The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-19
Report of the Reconstruc-
liam committee on n g Alabama

case.
Ttc undersigned, members OF the Re
..r,.ruction Committee, having carefully
.,,,,,nrd the report of the majority since
~. ,,rnl;cation, the acts of Congress known
~. he reconstruction acts, and the consti-
,.,,aa and ordinances rejected by the peo-
~. Il the State Of Alabama, submit as
.s- report to this House the following
..-rsMl,c and resolutions
Whereas an act to provide for the more
,a..eot government Of the rebel States,
BASED March 2, 1867, and an act supple
,.ra,ary thereto, passed on the 23d of the
sane month, provide for calling conven-
.aa 70 prepare constitution for the 60
ycramcnt of the State of Alabama, and
ar lolding an election in that State for
tac atiiication or rejection Of said constl-
.a,'on by those persons who were au;ho-
led under said acts to register and vote
/. aid election; and whereas an election
"a> held for that purpose III said State,
tmmcncing on the An day Of February
asst, and continuing until the Sth of that
nouth, which resulted III the rejection of
>Ad constitution by a majority OF fifteen
thousand Of the registered voters under
>A.a acts, and who were expressly autho-
-.zni under and by the provisions of said
net, 10 reject said constitution either by
Erpysiting their votes against it or by not
ling at said election aud whereas this
.rrn majority of registered voters were
..trrly opposed to the ratification OF said
con>tltution-
I. Because it deprivcs a large number
IT. the white males of said State of the
...H, to vote or hold office.
>. Because it contevs tie right to vote
aaI hold Office on all the black males,
,#s> DISTINGUISHING intelligence and capa-
c.,y, and enfrauchising ignorance and in
capacity.
}. Because it requires all persons before
votiug 10 subscribe an oath that they " &C
c"pt the civil and political equality Of all
man, and agree not TO attempt to deprive
any person or persons, on account OF race,
color, or previous condition. of any politl-
cal or civil right, privilege, or immunity
enjoyed by any other class Of men,"
/. Because in apportioning representa-
ton 10 the people Of the several counties
f the State it ignores three cOuntlcS, and
ieaycS them without any representation.
). Because it gives TO twenty-ionr OF
tie GNy-nine counties in the State which
are recognized, having q white population
%. two hundred and fifty-two thousand
four hundred and seven, and black popu-
.a,iou OF three hundred and twenty-eight
..uusand three hundred and ten, sixty
.~. Of the one hundred representatives
~..en compose the House OF Representa-
...u., and il gives 10 the remaining thirty
a.. counties, having a white population OF
two hundred and eighty thousand two hun
dye! and cighty-two, and black popula-
ton Of one hundred and eleven thousand
urr hundred and titty-ninc, but one repre-
sentative each and because it apportions
representation in the Senate Ia the same
"lr. rs near as may be.
e. Because by these means it places tho
.5Ncr to impose taxes, aud all other legis
4,,yc power, in the hands Of those who
sill be non-taXpaycrS when 1t goes into
oseration, and deprivcs majority OF those
w.p will have to pay the taxes OF the right
ID vote, or OF the power 10 protect them
rsas against the oppression Win Whlch
they will DC inevitably visited.
!. Because il makes no provision for and
dues not make it the duty Of the Leglsla-
rr,r 10 appropriate the money raised by
.aw for common schools, equally and sepa-
...,-.y, for the benefit Of the white and
back children in the State.
because, after declaring in the first
-.a. len Of the third article "thc powers
10. H., government Of the State of Ala
..mI shall be divided into three distinct
Overwhelmingly legislative, cXecu-
.v.. and judicial, ;" it provides, in the fifth
section Of the eleventh article, that "the
Board Of Education shall exercise full
.. >lative powers in reference to the edu
c.tuual institutions OF the State, and It's
ao,> when approved by the Governor, or
@:vu Yrcnacted by two-thirdS OF the
Board, in case OF his disapproral, shall
Lave the force and effect Of law, unless
repealed by the General Assembly.
=. Because il divides the militia into
1850 clu>>cs-namely, "volunteer militia ."
and preserve militia" and it is made the
aarv Of the Governor, by an ordinance
which was not published with the constl-
,G,i9u for the information Of the people, as
tW1 others were which were less objection
u..o-to organize Immediately one hun
rrd and thirty seven companies Of volun-
,ouc militia, which are TO be armed and
raid. when III service, at the same rate as
t-nitcd States officers and soldiers, and out
VI the State treasury, the mounted men TO
Lave fifty cents per day for their horses.
10. Because by the twentieth section of
laid ordinance, which goes into operation
with the constitution, call proceeds Of the
sale Of cOatraband and captured property,
>cr-.d or captured by the militia" shall
constitute part Of the fund out of which
'lay are to be paid, thus melting the
"voI.ulccrs" to haraSs the people in time
% acacc by unlawful seizures, and SO pro-
E..r htmeans Of paying themselves II the
psopcr;y seized is honestly turned over.
Il. Because this constitution provides
.7r q government which will cost annually
from one million five hundred thousand 10
TWO million dOlarS-a sum which the tax
payers Of the State are wholly unable TO
..rol in ;her present impoverished condi-
lion.
Aal whereas said registered voters be-
ewing they had the right to defeat con-
a,.Gl0u 50 Objectionable as this III either
vi Tie ways provided in the aforesaid acts,
-.1 relying on their own and the good
'a,,a Of Congress in this behalf, they made
public their resolution some weeks IN adj
'aact Of said election not to vote at said
election, but to stay away from the polls.
And whereas this large majority OF the re-
-.a,vrcd voters, for the reasons aforesaid,
"-sr opposed to the adoption Of said con-
s~.Gtion, aud did not vote in said election,
Ill, did not 60 TO the polls, thereby avoid
~ all occasion Of violence or disorder.
3@i whereas ii is now charged by those
"-o favor the adoption Of said constitu-
.9a b" that there is no reason to doubt that
. ...-nriiy Of the locally registered voters