The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-12-24
Reconstruction in Alabama,

The Reconstruction Convention of Alabama has
adopted Constitution which continues the dis
reimbursement of white men, and therefore ought to
be opposed and rejected Thirteen of the Republic
can delegates have issued protest against it and
declare their opposition to degrading white men and
putting them under their former slaves.
We do not belong to either the Conservative or
Republican party, and neither neutral on
questions of public policy-we form our opinions
without regard to party dictation-but I'M
alterably opposed to DISTINGUISHING white in any
way, and if any such scheme is adopted by the Con-
vention to be held in North Carolina do not
hesitate to say in advance that we shall oppose
it and the Constitution containing it with all our
might.
The following is the miserable proscriptive and
degrading portion of the Alabama Constitution al
luded to above:
'In all elections by the people the electors shall
vote by ballot. Every male person born in the United
States and every male person who has been natur-
allied who has legally declared his intention to
become a citizen of the United States p years old
and upward who shall have resided in this State six
months next preceding the election and three months
in the county in which he offers to VOTE except as
hereinafter provided, shall be deemed eector.
Soldiers sailors, and marines, in the United States
service, not permitted to vote by of being
stationed in the State duty Registration must be
provided for by the General Assembly, and the fol-
lowing persons are not permitted to register:
LIST. Those who, during the late rebellion, inflicted,
caused to be inflicted, any cruel unusual punish
ments upon any soldier, sailor, or marine employee
citizen of the United States, who, in any other
way, violated the rules of civilized warfare
ID Those who have been disqualified from holding
office by the proposed amendment to the Constitution
of the United States, known Art XIV, and those
who have been disqualified from registering to vote
for delegates to the Convention to frame a Constu-
ton; provided that the Legislature may said
disabilities.
3D.. Those who shall be convicted of treason, en-
bezzlement of public funds, malfeasance in office,
penitentiary offences, or bribery.
4th. Those who are idiots or insane.
An oath covering all these qualifications is
sary to registration to support the Union, the State
of Alabama to accept the civil and political equality
of all men, and agree not to deprive any ac-
count of color, race or previous condition, Of any
political or civil right.
The DISTINGUISHING clause is bad enough, but the
oath requiring voters to to oppose negro
suffrage is outrageous. No decent white man ought
to support such Constitution.
We expect better and II satisfactory results
from the Convention of North Carolina when it as
SembleS.
HARD TO kILL.-A woman named Lena Miller was
recently hung in Clearfed county, Pa, for poisoning
her husband. She made the following confession,
which shows that her husband had a stomach almost
equal to brass:
Il first thought of numbering my husband in the
summer of 1865. first tried to poison him with tea
made of laurel leaves and filings of brass buckle.
Then with the quicksilver off the back of looking
glass. Then l gave him, in two doses a bottle OF
laudanum which got from Dr. Potter for the cranlp.
Then indigo. Then one day, going after the
cows. killed small, green grass snake, which |
boiled and gave to him in coffee. All these things
were given either in tea coffee, according as one
the other was used at meals. None of these had
the least effect upon him-did not even make him
sick. The time occupied in giving them all was
about four weeks. / then gave it up, because did
not know of anything which would kill him. But L
thought of it every day, and could not get it out of
my mind, trying to think of something to poison him
with.
At length she procured arsenic which she first ad,
ministered to him in rice June 80, and continued
to give it to him until July II, he all the time being
under the care of physician when he died Her
motive for killing him, she said, was on account OF
his ill-treatment to her..