Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-08-13
The Veto of the Alabama EIec
q loral RilL

The Veto of the Alabama EIec.
= ~ loral Bill.
Governor sSMIrH, of Alabama, carpet
bagger though he be, found it to be his
duty to veto the Bill just passed by the
carpet-bag Legislature of that State, TAX
ing out Of the hands of the people their
right TO vote for Presidential Electors.
Here is his veto, and the comments tha
followed thereon in the Senate: } a
"A, futter was caused in the Legislature,
to-day, in which Governor Smith sent t.
the Senate, where it originated, veto O,
the bill authorizing the Legislature to cast
the electoral vote of the State. Governor
Smith says: After the most mature re-
Election am forced to the conclusion tina
the bill is wrong in principle and that il
would be dangerous precedent in re
publican Government. As my judgment
does not approve of the bill, it is my con-
stitutional duty to return it to the Senate
with my objections. 'l3 lG M
1t can not be but regarded as remarkable
that the first Republican Legislature con
vened in Alabama shall, in the lace of tn
principles of its organization, which every
Republican processes to hold dear, deny no
only to the colored, but the white man, the.
right. by his vote, to indicate his choice fol-
President and Vice President of the Unitec'
States, and take the matter into their owl
hancs. What excuse can there be for it !
Is it mere party expectancy? If so, thei;
it is an abandonment OF principles, or All
acknowledgment that the material out O
which the Republican party is composed
can not be trusted. In other words, it is t.
say that the colored men will not do to b.
trusted. -.5 ,i,,fia 49,, ~ o.
This action of the General Assembl,
hn r1oI t>
when considered in connection with wha
seems to have been almost the, unanimous!
opinion of leading members of the Repub
lican party of Alabama. It was believed
bv most of them, and so represented
Washington, that a large majority of, thu
voting population of the State was in favo,s
Of the new Constitution. This was All
much as to say that the Republican party
was in a large msjority In the State, for IN
is well known that none but Republican.
favored the Constitution, and even some o
these opposed it. - u F1eozt.s
If the party is as strong as has been sup
posed, then the necessity of party eXpedi-,
ency does not exist. But evenif il exists
would it be justifiable i'm resorting to IT.;
Inasmuch as / desire the election OF Grant
and COlfaX, am unwilling to becou. a
party to that desirable result by a schem
which practically denies the very princi
pies for which those standard bearers stano
pledged before the country. ,s Hraaa
The message gave rise to warm discus
sion and caused much bitterness. Sibley
Coon and other extreme Radicals wer,
violent In their expressions about the Gov
ernor.f,r,s 9,s-sT-sT -,,,,.e .-,s,
: Mr.. Coon strongly urged the defeat of the
veto, and said ehat the object of the mel
who sustained the Governor in this matter
was to get o war. THE war must come
let it come. Hewa ready for it, and 80,
600 freemen of Alabama would give the op-
position bellyfull of war before it was
over. He would stand by the Republican
party of Alabama in the war, and victory
would perch upon its banners.
Mr.. Jones replied to Mr.. Coon, and told
him his remarks were revolutionary, but
that if he wanted war he could have war
and the war would last until none of his
sort desecrated the soil of Alabama. FL,
said he was Republican, but when war il
talked about and Alabama is to be slaugh
tered, he would be found on the side of hi,
own people-these in this bright and sun
ny, but oppressed land, to whom the coun-
try and the government of it justly be
longs. He said he could raise squadron
of boys and whip out every thing the gen
tleman from Iowa could bring against him ::
hecould marshal two thousand colored mel
to follow the banner in defense of Alabams'
and Alabamians. The colored men of in
telllgence knew thaC the carpet Dagger
were not their friends, and that squattel
would desert them in the hour of peril anc
need. , -....-.......
. The debate was conducted altogether by
the Republicans (there being but one Dem
oerat in the Senate). Without action SEN
ate adjourned to 5 P. M 1t is not likely
the bill can become a law over the Gov
ernor's veto. -1g-f T
The Legislature will probably adjourn
Tomorrow.
MORE ABOUT THE VETO MESSAGE.
The consideration of the veto message O.
the Governor was postponed until one
O'Clock tomorrow. A great many mem.
bers have already left the city.
The following card from Mr.. Jones will
appear in the morning papers: aaad
ore SENATE CHAMBER, August IL, 1868.
Having been denied the privilege Of re-
plying in the Senate. to Mr.. Coon's incen-
diary remarks in the Governors office, on
the morning of the 11th of August, here
by publish said remarks to the best of my
recolleetion. He said to the Governor that
he would not leave here until some meas
ure was adopted for the protection of those
whom, he called loyal men that if any
Union blood was spilled in Dallas county
he would lay the houses of Dallas county
and the city of Selma in ashes, ss
lSigned] 'oeil w. B. JONES.