New-York tribune., 1868-09-09
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
GEORGIA.

AN OUTRAGE ON THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS
-CoLoRED REPUBLICANS EXPELLED FROM
| THE LEGIsLATURE-FOUR COLORED MEN,
| -BERs SPARED FOR THE PREsENT-THE QuEs-
TION OF THEIR ELIGIBILITY
lPR0M OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
\ ATLANTA, Sept. L. 1863
Yesterday was enacted in this city of the most
remarkable scenes which has been exhibited in the
strange, eventful drama of reconstruction in Geor-
gia. The chosen and elected Representatives of one
half the legal voters of Georgia were ANONYMOUSLY
elected from their seats in the lower House of the
General Assembly, by the Representatives of tho
other half. All but four of the c0lored members Of
the Housc were found guilty of having negro blood
! In their veins, ana for this crime we're punished.
! That TINS was the sole cause of the expulsion is
proved by the reasons given for except
ing the four who were retained They
were excepted for the present because the
Democrats choose to they had less than
oneeighth African blood. while the twenty-five ex-
PEELED were alleged to have more. No proof was
offered of either assertion The twenty-five were
acknowledged to have as good title to their seats
the four but the latter of somewhat lighter
complexion than the twenty-five. and the Democrats
sitting as jury, decided by inspection that tho
twenty-five were guilty and the four were limo.
innocent Of being negroes. Why they should have
spared the four when they could Just as easily have
expelled them is mex pcabe, unless upon the theory
that they might thereby gain some credit for mag
nanmity, that they cared not to
expel more than was necessary to give them
an assured majority of two-thirds Those excepted
were as much Republicans, as those who were ex-
pelled yet it was more because they were Republic
than because they negroes that the latter
suffered. But the four favored only
prieyed-they have only the poor privilege of being
the last to be destroyed. resolution has been in
|
in their veins, and their fate is predetermned-yet
one of these proved to the satisfaction of Of
previous committee that he was a Frenchman born
in Paris that he was brought to South Carolina al
an early age by his parents who after
died and that 10 gain possession of some little property
he was heir to- the managers of his fathers estate
sold him a slave in Georgia He has not forgotten
his native language but speaks very pure Partisan
French Another Of these four was captain in the
Federal army. commanded white troops, fought in
many of the most important battles in Virginia, was
with Sherman in his famous march TO the sea, was
dangerously wounded and twice prisoner OF war.
Neither of these could be taken for colored men
if met Broadway, but they have pleaded guilty Of
being of African blood, and they will be punished
for it, Such the beauties of Southern Democracy.
Perhaps il will be we'll to give brief sketch of thu
proceedings of this Legislature in reference to the
question of fneg gibility, both of white and black
members.
At the commencement Of the session questions
were made to the eligibility Of certain members
under the XIVth Article of the IT, S. Constitution.
! It was contended, and with much appearance Of
reason, that those who were ineligible under the
operations of that article not entitled to seats
in the General Assembly. IL was we'll known that
some thirty more Democratic members had held
Office before the war during the war. had -,
hoA Aofh affO
and comfort to the Rebellion committee was APP
pointed TO investigate these cases. and that committee.
having upon it q majority of Republicans, reported.
in effect that Gen. Meades order declaring the sitting
members elected conclusive to their eligibility,
and resolution of the House solemnly declared all
sitting members eligible. Though this was intended
TO apply only To those Thought 10 be ineligible under
the XIVth Article, it in reality did away with
the inehgibility of those who might be alleged
to be ineligible from any other cause. The report
was accepted, the Republicans, with their usual
foolish magnanimty Including the colored men)
voting forit The question thought To be settled,
and il considered there should be no more ques-
tion to the right his of any member, white
OF 6aek Bs fhs hsEs Effss " What they had no right to-
1t became necessary that they should acquire such
majority as might be able 10 overcome the Governors
veto on their iniqtous plots, and in spite of him
carry out their revolutionary and reactonary designs.
So under the counsel of those arch traitors Ben.
Hill and TOOmbs who run the Democratic machine
here, they concocted this conspiracy against the
eoored representatives. IL successful because
the coIored members wee not permitted to rOte in
their oun case and because of weak. kneed Republic
cans who lodged the question. The colored members
were accused ell masse, they were not permitted to
serer, as the lawyers say, and not of them was
allowed 10 vote on the preliminary questions or on
the final decision It~
The plot was perfected in this way: The eligibility
of F. II Fyall sitting member, had been referred
TO the Committee on Privileges, majority Of whom
were Republicans. by some hocus-pocus the report
of the Democratic minority was substituted for that
of the majority. and Mr. Scott DEM then reported
that F. H. Fyall, holding seat from the County Of
Macon is not citizen OF Macon but of Bibb County;
that he is also free person of color and therefore is
not entitled TO a seat this floor under the Consti-
tuition. Another Democrat then offered substitute
that no person Of eligible TO seat on this
floor under the Constitution of the State, and Mr..
Scott accepted the substitute. NoW IL ,ciH Be OBJ
sered that The only accusation preferred against
these men is on The ground Of color The old slave
code of Georgia Itself lays down only grounds
of ineligbilty
+, Persons not citizens of the State nor of the age
of 81 years or upward, are ineligible.
2. Holders of public money upaee9upted i9r
3 Felons under the laws of this State or any other
State.
under the United States, or any OF the States OF any
foreign State.
5. Persons of unsound mind.
Q. Non-residents. - . -
4. Persons constitutionally disqualified
These are all the grounds of ineligbhty set forth
in "lrwin's Code" All persons not subject TO these