New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-07
1L4BAMA RECoNSTRUCTING.

1L4BAMA RECONSTRUCTING.
The entire American people have looked WIN
natural interest to the Reconstruction VohFeh-
tion for Alabama, which has just closed us
session at Montgomery. In the same room
where six years ago the Confederate ke-
bellion in behalf of human bondage was
organized into pretended national govern
ment. were assembled one hundred repre-
sentatiyes of that portion of the people or Ana
bama who love liberty and the Union, engaged
in the first effort to construct State govern
mcnt on the basis of the political equality oil al
men, Among them were sixteen Legislators VINO
were formerly slaves The coincidence OF place,
between the Inauguration of the COntederacy,
whose cornerstone was Slavery, and of
the Reconstruction policy, whose corner
stone is Equality, is one OF the most slgllh-
cant in history. The Convention was regarded
10y the Conservative party OF Alabama with
an effort at contempt, which utterly talied'
for want of anything in the proceedings
of the Convention to which the contempt
even of its enemies could attach. After 1t had
adopted a suffrage policy so liberal toward the
Rebels as to disam all criticism, the only hope
of the Conservatives was to force the question
Of color on the Convention in some emDar-
RAISING form. An ordinance requiring common
carriers throughout the State to make no DIS
tinction or separation in the conveyance OF
Black and White passengers WAS referred
to the Judiciary Committee. An ordinance pro-
yiding separate schools for White and Colored
children was voted down by IS to p, and IN
stead thereof "A section was adopted de-
claIing that the Board of Education
should provide one or more schools III
each school district, at which all the
children OF the said district should attend
free of charge. This leaves to the Board OF
Education in each district to decide whether
Black and White shall be educated in the same
or different schools. A Bureau of Industrial
Resources for collecting and publishing stalls
tics calculated to promote the business OF
the state anI encourage immigration has
been proposed and we believe adopted. The
Convention. after long and close struggle
finally voted to make all judicial offices in
the state elective An ordinance to prohibit
marriages between White and Black was defeat
cd. The statement that Gen. Pope had written
letters urging the Convention to close Its pro-
cccdiugs %, soon as possible, if true, probably
indicates only the anxiety Of That officer for nm
early submission of its work TO the people, 80
that the State may apply for admission to Con-
ere,s during the present session. We have Ie-
cciycd the thirty-two first sections OF the pro-
un,cd Constitution, which is now complete.
They are framed with care and ability, and
contain nothing of which any friend ot Union
and liberty will disapprove. ON December
the Convention, by vote of g. yeas 10 10
nays. adopted the Constitution. and By Il vote
of GG yeas TO 10 NAYS. provided for its subms-
sion to the people. The vote for and against
thc Constitution, aud for the State and County
Officers and Representatives IN Congress, will
bc held ON the 4th Of February, 1898, under
The orders of the Commanding General Of the
district, all returns 10 be- madc to the Presi-
dent OF the Convention, who viii issue GER
tidcatcs of election TO the candidates
elected. The latter will enter ON the
duties of their Offices IA soon rs the
State shall be admitted into The Union At the
proposed election Ill adult male citizens, with
out dttiDgtign Of color will vote, except those
who, having previously taken an official oath
10 support the Constitution of the United
States violated their oath 10y joining in the
Rebellion. Even these may vote if they have
aided IA the reconstruction proposed by Con-
grc,s and accept the political equality of all
men before the law. Seventeen members Of the
Convention voted and protested against the
Constitution. II n majority of the registered
electors Of Alabama shall vote, aud if a majority
of those who vote shall vote for the Con-
stitution thus adopted, there can be no
doubt OF The loyalty of the State government
aud Members of Congress who sill be elected
under il. There seems to be every prospect,
therefore, that the State of Alabama will be
represented in the present Congress, and viii
be- ready 20 vote Mt the next Presidential
election. The Alabama Convention is entitled
TO the gratitude of the country for the earnest
ness and promptcss it has displayed in the
work OF Reconstruction, and We hope the Con
ycntiOns III other Southern Slgte5 will :i..seTT;iJ
equal bu;iitss ability and dispatch.
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The Hon. J. c. Churchill writes long letter