Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-04

Report upon The PthcaI and Social
Condition of ne STATE.

The Legislature OF Alabama adjourned
on the 23d nit. Previous TO adjournment
the following report was unanimously
adopted by both Houses
The Joint Select Committee appointed
TO inquire, consider and report upon the
political and social condition Of Ala
bama and her people, have. discharged
the duty assigned them and make the
following report:
When the cause for which the people
Of Alabama have endured sacrifices
without parallel in history was lost by
the surrender of her heroic armies, the
result was accepted as final and conclu-
sive. Although compelled by the YER
diet OF the sword to abandon an institu-
ton which was so thoroughly interwO-
ven with every thread Of her social fabric,
that 1t could not be suddenly torn asunder
without leaving everywhere deep and
painful wounds-the surrender has been
made without a murmur. Alabama
turned once more to the Government,
against which she had been arrayed in
arms, and in solemn convention Obliter-
ated from her records the ordinance OF
secession, and, as far as in her power, re-
traced her steps 10 the point of her de-
parture. Additional guarantees Of sin-
cerity were required at her hands, and
the General Assembly responded to the
call of the President of the United States
by ratifying the Constitutional Amend
ment prohibiting slavery within her
borders forever and, by legislative en-
actment, securing protection to the freed
man in all his personal rights, and OPEN
ing the courts OF the State Ia his behalf.
Having thus cheerfully complied with
all the conditions demanded rs a pre-
requisite for restoring to her rights as a
State in the Union, the people of Ala
bama waited ~anxiously, yet happily, for
the meeting Of Congress, and the admis-
sion Of her representatives.
Frustrated and impoverished, as she
has been, by the WARMTH her fields
devastated and her homes laid waste
and with her relations to a large class Of
her population radically changed-the
people came upmanully to the duties of
the hour, and with implicit reliance upon
the -magnanimity and good faith Of the
Northern people aud the general Gov
Observation-Disclosures to adapt them
selves rs best they could TO this new con-
dition, and were rapidly in the pursuits
ofpeaee. But it became, ere long, pain
fully evident that unknown persons were
busily disseminating reports %prejudicial
TO the honor and welfare Of our people.
Kindly sympathy is manifested by the
whites, with few exceptions, toward the
freedmen, and their new relations TO
each other are being gradually adjusted
in A am satisfactory to both. Con-
tracts have been made for labor, upon
| Just and equitable terms, and the freed
men are generally at work. Nothing
more is apparently now required for the
restoration of law and order in our midst,
than the withdrawal Of Federal bayonets
from the State.
Believing then, as your Committee
must, from the evidence before them,
that the falsehOOds prOpagated in the
North and in Congress are the offspring
! of deliberate malice and design, and cir
| culated only for the basest political pur-
poses, it remains only for u, as the rep
resentatives of the people, to denounce
the authors as wilful calumniators and
slanderers, and TO solemnly protest
against their statements being received
and accepted as truth.
In conclusion, yOurC Committee feel this
to be the proper occasion for a renewed
expression of the sentiments which
pervade the public heart towards
the President Of the United States
and his policy. The following res
olutiOns, similar in language and
purpOrt to those recently passed by the
Legislature Of the old Commonwealth
of Virginia, are respectfully submitted
with the recommendation that they be
adopted, and that a copy be transmitted
to His Excellency President johnson,
with the accompanying report.
Chairman of Com on part Of senate.
JOSHUA MORSE,
Chairman on part Of House.
Joint Resolution Of the General Assembly Of
fNe state of Alabama on the STATE or rna
Union.
Resolved 5y the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the State Of alabama
ia General assembly COnUened, That the
people of Alabama, and their representa-
tives here assembled, cordially approve
the policy pursued by Andrew johnson,
President Of the United States, in the re-
organization of the Union. We accept
the result OF the late contest, and do not
desire 10 renew what has been so conclu-
sivelV determined; nor do we mean to
permit any one subject to our control TO
attempt its renewal, or to violate any of
our obligations to the United States Gov
eminent. We mean 10 cooperate in the
wise, firm, and just policy adopted by the
President, with all the energy and power
we can devote to that object.
>. That the above declaration express
ses the sentiments and purposes of our
people, and we denOunce the efforts of
those who represent our views and in
tentions to be different, as cruel and
criminal assaults upon our character and
interest. Ii is one of the uisfoFtlnes of
our present political condition that we
have among US persons whose interests
are temporarily promoted by such false
representations; but We rely on the
intelligence and integrity OF those who
WELD the power of the United States
Government for our safeguard against
such malign influences.
3. That involuntary serVitUde, except
for crime, is abolished, and ought not to
be re-established, and that the 2 race
among Us should be treated with Justice,
humanity and good faith; and every
means that the wisdom of the Legisla-
ture can devise should he used to make
them useful and intelligent members of
society.
4. That Alabama will not voluntarily
consent to change the adjustment Of pO-
iitioal power, as fixed by the Constitution
of the United States, and to constrain
her to do 50 in her present PROSTATE and
helpless condition, with no voice in the
councils of the nation, would he an I'M
justitiable breach Of faith, and that her
earnest thanks are due 30 the President
for the tiru stand he has taken against |
amendments Of the Constitution, forced
through in the present condition of af-
fairs.