Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-02-27
The Voting in Alabama.
The " Reign of Terror"
Violence run Riot to Prevent Loyal Men
from Voting.
WAsHINGToN, Feb. 10.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.
The following extracts from the cores
pondence of the Reconstruction Committee
of the House of Representatives have been
reoeivedt-
CoNNEoUn COUNTY, Feb. s, 1S6S.-The
rebels, by their course, have prevented us
from polling for the Constitution at least
1000 votes. Our names, both white and
black, are taken down by the rebel clubs,
and they say, and we believe that unless the
troops remain for our protection, we are as
sheep left to the slaughter.
BUTLER COUNTY, Feb. 5.-The Sheriff Sc
lected as a posse comitatus for the polls,
twelye of the worst rowdies and bullies in
the place. Voters were hooted, jeered, and
crushed, as they came up through this rough
crowd, and spotted tor future reference.
Ev,ry colored man is threatened with i'm
mediate discharge, but most of them stood
firm and shamed the white NAV.
GILMORE COUNTY, Feb. S.--The rebels are
bringing voters back after they have put in
ther ballots and having their votes taken
out of the box. The election here is
an imposition on the Government.
ELMoRE COUNTY, Feb. s.-The polls here
are entirely in the hands of the rebels, and
scarcely any one voting. A great many
h we been induced to withdraw their votes.
AL are now afraid to go 10 the polls. Both
whites and blacks are browbcaten and driv-
en- away. None of our candidates are on
the streets or about the polls for fear of be-
ing assaulted or killed. MY life is hourly
threatened my business is destroyed. The
rebels say they will not sell provisions TO
Republicans unless they get double the
price Some will not sell to us at all. Most
of our white voters have been scared out of
their votes.
MoNrGoMERY, Feb. l0.-Appearances in
dictate we are short of the required maiori-
ty-pcrhaps 5000 No pen can describe
the reign OF terror under which our vote has
been cast. Hundreds of white voters, com
ing up to vote, turned away when they saw
what was before them. Nearly every black
voter was challenged and batlgered until he
was confused, in the hope of making him
say something that would excuse the rejec-
tion of his vote The printed lists were
full of mistakes. We were swindled out of
at least 200 votes in this country by these
lists.
MONTGOMERY, Feb. 1.-THE election is
over, aud the result is doubtful, notwith-
standing that 10000 voters favored the new
Constitution, and would have so voted but
for intimidation. The rebellion is
not crushed, and treason is at premium in
Alabama. At every poll in this county
there was stationed dozen or more late
Confederate soldiers, dressed in grey and
armed to the teeth. These men crowded
around the polls, cursed the voters, and
challenged the vote of nearly every man
who dared face the ordeal. The name of
| every white Republican was taken down. If
employed, they were Immediately discharg-
ed Thousand of freedmen have been al
ready been discharged.
| MONTGOMERY, Feb. l2.-Proofs are thick
ening daily, and coming in from all quarters
of outrages and frauds perpetrated in many
counties, by which we have been defeated.
In some counties the polls were open only
two days, the first extension not having
reached them. In two counties no election
has been held Our friends are coming in
| from different counties much excited.
| LEE COUNTY, Feb. l2.-Old residents say
the like reign Of terror has not been seen
here since 1860 The rebels, with their
trowsers in their boots, their broad brim-
med hats, and their knives and pistols, re-
enacted exactly the game of terrorism and
brutality by which they elected secession
delegates in that year.
BULLOCK County, Feb. live have
lost, through force and threats, more than
half those who came up to vote
TUSCALOOSA, Feb. 9.-The order extend
ing the time till Saturday, was received this
morning, one day too late. We could have
polled 200 more votes yesterday, if we had
known it. In the counties north of this
they voted only two days. The rebels are
perfectly rampant here.
TUSCALOOSA, Feb. 9.-Our people are very
much discouraged and dsheartened. The
rebel element hus been perfectly intolerant
and uncomfortable. Five hundred voters have
been kept from the polls.
UNION SPRINGS, Feb. 5.-Wc have los
many votes by having rebel register HI
only opened one poll. Hundreds waited in
the rain yesterday and to-day, and have al
last gone away. We may poll l,S00 votes
but ought to have about 5000, and woult
have if we had man who was friendly ant
just as register.
LowNpEs COUNTY, Feb. l0.-Only ONT
ballot-box was open here up to Friday night
The storm swelled the waters in Big Swami
which the voters had to cross to reach thu
polls, until they were swimming deep
Many Of the poor fellows swan the icy
stream and stood in the pouring rain TO
days waiting to get their votes to the box
to be rejected, perhaps, after all, becaus
, their names were mis-prined. One maj
: was drowned crossing the Big Swamp.
TALLADAGA, Feb. S.-Onc poll closed thi
evening, and the others yesterday. Th