shall nave power tc
enforce this article by appropriate legisla
ton. Approved, Feb. l, 1865.
A duplicate of this resolution and pro,
posed amendment has been transmitted
to me by the Secretary of State, with the
request that the decision of the Legisla
ture of Alabama may be taken on the
subject. 1t is accordingly laid defore you
with an earnest recommendation in ia
vor of its prompt adoption by a uDani
nous vote. This being done, and laws
enacted in obedience to the mandate ot
| our ow Constitution, which secure the
freedmen full protection to person and
prop rty, the right of Alabama to her re-
presentation in the Congress of the
United States, and her complete restora>
ton to all her political rights, powers and
privileges in the Union, will be recorded
by her sister States, IN Congress assembled
without unreasonable delay.
2. By an Ordinance of the Convention,
the Provisional Governor OF the State
was requested to order an election for
Representatives in Congress, from this
State. This was done, and an election
was held in the several districts, accord
ing to tie laws of this State, in all re-
spects as they existed on the llth day of
January, 1861, except as to the time of
holding it. By the first section of tn
4th article of the Constitution of the
United States, the times, places, and
manner of holding such elections shall
be prescribed in each State by the Legis
lature thereof. This was not unnoticed
by the Convantion, but the plan adopted
was deemed the best that could be devils
ed under the circumstances. To cure
the defect, if it should be regarded as
one. | recommend the passage of an act
ratifying what has been done in this be-
half.
5. The Constitution makes it the duty
of the Legislature, at this session, "to
pass such laws as will protect the freed
men of this State in the full enjoyment
of all their rights of person and property
and to guard them and the State against
any evil that may arise from their sud
den emancipation"
The duty here imposed is plain and inn
perative. In performing it, two things
are 10 be borne in mind, viz: protection
to the freedmen in the full enjoy nent of
their rights of person and property, and
in such way as to guard them and the
State against any evil tn It may arise from
their sudden emancipation. Shall this be
attempted by code OF laws entirely new,
or by the passage of an act declaring that
they shall receive the same protection
which our laws secure to our non-Voting
Many difficulties are in the way of the
first, which will readily suggest them
selves to all who have had any experience
in legislation, but from which the last is
entirely free. In the first place there will
be great difference of opinion as to what
Is full protection, and as to the exact ten
Dr. OF legislation necessary to secure il on
,he one hand and to guard the freedmen
and the State on the other; but there can
De no doubt that we, the law making race, |
honestly think that our laws give full pro. !
lection to those of our own race who have
no voice in making them, and that those |
avs are so expressed as to guard them
and the State from any evils that it is in |
bur power to guard against by legislation.
Again, in the effort to frame such code
t would be exceedingly difficult if not i'm
possible to diVest the mind of the fact that
is legislating not for great principles,
'ut for class.
For these and many other reasons. after
he most careful and earnest considera>
ion, | have come 10 the conclusion that
ur interests as a people, especially that
4 the white race, will be promoted by
he passage of an act declaring that freed
len shall have the same measure of pro
ection which our laws secure to our non
oting white population. This, with the
doption of vagrant laws, similar in most
aspects to those of Massachusetts,. will
to the world that we are
onestly endeavoring to meet both aspects
our new condition. {
The idea of requiring a freeman to /
lrry pass at any time, but especially in {
me of peace, that he shall not be at {
berty 10 hire himself for a less period t
Ian month, and that he shall not be
armitted to have light in his dwelling
ter any given hour, is not only incon-
steEt with our American notions of
eedom, but is utterly at war Herewith.
iharfv and the GfCurfavw'I oapoot 80. 6