The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-13
-ALABA A Nj A.
Governor PattOn's Message-ActIOn OF
the Legislature.

n
that State on the eth instant, s as tollows:-
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT., STATE OF ALABAMA,
MoNT6oMERY, December 6.-Gentlemen OF the
Senate and House oil representatives.: Events
OF vast Importance are now transpiring which
bear with peculiar force upon the relations
which Alabama snstains TO The Union.
TO these events we cannot be indifferent; they
are of so vital character that we should give
to them a calm and deliberate consideration.
As the Chief Executive OF the State, deem IL
a duty under the Constitution to express in
form the apprehension, which you doubtless
share with me, lest the stability of our affairs
be suddenly broken up.
There is an unmistakable purpose upon the
part OF those who control the National Leglsa-
tHre to enforce at all hazards their own terms OF
restoration.
The means they propose threaten to at once
reverse our progress towards the establishment
Of that permanent tranquility which is so much
desired by all. To do so ls to immeasurably
Augment the distress which now exists, and to
inaugurate confusion; the end OF which no
human prescience can foresee.
To-day the cardinal principle of restoration
seems to be favorable action upon the proposed
amendment to the Constitution, which trans
mitted to you in my annual message
Upon the merits of that amendment my views
are already known. They are founded on prin-
ciple and are unchanged.
The necessity of the case, ! am nov con-
our true condition full IN the face
|, therefore, recommend anew to your con-
sideration this measure in the light in which 1t
now presents itself; or such other measure as
your wisdom may suggest. Should you see
proper to ratity it, and our full restoration
should follow, we may trust TO time and the
influence of our Representatives TO mitigate its
harshness. If, on the other hand, admission be
delayed, the warning to our sister States may
be relied upon TO prevent that concurrence on
their part which alone can give the measure
practical effect.
Having done all, we may then commit our
cause TO just God. h. M. p TToN.
Action of the Legislature.
The correspondent OF the Mobile Adoertiser
thus alludes to the effect produced by the re-
Ceptiou of the message:-
The reading of the message caused considera-
bic excitement in both Houses. In the Senate,
Mr.. Fielder moved hat that body should go into
Committee OF the Whole to consider the prac-
ticablity of ratfN ing the Constitutional amend
ment and urged its adoption in strong terms.
He said he was ready to vote for it at ouce, and
that its ratification was necessity. MIR. Barnes
moved to refer the message 10 the Committee on
Federal Relations and said he believed it de,
rogatOry to the high character of the Legisla
ture 10 abandon President Johnson's restoration
policy. That policy wa, founded on right, JUS
tice, and equality. Mr.. Fitzpatrick spoke in the
strongest terms against the amendment, and in
support of Mr.. Barnes motion. MIR. Sykes fol,
lowed in support of the amendment, and said he
regretted to say hat President Johnson would,
in his opinion, be defeated and the State, in all
probability, be thrown back under m ltary
government. Mr.. Barnes motion, TO refer to
Iied by a vote Of yeas "a; nays s: Messrs. Bell,
Fielder, Garrett, Sykes, and Woodliet voting in
the negative.
In the House, It was proposed to refer the
Message to The Committee on Federal Relations.
Coz siderable con 'usion en5ued, and Mr.. Grant,
managing to Get the floor, urged calmne>s, and
insisted that members should look our true con-
dtion full in the face. Unless some proper
measures were taken to wards the establishment
OF that permanent tranquility so essential to
our existence as a State, he did not believe that
this Legislature would be again permitted to
assemble. Such an expression of opinion could
not have been hazarded at the commencement
OF the session, but now the fact must be patent
to all. Several of the members expressed them
selves opposed 10 any action being taken on the
Constitutional amendment until after the re-
assembling of the Legislature in January; and
Mr.. Savage, of Clark, moved to suspend all
business before the House, to introduce the fol-
lowing resolution, which was refused, after it
was read for iniormation:-
Resolved, That in the opinion of the present
General Assembly of this State, no action can be
cODshtutonally taken on The proposed amendment
to the United Sta Constitution, until the State is
allowed to exercise all the pTvi eyes conferred bY
that If the State be rewarded by Congress being
out OF the Union, no action on the part OF this
General Assembly will give any validity to said
amendment.
Mr.. Doster of Autauga asked permission to
offer the following resolution, which was not
entertained:-
ResolUed, That the Committee on Federal Rela.
hour of 8 80 O'Clock this evening, upon the joint
resolutions referred to said Commit ee, proposing
amendments to the Constitution OF the United
States.
Various motions were made to adjourn and
questions of order raised, and the HOuse finally,
at 2'30 o'clock, adjourned in confusion.
On the folio wing day the Committee on Fede-
raj Relations, to whom the Governors message
was referred, reported that they "had duly and
maturelY considered the same-and deeming it
unnecessary and inexpedient to enter into an
argument for their report, the Committee are OF
the opinion that the General Assembly should
not ratiiy the proposed amendmeuts.n They
therefore reported Joint resolution that "the
State of Alabama refuses to ratify" the amend
MEET. This resolution was adopted by vote oil
27 to 2 in the Senate, and 60 10 in the House,
The two Senators who voted In favor OF ratfca-
tion-Messrs. Fielder, of Montgomery, and Sykes.
of Lawrence-made lengthy explanations of the
votes they were about to cast, while similar
statements were made on the part of Senators
who voted for concurrence in the report.
On tie reception of the Senate's action in the
House, the resolutions we're Immediately taken
up for consideration, and there was consider
able display OF parliamentary tactics, during
which several efforts were made to postpone
final action until after the legislative recess
MIR. Morse, of Choctaw, submitted resolution
to refer the subject to the people for instruc
tioDa, while MIR. Potter, OF Cherokee, desired tC
postpone in order that Congress might submit
an u!tImgtuTn, to be further submitted to the
people OF the State, which were voted down, il
being the evident determination OF the majority
10 dispose of the main question at once. Dur
ing the proceedings in the Senate, ii was stated
by Mr. Barnes that telegraphic despatch ha(
been received from Senator Parsons, at Wash
lngton, urging the rejection of the amendment
by the LEGISLATURE. In the House, Mr.. Potte
gave notice that on the 18th of January III
would move a reconsideration of the vote adopt
ing the Senate report.
otu mil Ia