New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-16
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE SATURDAY NOVEMBER l6, 1867.

clared it illegal But neither the Executive
nor the Judicial branch of the Federal Govern
ment have yet done so, and Congress, by the
Supplementary act of March %, expressly
limits the objects of this Convention, by say
ing that it is for the purpose of establishing
"a constitution and civil government for such
Estate loyal to the UmiOn.' 1t cannot be con-
tended that this language contemplates the
establishment by the Convention of pro-
visonal government. The President and the
Copperheads would be only too glad OF an OPP
portunity to charge any of the Reconstruction
Conventions with usurping doubtful powers, or
doing anything which might tend to provoke
collision of force between themselves and The
provisional government organized by the Pres
ident. In the event of such conflict, the
President certainly, and the Supreme Court
possibly, might decide the provisional govern
ment organized by the President to be legal
rather than that organized by the Convention.
Should the Constitution to be adopted by
the Convention be rejected by the people OF
Alabama, any provisional government that
might be set up in the mean time would fall
with it, We believe the moderation of the
Convention in the exercise of its powers will
has conferred the power upon them.
Among the ordinances referred to the proper
Committee, and for which the Convention is
in no way responsible, is one providing SO
day as the pay Of members, and SO per 20
miles, going and returning, as mileage. Let
the Convention vote itself moderate pay. and
no mileage beyond the actual cost of going
and returning. The Convention must remem-
Der that the eyes of the country and of the
world are upon them, and that while they can
not escape censure in any event, 1t deyOlves
on them to exercise great care that the cause
of Impartial Suffrage suffer not by their acts.
On the fifth day of the Convention resolu-
ton was introduced instructing the several
committees that it is the sense OF the Conven-
ton that the new Constitution shall be in no
"degree proscriptyc, but that the Convention
"intends, with charity for all, and with malice
"'toward none to so conduct its deliberations
chat its action may enure TO the general wei
"fare of the State of Alabama, and of the
Omitted States Mr. Griffin of Mobile moved
to strike out the words that it is the sense oil
"this Convention that the new Constitution
shall be in no degree prOscriptive, but" and
this amendment was adopted. The Convention
then refused by 81 to 30 to lay the resolution
on the table. Upon a motion q" to leave the
"question Of prescription where it was left by
"the military bill" vigorous debate ensued.
The members most nearly "pr0scrlptive were
liberal in their views; they denied Indignantly
that they desired to give any one class
any exclusive political privileges. They wanted
neither a black mans government nor white
mans government, but government simply of
equal rights and privileges for all men. The
Chairman of the Committee on Franchise indi-
Gated that there would be no pressure for the
disfranchisement of any CLASS except those who
had violated the rules Of civilized warfare in
their treatment of Union men, Yet he declared
it would not be safe to allow all Rebels to vote
Immediately, or they being in the majority,
would ut the first elections under the new Con-
sttution obtain control of the State govern
ment, and call Convention TO amend the
State Constitution, and disfranchise, the blacks.
Under the weight OF these arguments, the
Convention finally, by vote of 63 to
%, postponed the resolution indefinitely.
This debate and action of the fifth day indi-
cate cautious yet magnanimous sentiment on
the part of the Convention in favor OF lndulg-
ing the cx-Rebels of Alabama in the largest
liberty of voting and holding Office that may
be compatible with the manifest duty of the
present Convention to prevent the control OF
the State from passing into dlslOyal hands. so
much they are required to do by the terms of
the Reconstruction act which require that the
State government shall be loyal to the
Union" More than this they have mani
tested no disposition to exact.
Fernando Wood is a very Enthusiastically