The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-12-15
; 2Cheering signe.

deceived. The Phoaic took the
ground, and argued as far as it was
able, that cordial union between
the Southern whites and the newly
enfranchised voters, would be the
most efficacious mode of securing O
prompt and honorable reconstruction
of the States. We published day
or two ago. the address of commit.
tee appointed by the Union League
of this city, which, for its modera-
ton Of tone, and the calm and dis
passionate manner in which the OBJ
jects of the organization were pre-
sented, we deemed entirely unobjec-
tionable. In addition to this, the
telegraphic dispatches from Montgo-
merry, Alabama, which we published
yesterday, i'll relation to the action
Of the Union League Of that city, on
the Constitution recently adopted by
the extremists in the Convention of
that State, together with the forma-
ton of conservative club among
the freedmen, must have proved well
come intelligence to every true and
patriotic Southern man. The delu-
sion of the hour, produced by the
harangues of itinerant agents of the
extreme radicalism of the North, is
passing away, and the sober second
thought of the most intelligent of
the colored people, is having its pro-
per influence. The Alabama Conven-
ton, which the Montgomery League
very properly denounces, We uld. if
ratified, says the Mail, of that city,
accomplish the following results:
"To permit every negro to vote,
whatever his competency or incom-
potency, who has been in the State
six months and in the County three
months.
ITO permit to vote only such
white men as may have been in the
State six months and in the County
three months, who will swear never
to change the proposed Constitution,
so fer as it affects the question of
suffrage.
"To deprive of the privilege of
voting and holding office-1st. All
whites who may be disfranchised by
the proposed constitutional amend
ment, Oath Article, and by the Re-
construction Acts-that is to say, all
who held any Office, Federal or State,
of the lowest grade, before the war,
and afterward gave aid or sympathy
to the Confederate cause. This pro-
vision, according to the registration
returns, will disfranchise 10000
white men of the State.
"All whites who shall have been
convicted of treason at any time be-
fore an election. AS nearly every
white man of the State who applied
for pardon under the $4,000 clause
of the Presidents amnesty proclama-
ton was compelled, by order of
Judge Busteed, of the United States
District Court, after his property was
libelled, to plead guilty to treason in
open court, it follows that this provi-
sion DISTINGUISHES every white man
who applied for pardon under that
clause, embracing not less than 10, 900
of our best citizens.
'All whites who have conscien-
tious scruples about taking q test
oath to the effect that they will never
vote or use their influence to change
the basis of suffrage, whatever may
be the evil effects of tho proposed
system-in other words, test oath
swearing away their liberty of
thought and action"
Such Government as the Consti-
tuition would establish, has never
been asked for, we verify believe, by
any respectable organization of freed
men; nor has such Constitution
been demanded by the Reconstruc-
ton Acts, by the Republican party,
or by Congress. We are, therefore,
truly gratified at the prompt action
of the Leagues and intelligent color
ed people of Alabama, and hope that
a healthful influence therefrom will
pervade the whole sentiment of the
colored population throughout the