Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-10-13
Al KARAMA.


We hope that our readers faithfully read
and ponder the reports Of the proceedingsof Of
the various conventions in the late rebel
States The country il fast approaching
one of the most critical trials il has expert
enced. The President and Congress will
each express their views upon the question
of reorganization. Should they agree we
shall all rejoice Should they differ, it is OF
the utmost importance that public opinion
should be SO instructed IN the facts as to be
firm and intelligent in It's demands
If the spirit of the conYention appears TO
be truly healthy, If they slow that they ac-
cept all the results OF the war honestly and
frankly, the difficulties of the situation will
be wonderfully relieved But ifthcir action
Il seen to have been merely compulsory and
reluctant, and 1t is clear that their faith is
stil hostile to the spirit and letter of the
Government, the day of real peace viii be
grievously postponed. OF course no sensi-
bic man expects the conventions to say that
the rebellion was q monstruuScrime. But
honorable men may fairly be expected toact
honorably. They will not shirk nor evade,.
If they think the States sovreign they will
say SO. And such men will not be surpri-
sed that nation which has just successfully
asserted Its supreme sovreignty declines to
endanger Its victory.
The action of the Alabama Convention
was more reasonable than was Justly autici
pated from its first proceedings. 1t unani-
mously resolved that the act of secession
was wholly unauthorized and is null and
void, but, by a vote of SIS to "a, refused to
cali itunconstitutnaal. Slavery Wastabol-
ished with only 4se dissenting Voices out
Of 90, and provision was ordered to beinade
coIafed population By vote ofs60 to 10
the rebel State and Confederate debts were
absolutely repudiated The Convention
resolved that the white population only
should be the basis Of representation; and.
by vote of 81 to % decided to submit the
amendments to popular vote
Such action Is good as far a. il goes. But
the issues are so important thatit must be
strictly scrutinized. A State which seven
months ago was in open and desperate re-
bellion against the Union upon certain de-
clared grounds nov asks to be admitted to a
full and equal share in the legislation of the
Union upon the conditions thus stated. Let
US look closely at their character.
The Alabama Convention by declaring the
act Of secession null and void admits shat
the Convention Of 1860 had no authority to'
pass such an act; butby refusing to condemn
it as unconstitutional ii adheres to the State
right of secession, and does not deny that
another Convention might lawfully authorize
secession. This was the very giound Of the
rebellion; and the Convention refuses to re-
linquish it.
Slavery is abolished and prohibited by the
act Of the Convention. But unquestionably
it acted under a certain consciousness Of
constraint, and it is perfectly competent for
another Convention to re establish slavery.
If the intention were finally to end slavery,
why not have removed it from State control
by recommending the adoption of the eman-
cipation amendment to tho Constitution of
the United States2 This would have left no
room for suspicion or apprehension
The Alabama Convention also declared all
political power to be inherent in the people,
and that all free governments are founded
in their aHthority and established for their
benefit; and then proceeded to base the
Government upon minority or a small MA
joFity of the people leaving all the rights of
the rest IN person, property, residence, legal
testimony, and marriage, to the absolute
will of class of the citizens
Thus Alabama, BY her Convention offers
to return to her equal power in the Union
upon condition that the United States will
SOneIuS ShS cVhshtucio1al tlSnG " secesSioH
and the political outlawry Of half the popu-
lation of the State, that half being entirely
composed of the people whom no threat nor
falsehood could seduce from their unswerv-
ing fidelity to the Union during the darkest
hour of the war.
Do the gentlemen ofthe Convention really
suppose that the reople of the United States
victorious in this tremendous war, viii now
acknowledge the conStitutionality of seceSs-
ion and consent to perpetuate that concentra
tion of political power in class, which were
the mainsprings of the rebellion? Like
shrewd trader Alabama begins with her
lowest offer But she is surely too shrewd
to suppose that it will be considered salts
factory. -Hdgper's Weekly