The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-11
ALA 3 A NJ A ,
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF the HERALD.

Exciting Debate In the Senate ON the C0nsti-
tutional Amendment Union Sentiment
Gaining Ground Every Hour-Important
Amendment to the Stay Law-Extraordinary
Legal Decision sc.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Dec. 9, 1855.
When Governor Patton's message recommending the
adoption or the constitutional amendment read In
the Senate Of this State Mr. BARNES moved to refer it
TO the Committee on Federal Relations G
Mr. GARRETT thought It would be better to refer IL to
committee Of the whole Senate when they could talk
upon the subject like mon. He did not know whether
his constituents were favorable to tho constitutional
amendment or not but he did know that the state Of
the times was such that some immediate action IN
regard to the suggestions thrown out by the Governor
was demanded.
Mr. DRAKE thought the constitutional amendment I
would them from the wrath Of the government,
and that they would be called upon TO mako other
sacrifices, oven though they should adopt II.
Mr. FELDER, OF Montgomery, hoped the matter would
Be discussed in Committee Of the Whole They all felt
the necessity Of action being taken TO avert tho
Ssr q
ton in greater degree from the fact that at the begin
ming Of the session. the Governor had thought otherwise
had made up his mind how TO VOTE and there was no
use Of putting the thing over for another day. For his
siitutiona amendmen and willing to take the
sponsollity II any was attached TO IT.
Mr.. BARNES said II they referred 1t TO the Committee
Federal Relations, that committee could learn what
reasons the Governor had for changing his mind, and
make report upon the matter In the morning He was
opposed 10 the adoption Of the constitutional amend
ment HIMSELF and he would rather suffer his right
be severed from his body than to abandon President
johnson in this extremity.
Mr.. KnPArRIcK followed in . similar strain Of re-.
Marks and deprecated the idea OF going back on ones
friend
waiting speeches This time to postpone the mat
ter What could they expect TO gain by delay He had
heard this talk Of waiting long enough During the re-
whip the Yankees yet" He was ono Of the first men in
the state TO take up the Presidents policy,
no means popular among the very :nen
who ar. are now 50 much in .ayor Of 1t IT,
in the Of anS was no for Ss%
to dictate terms 1t whether the people OF Alabama
would take what offered them or worse and u they
refused to accept the amendment they would DO like the
man who refused to allow himself TO be rescued from
burning building the ladder the Of escape
wss WITH conemp 10 dy the
matter and although he was one Of those who would be
decapitaed, STILL for the good Of the country he was
ready to vote for the amendment then and there.
After some further discussion the message Of the
Governor was referred to the Committee on Federal
Relations and the Senate adjourned until ten O'Clock
IMPORTANT AMsxpxksr TO THE STAY LAW.
The amendment to the Stay law allowing suits on con
tracs for labor SANDER and assault and battery TO be
brought notice Of twenty days instead OF eighteen
months up for consideration in the House to-day
ana, after lengthy debate, was ordered 10 tnrd reou
ing by handsome vote. This amendment to the stay
law urged principally on account OF the freedmen
In order that they might be kept out OF their wages
for eighteen months two years, II their employers
disposed to treat them unjustly. I&
LEGAL DECISION EXTRAORDINARY.
Judge Busteed Of the United States District Court de-
cided o.day that all payments made In Confederate
money for debts are null and void, no matter whether
the Confederate money above or below par The
decision is looked upon most extraordinary one and
will be appealed from 10 the Supreme Court at Washing.
ton speedily the delays OF the law will permit n
Judge Busted has aimed at making sensation he has
certainly succeeded to his hearts content