Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-02-27
THE RUTLAND HERALD
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY u, 1858,
The Alabama Election,

The Alabama Eieeiiaar
Dispatches and ltttsrs iram an parts OF
Alabama arc comng 20 hand which AZ
ford a clear in,iga Hta The nature Of the
contest through which the State has jus
passed, and TIL iai.uee ~ the loyal mu
10 cast a majority u the votes registered,
in favor Of tho constitution. Those ao-
counts leave no doubt IN the minds Of The
unpreiudicel that the ratification Of Tia,
new constitution is desired by a large
majority Of the voter, Of the State, md II
the fair and peace bile election promised
by Congress had been permitted 20 hc
held the rsprus would have been in ac-
eordance with this fact, But such WA.
not the case, the rrh,l> not only attempt
ing TO defeat tho constitution ~ refusing
themselves, as they have in all Other
states, 10 vote at all, but using every
means Of intimidation u prevent In,
loyal whites and blacks from voting IN
favor Of il, and the election being held
five days, the discharge from employment
Of those who were fearless enough TO yot,
according to the dictates of their con,
sciences during the first or second DAYS at
its progress, hld the desired effect Of in
ducing thousands to abstain from voting
in favor Of the constitution during the
remaining days of its continuance, who
would have done so We're they not intlu-
enced or intimidatcd
The surveillance Of the polls was en-
trusted to the sheriifs Of the counties.
who in most cases, are notorious rebels
and they having summoned 10 their as
sistance rs policemen the most desperate
characters within their reach. the voter,
going to the polling stations had to run %
gauntlet of from ten IN twenty ruhians
armed to the teeth, and otherwise pre-
pared TO resort to any means that would
prevent them from voting, il they were
known TO be in favor of the new constitu.
ton. The order for election required that
there be at least three polling places in
each county, yet in some of the most pop
ulous counties in the State but one poll
was opened, and this in secluded and in
accessible spot while those who presented
their votes We're detained by challenges,
ridiculous long charges as to the nature
of false oath, and every irrelevant qucs.
ton asked that could be devised in order
to waste time, that the patience of the
voters, waiting in the cold and rain, might
be exhausted, and they compelled to 90
home again without having voted.
Thnsa fncts gnthnreI frntn III intnlE.
gence which has reached US from the
State since the election. show the nature
of the contest, The loyal men have had
to do their duty amid intimidations and
threats, and under n reign Of terror SINH
lar to the violence which was resortcd 10
to bring about secession and rebellion in
1861. Yet notwithstanding all these diff /
fcultics, in the forty-four counties heard
from, II 900 votes have been pollcd in
favor of the constitution, which the rc-
naming eighteen counties Of the State. il 1
is estimated, will swell Mt least 5000
more As the total number Of registered
voters in the State is 10000, the loyal
lists wonld appear 10 have fallen short OF
a majority of the registration by about /
5000 votes, a result which has been I
brought about because the qualified voter,
of the State were not allowed :" the oppor-
tunity TO vote freely and without re
straint, fear, or the influence Of fraud" as
guaranteed them in the act authorizing
the holding OF constitutional convention
in the State and an election for the ratih- /
cation or rejection of the instrument
framed at such convention.
But Congress we trust will not allow
minority Of the people OF Alabama, and
these, mostly cx-rebels TO thus rule the
loyal majority, and keep The State out of
the Union, but win rather either order a
new election at which majority OF the
votes cast will decide tie result. or in view
of the palrable frauds committed at the
one just held. declare the constitution ac-
oepted, and admit ,he,stDte to represent
alton.