The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-05-06

State preserved to the Union by the gigan-
tic struggle through which we haye passed,
or the party now in power has been all the
time, from the beginning Of the war till
this day, in bold, wicked, criminal conspi-
racy with the rebels and secessionists, aid
| ing them in accomplishing, and now finally
concentrating, what they could not alone
accomplish, the division and final dismem-
berment of this Union, Alabama is not
out of the Union, is not destroyed as a
State, or every man who fought, aided, en-
couraged, or countenanced the war, with
any consciousness of what was to be the
result, whether in the North or the South,
whether on the one side or the other, is a
conscious traitor to this Union of States,
aud an enemy Of the Republic Of States.
But, repeat, the State Of Alabama is
not destroyed. 1t still exists in the Union
This last bill admits that it is a State in
the Union. The first bill provided for the
admission Of the State and for its represent
tation; this last only for its admission to
representation. 8
And now, fifth is to be turned out or
excluded from the Union, or dealt with in
any other manner than as State in the
Union, it will be the work of this Congress
alone. ALI the other enemies of this. once
proud and noble State; all those who
would have taken her from the Union by
war or force; all those who would have
incorporated her in another confederacy Of
States, surrendered and abandoned the
conspiracy for her ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 1t is
Congress alone that would now exclude
her from or degrade her in the Union. It
is Congress that has made and would hui
initiate her to accept this constitution
And this is to be done by this bill. By
this bill and the previous acts of Congress
her nine hundred and sixty-four thousand
two hundred and one population are to be
made slaves, are to have forced upon them
a government in which they have in reali-
| ty, as q people, had no part in creating; a
government obnoxious to all their tastes,
hateful and odious to them. The constitu-
ton made by themselves, and under which
the State came into the Union, and which
the rebellion in vain strove to overthrow
and destroy, is to be taken from them by
this Congress, by this bill, and constitu-
ton in which the vast majority feel no in
terest, and by which their dearest rights
are taken away, is to be forced upon them.
! The educated, the intelligent, the cult
/ waited, the refined, the experienced, are to
be excluded from all part or share in the
government of the State, and all their in
terests and rights Of life, liberty, and pro-
perty are to be given into the hands and
keeping of an ignorant, debased, uneduca-
ted, unciyilized, seyvile minority. And all
this is to be done, not in violation Of the
Federal Constitution only, but in most
fragrant violation and disregard Of the very
act Of Congress under which and by virtue
Of which this bill is justified
And, according to the preamble Of this
! bill, this monstrous measure is denomiDa-
ted, Is to. be taken and considered, the
voluntary act of the people of Alabama
Seventy thousand, all except one thousand
/ of which are negroes, are all who are
claimed or pretended to. have approved OF
to be in favor Of the constitution which is
thus sought to be forced upon this people
1 And these seventy Observation-Disclosures
thousand blacks and about one Thousand
blacker whites--are denominated, are tt
be, the governing people of Alabama
And this, too, when there stands on thu
: registers made by the friends Of the meas
ure, under the direction and authority o
Congress, dictated and managed by thu
, sword, one hundred thousand more compe
tent and legal voters, mostly white . men men
! who contemn, loathe, and execrate, sucl
constitution and government. Add t!
this thirty thousand or more disfranchise'
,Iby the despotic enactments of Congress
t and the tyrant agents appointed to admin
lister them, and tell me, are not the preau
BILE and all pretenses that this constitution
: is framed or adopted by the people Of Ala
e bama lie !? II
0 The gentleman from Pennsylvania, Nj
& stevens,l chairman Of the committee, an
], who reported the original bill, stated whe
y he moved to recommit, that there wei
twenty odd thousand majority against tn
@ tc0nstltutl0D.4 I1e saiu q
d After a full examination of the final n
}. turns from Alabama which We had not g
e when this bill was drawn, am satisfied
l. for one that to force vote on this bill, an
l. admit the State, against our own LAY
n where there is a majority Of twenty cd
n thousand against the constitution woul
not be doing such justice in legislationa
n will be expected by the people. Withth'
# view Of the case, | shall vote for the M
is ton to recommit, and on that motion
d demand the previous question. % j
IS The bill was recommitted.
c. That this constitution is not the chop
is Of the people, that it would be Z an an. act
d. injustice to pass the bill, is declared
lie There is no real difference between tn
;s h;u on5 th;s Tn nrinpinl2 and effect TIL