The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-01-03
Especial Correspondence of the Wash. Chronicle.
ss-ss ALABAMA.

Especial Correspondence of the Wash. Chronicle
ALABAMA.
RESULT OF THE RECENT ELECTIONS.
Character of the officers Chosen.
The Secession Element In the State.
Pruscriptive Laws Relatiue to the Freedmen.
/ MONTGOMERY, ALA, December 9, 1865.
RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS.
have been long time silent, constantly
| cherishing the hope that would soon be
able to write to you that saw evidences of
returning loyalty and good feeling in this
part of the country. But the weeks go by
one after another, and the current sets as per
versely as ever The elections have been
| held. It was scarcely to be expected that
Union men-those who had openly espoused
| the cause of the General Government against
| the seeding States-w would be elected to the
| State offices, though, in view of the oath re-
| quired of members of Congress, it was thought
| that only those would be sent to claim seats
in Washington who could take that oath.
| For the Legislature, in view Of the recent
history of the State, a reasonable hope exis-
| ted that those candidates would be elected
whose past record was not likely to be par
| ticuIarly obnoxious to loyal men. But the
secessionists have made bold and success
full struggle to retain their political power in
the State, and the conservative and Union
| candidates have been almost everywhere
| beaten.
The immediate object of the successful
party is, doubtless, to prevent the crime or
| stigma of their treason to the General Gov
eminent from being visited upon them in any
way, and at the same time to manufacture
public sentiment of honor and respect for
treason and traitors, and loathing and con-
tempt for those who opposed secession and
| its consequences, and adhered to the Consti-
| tuition and the Union.
PASSPORT TO OFFICE.
The claims of the successful candidates
were such as might have been expected to be
urged if the Confederacy made good its es-
adjustment. MY services in the war, the
wounds have received, the sacrifices have
made, entitle me to your gratitude and your
suffrage" This was the plea of the candi-
date, and the voters responded to it cordially
at the polls. The greatest test of merit, the
highest standard of qualification is to have
lost Il leg or an arm, an eye or ahand in arms
against the Government.
The Provisional Governor, Mr.. Parsons
himself, panders to his knowledge of this
fact, and goes out of his way in his message
to suggest to the Legislature that especial
care must be taken ofthe battle-fags of rebel
regiments left in his possession, which he
calls sacred souvenirs of the courage and
, endurance Of those who went forth to battle
under their folds and who manfully upheld
them with their life-blood"
A SECESSION DEBATING CLUB
Responding to this idea, the Legislature
gives the use of the hall of the House to
meetings of sundry gentlemen who propose
to form a State historical society, to preserve
the records of the deeds of the soldiers of
Alabama, and to raise a fund to build mon
ument to those who died in the Confederate
service. Perhaps nobody would have seri-
ously objected to all this, but after one or
| two meetings the society appeared to have
transfoImel itself into regular secession
debating club, and any one that listened to
the speakers could scarcely believe that they
had lived in the land during the last twelve
| months.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
| is particularly full of the secession element
1t requires the most skilful manipulation of
Gov. Parsons and the Congressman elect to
keep the House within bounds. The men,
| bers would mot elect the Hon. George S.
Houston Senator until they were over and
over again assured that he could not take the
"iron-clad oath" Gov. Parsons, it was we'll
known, could not take it. No man who can
take it can be elected to any office by the
Alabama Legislature.
| ANXIETY FOR POLITICAL RESTORATION.
| Yet withal they are exceedingly anxious
| for full political restoration. You hear it
every day in both houses of the General As
sembly, that the heel of the oppressor is
ON our necks; that we are doing these things
because there is no other way for US to get
rid of military government and military SUI
pervision of the laws we enact; that we
must submit-submit, as one speaker said,
just as we submit to the highway robber who
holds his pistol to our heads"
But there is no shadow of pretence even of
sorrow for past treason, no evidence what
ever of respect for the Constitution, except
so far as its provisions may be used as a
shield to protect them from the consequences
of their failure in rebellion. l do not look
for love from them-the passions of men do
not so quickly COOL but if ever there is to
bea Union of love instead of Union of
hatred in the land, such politicians as now
have the confidence of the Southern people
must be laid upon the shelf.
THE SENATE.
is composed of better material than the
House. 1t is less rancorous, and more dis
posed to listen to common sense and reason
1t passed bill to confer the right to testify
in court upon freedmen few days since
When it came into the House the bill was
violently opposed, and amended by a pro-
viso that in all cases where negroes were
allowed to testify, both parties shall be com
petent witnesses, and no interest or relation
ship should disqualify either party from ties
tifying in open court"
The reason given for this amendment was
that if any negro brought suit against &
white man, and made up combination o.
black witnesses against him, the white mar
could go upon the stand and :" swear bach
at him D" swear him out of court"
The Senate refused to concur in this amend
ment, and a committee of conference wa
| ap,,o;ptod which auraod IN raport tho hill