Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-02-13
THE ALABAMA ELECTIcN-MOR
FRAUDS CONTEMPLATED.

r The returns indicate that the proposed
Constitution for Alabama, the work Of
the mongrel Reconstruction Convention
in that State, has been defeated because
of the refusal Of ma jority of the regis
tered voters TO vote on the question of its
adoption. The Montgomery AdrertiSer
Of the l1th inst thinks the constitution
will lack from $4,000 to 10000 votes of
securing a majority. The Advertiser
prints returns from twenty-six counties,
out Of sixty-twoin the State, which show
a vote for the constitution of 1866. The
registered voters in these same counties
numbered 9S,9SS, to which was to be
added the names Of those registered
during the five days revision in January.
These returns include all the heavy me-
gro counties, except three, and leaves the
constitution considerably short a half
the registered vote in those counties,
Even if all the other counties were to
vote as heavily for the constitution as
they did for the convention, it would not
add more than $4,000 votes for the con-
stitution. It seems to be certain that
the constitution has been fairly de-
feated. Already excuses for this re-
suit are being trumped up, in order to
give General Meade chance to force its
adoption by most iniquitOus proceeding.
A Montgomery dispatch OF the 9th inst
to the Cincinnati Commercial, says 1t
is reported that in some counties the me-
groes were intimidated,' and then it is
complacently added off true, General
Meade will reopen the polls in such
counties And an Atlanta dispatch of
the 8th to the Commercial says
''The result of the Alabama election is
yet uncertain. A system Of proscriptiye
terrorism has greatly reduced the white
vote. Success mainly depends now on the
result in North Alabama. Where the
election has been prevented in some coun-
ties General Meade will order a special
election"
An Atlanta dispatch of the 10th inst,
to the Cincinnati Gazette, says:
"Col. J. F. Incline, of the staff of the
Third Military District, will proceed 10
4 Alabama tomorrow, to investigate the cir
cumstances connected with the recent cleo
ton. He will ascertain in what counties
no polls were opened in what ones the
| officers having the elections in charge were
enemies of reconstruction and by what
means the voters were prevented from de-
posting their ballots--by veXatious regu-
lations, by fraud, or intimidation. In all
such counties, General Meade will order a
new election" ri
These dispatches tell the story, no
doubt 1t viii be represented to Gene
raj Meade that the negroes were in-
Inundated and the election prevented
in such counties as it may be regarded
desirable to hold special or additional
elections in order to ratify the constitu-
ton. Into these counties viii be congre-
gated sufficient number of negroes to
turn the scale in favor Of the convention S
bantling. General Meade has exhibited
readiness to aid the Radicals in forcing
this constitution upon the people of Ala
bama Previous to the election he issued
an order that registered voters may
vote on the constitution anywhere in the
State, on evidence of registration, as pei
General Pope order He also ordered
that any negro might vote in any county
in the State upon making oath that he
was a registered voter Notwithstanding
he could not produce his registration
papers This opened wide the door to
| fraud. Evidence OF this is furnished hy
the Montgomery Advertiser In Elmore
county, up to the morning Of the 9TH
inst, two hundred and five negroes had
voted upon making this oath, one hum
bred and eighty swearing that they had
registered in Elmore No such names as
they claimed appeared on the registry
books of that county, yet the judges al
| lowed them to vote There is every reason
| to believe that thousands of negroes were
c6erced by white Radicals to vote in va
rious portions of the State, who were no
more entitled to vote than were those in
Elmore county And this was done under
the order OF GEN Meade Not content
with what he had already done, General
Meade extended the election one day, os-
tensibly on the ground that storm had
prevented many voters from coming out
There ia conclusive evidence that Gen
Meade lent himself and his official posi-
ton to aid the Radicals in carrying the
constitution Now, if he will accede to
their demand for the resOpening of the
polls in such counties az they may desig-
nate, under his existing orders that reg
istered voters, or those making oath that
they are registered voters, may vote in
any county in the State, this thing called
constitution may be foisted upon the
white people of Alabama, notwithstand-
ing so few Of them voted for or desired
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