The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-04-09
THE ALABAMA ELECTION.
Report Of General Meade.

The Secretary of War sent to the House
on Saturday, in compliance with a resolu-
ton Of that body, the official report OF
Major General Meade to General Grant,
dated Atlanta, March %, giving the fol-
lowing analysis Of the returns of the vote
In Alabama at the election submitting
to the registered voters the constitution
framed by the convention of that State ::
Total vote cast for the constitution,
0,S12; against, ,O05 total at the cleo
ton 7l,S1T. OF that vote there were
colored, go, 1914; white, 6, 702; not sep
arated, 1921. A comparison of the vote
cast In October last for the convention
with the present election shows the white
vote for the convention 1858; white
vote, for constitution, $500 loss on con-
stitution, 1851; colored vote for the
constitution, 62,0S9; loss on constitution,
9,641 Total loss of vote on the consti-
tuition from the vote for the convention,
%, 800.
By careful examination of the official
returns at General Meade headquarters
the registration lists show prior to the
recent revision in the number Of register
ed voters III the State, 166, 685, the last
revision adds 3, 946 total registration,
l70,6 In comparing the vote cast at
the election with the registered vote,
General Meade says he has deemed it no
more than just to deduct the registered
vote in such counties as have been reject
ed in the election. it will be seen that
In two counties (Dales and Henry no
election was held, that in Lowndes the
ballot boxes were stolen, and in Sumter
only partial election was held, and the
vote rejected by the Registrars on the
ground of illegality The registered vote
of all four Of these counties should be
deducted from the registration, and the
partial vote in Sumter thrown out.
Adopting this basis, the total registration,
as above, Is ITO, 63l less the registra-
ton of four counties, 1866 Registra-
ton in counties where votes were cast.
l56, 945; one-half the amount required
for ratification was 7S,473, Now the
total vote of the election was Il, SIT De-
Quoting the vote in Sumter rejected, ,45S,
the actual vote cast in the election was
70, $50, and the constitution falls of rati-
fcation by STA; that Is to say, the
whole vote cast In these counties where
the election was held falls short of one
half Of the registered voters in these
counties by S,l14, and the constitution
therefore under the law requiring one
half the registered voters to cast their
votes is not ratified. General Meade
says IN conclusion.
Acknowledging the Importance of the
State being at the earliest moment re-
stored to her proper relations in the
Union, [ cannot but look on the result OF
the recent election as an expression of
opinion that the registered voters do not
desire to be restored under the constitu-
ton submitted to them, and, in view Of
the recent act Of Congress giving ratifi-
cation to majority of the votes cast, L
would prefer seeing the convention reas-
sembled for revision of the constitu-
ton, and the revised constitution submit
ted to the people under the new law. I
am of the opinion that revised con-
stitution, more liberal in its terms and
confined to the requirements of the re-
construction laws which in Alabama-as
| have reason to expect it viii in Georgia
and Florida-meet with the approval of
the majority of the registered voters. and
| beg leave to call your attention to the
difficulty Of carrying on government in
State where so small proportion of
those qualified to take part in the govern
mel are in favor of the organ-law, and
to insure a larger proportion of what
must be the governing class more &C
ceptable constitution should be present
ed for them for adoption.