New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-12
THE ALABAMA CONTENTION.

The official proceedings of the first two days
of the Constitutional Convention of Alabama
have come to hand. We have examined them
with some care i'm view of the persistent efforts
of the aristocratic and ex-Rebel papers to bring
this Convention and all of its class into ridlcule.
1t must be remembered that the Republican
party at the South corresponds in social posi-
ton to the Democratic party at the North.
Here the great unwasled party has never
been ashamed of the fact that most of the igno-
rance, dcpravity and dirt to be found at the
North votes the Democratic ticket. Ii has pro-
fessed TO he proud of its devotion to the inter
ests of political rights of the poor and the
ignorant; and 80 far az il has been sincere IN
this principle we honor the party for 1t, and
see therein a reason for its former great SIC
cess and ascendancy.
But now that the boot is on the other leg. new
that the working millions of the South sta
identified with party that has shown itself IS
democratic toward them as the old Democratic
party at the North ever was toward the foreign
and pauper vote and in consequence Mo
voting the Republican ticket, does 1t behooVe
the professed organs of the poor OF the North
10 tnrn up their noses because the poor OF the
South are meeting in Convention and framing
Constitutions
Can party that sends to the Senate of th'
United States men who like Salisbury, Pate
son, and the late McDougall, have often bee
too drunk TO vote except rs they were tol
rghtfully sheer if Convention of the labori
classes of a State III which Democracy h.
has always reigned supreme shows some mep
beers but little acquainted with Paramenta
usagel
But, in fact, the Alabama Convention h %
done nothing as vet that does not character
it as emnently worthy to represent the poop
of Alabama, and fit i'll intelligence 10 represe t
any State in the Union The Conventi,
would have been more truly representative %
the whole people of the State if the Consery
tive party had voted, and elected about tire
ifths of the.delegates, az they might have don
But consider what kind of "A Convention Il
Democratic party in the State of New-Yoi :
would elect if all Republicans abstained frol
voting
The Conservative party might have clecte
to the Convention a minority OF delegate
whose manners would be highly polished, an
whose familiarity with the rules of order woulo
have facilitated the work of the Convention
We say they might, though the pro-Slayory
party sent to Congress but few men remark
able for either gentlemanly instincts or legis
latiye talents. If brow beating and bullying,
gutta-percha canes, bowie-knives and tobacco
Juice, are qualifications to sit in a legislative
body, the Convention now sitting for Alabama
may be found lacking. If ardent devotion TO
Slavery and the Rebellion be qualifications for
a Reconstruction Convention, then the State of
Alabama is in fearful peril from the machna-
tons of the body now in session, for it con-
tans none but loyal and thoroughly anti
Slavery men. Already ordinances have been
introduced annulling the laws passed under
Rebel sway, whereby the money of the widows
and orphans Of Alabama was emptied into the
bottomless Treasury of the Confederate States !;
and never again heard from. 1t is this measure
which The N. Y. Herald styles pursuing
"private feuds in public law" The statement
that the Convention has even listened TO, still
less indorsed or adopted, any measure OF pro-
scription or disfranchsement, is untrue. On
the contrary, on the second day the Conven-
ton adopted resolution mem0rializng Con
gress to remove all political disabilities OF
'lthose citizens OF Alabama who have aided in
the reconstruction Of the State on the plan
proposed by Congress-" AS its first step has
been against prescription, we have the right to
believe it will go as far in its magnanimity rs
it can without surronderng the State TO Reb-
els, DISTINGUISHING its own constituency, and
overturning its own work. We hope and be-
lieve the Convention will endeayor fairly TO
represent the rights and interests of the whole
people of Alabama.
Tho Democrats OF the District of Columbia