Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-04-03
ALABAMA.
Universal Suffrage as Affecting Alabama

Universal Suffrage as Affecting Alabama.
The subject Of universal suffrage brings
before our attention more closely than
heretofore the relative numbers of the
white and black races in Alabama.
Upon reference TO the statistical tables
prepared from the imperfect census re-
port of last fall, We have been enabled To
collect . few facts which approximate
the correct position Of the question.
or the ffty-two counties 10 Alabama,
as they were constituted when the CEN
sus of last fall was taken, there are thirty
six counties having white mejorities Of
population, and sixteen counties having
negro maiorities. The names of the ne
gro counties aud the majOrities of ne
frroes over whites, are the following
Barbour, 5000 majority Clarke, l7QO
Dallas, 10000; Greene, l5,6OO; Lime
stone. 1872: Lowndes, 10000; Marengo,
IA S92; Macon, II 900; Montgomery,
$1,000; Monroe, $50; Perry, 5000; Pick
ems 300; Russell, 5000; Sumter, y 600;
Washington, 200, and Wilcox, 10, 600.
Total negro msjorities, l30, 474.
The total white majority in the re-
naming thirty-siX counties is 2ll ,95S.
The ratio Of population to voters among
the whites, upon the basis OF suffrage to
all males over twenty-one years, has
been almost invariably, upon an average
poll, as seven to one. We may, there
fore, set down the aggregate of voting
maiorities Of whites in the thirty-six
white counties at 80, l37.
Upon an examination Of the census
reports we find that the relative proper
ton of females, males, adults and chill
dren, Of both whites and blacks, Is nearly
identical. Hence we may conclude that
the whole population of negroes will bear
a relation 10 the voting population in the
ratio Of seveB to one; making the ma-
jorities OF negro voters le,6+5.
RECAPIrULArIoS.
Majorities Of negroes
Majorities Of white ,9ss
Total white majority. y.................. m 81. .is4
Maioriiies of white voters 39,l37
Maiorities OF negro voters -..-.--..--.--- ls,si5
White majority Of voters-..---....-...-.- Al, ,492
BY the above recapitulation it will be
seen that if the negroes vote unitedly for
one ticket and the whites unitedly for
another, in a general election, the ma
iority Of thewhite ticket will be in round
numbers / !, 500. But under the military
law al whites who fall within the inhib.
itory section OF the Howard amendment
are disqualified, not only from holding
Office but from voting. If that section
refers to all who at any time held an
executive, legislative or judicial Office
before the war, and afterward aided and
abetted the COnfederacy iu any manner,
then those who would otherwise be white
voters we will find disqualified from
voting, not less than an average of 300
| men to each cOunty-including all who
have beea justices of the peace, con-
| stables, saerifis, deputy sheriffs, men,
bers Of the legislature, judges, commits
aioners, governors, members of congress,
coreuers, tax collectors, assessors, and
others who held executive, judicial, or
legislative functions, and took the oath
to snpport the constitution of the United
states. and afterwards participated in
the war ia the slightest degree, BY fight
mo feeding, or clothing. II we strike
M 400 excluded whites from each county,
ne aggregate of the disfrsnehised will
10 for the fifty-two counties (which We
have made the basis of our calculation
fhrouqhout) more than 1900. But the
Isntire white majority, if all could vote
NgoI1li be but II, 500. Hence, by aGoptinG
the terms Of and recognizing under the
gherman military law, we give the stats
If Alabama to the negroes by q majority
Of near 5000 votes Mo1stg0nleg Nail.
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