The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-31
.RECONSTR UCTTON.

Ex-Benator Fitzpatrick on the Opera
tiOn OF the Congregational Scheme He
Gets intO a Very bad HumOr about IL.
The letter recently written by ex-senator
Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, on the operation of
the Reconstruction laws of Congress, has already
been noticed by telegraph. He says
1t is a matter of surprise to- me to hear that am
tiGn framed by therecs1t UOnve ention at MONTGOMERY
Ssa Sn SsSSr&Is & s9BGeye G s TsSssT 20 our
All the former slaves over the age OF twenty years
ava, from tue thousands Of white men,
a. j Was opposed 70 secession. l was In the United
main there after the State did secede left that body
sution nov submitted for the approval ofths pe pie
Ihsve remained az home quiet, peaceable citizen,
for against the Constitution, though all the slaves
formerly owned who are twenty-one years old, are
The test oath, 1t is gen rally called is odous An
support the Constitution and laws OF the United
Iis5sma. VINO is so wise as to know all The laws Of
the United states aud this state so as TO observe his
required for men 90 iucur such odous obligations
enable them TO exercise the right heretofore OF an
bis test oath fcrlher provides that before any one
can vote he must swear that he accepts the civil
and political equality OF all men. and agrees not
OF race color or previous condition. of any political
or civil ght privilege, or immunity enjoyed by any
sembly might declare the civil political equality
OF ali mep, bnt TO require voter TO tnatahe
accepts IL and virtually that he will attempt
alter t. before he Can vote Is species OF legl atOn
,
provided in the Constitution "that the General AS
semhly shall have power to remove the disability of
certain classes now disqualified from votldg," but
where will you find power TO relieve any who
takes tbt eAth2 Once taken, the obligation remains
fixed during his lifetime on the man who'incuTs It,.
such legislation regard as at with the clvilza-
tion OF the age In which we live,
1 willing rs any are 70 see the COlOred p0pulR-
tion educated aud this believe. Is the common
timtnt our people; hut now will the system pro-
a mixed population, the slaves and whites OF the
south, and deliberate conviction Is, you might AS
well try mix oil and water without chemical agents
as TO attempt teach the children OF the races
together. In the portions Of the state where the
coiored population greatly predOminRes the whites
where the whites in he majority, the result
will beial the blacks, producing disorder and deadly
feuds betwe ween the two races,
Without giving in detail objections to the rat-
cation the CONSTITUTIONS will that the effect OF
many OF It's PROVISIONS is 10 elevate the black by de-
grading the white race
II is said by some tnat it was made TO keep down
Rebellion, What have the people of the south to
commence or carry Rebellion with? our slaves
are all iree fields barely cultivated under the
in briers and weeds since emancipation, ana almest
eyerythi in q state OF dapldatiOn and decay. The
CRY for bread which comes from almost hill
valley In the state ha scarcely ceased rim yI0g
tlOns the benevolent of the North and West No
people OF the Old World in any or their long and de
Bolating lOnged for peace more tnan o.
We Want peace. but n'J degrsdsti0n; wish TO be
left free to ouTselve and free from the inter
meddlinR of those VINO do not live among us but
here to fOment discOrd, ana speculate upon
LeIihe people vote down this Constitution, aud
another more In acCOrOance with the genius
Of our ipsti, ,ntions, and all will be WELL