The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-12
The OMNIBUS BILL.


The debate in the Senate on what Is called
the omnibus bill showed that there is SO great
a division on the questions involved IN that
bill. in its final form, that it is by no means
sure to pass the ordeal of presidential Veto
The principal point of difference was the ad-
amendment by which Alabama was dragged
into this company of negroized States expa-
tiated on the injustice of "depriving her of
her Constitution after her "trooly loil :"
people had taken so much pains to make it,
and gone to so much trouble to vote for it.
1t was very true that it did not get majority
of the registered vote, and that the registered
vote is from twenty to thirty thousand short
Of full vote; but "trooly loil" peo-
pie had declared that at least nine
tenths of the "trooly loil" population
were in favor of this Constitution, wanted
this Constitution, and would think themselves
very badly used if deprived of the pleasure
and profit of enjoying the emoluments which
it offers to patriotic loilists" and hungry
} carpet baggers As for the rest of the people
the white trash who had been silly enough to
confide in congressional promises-it was of
no consequence what they did and of still
less consequence what they thought In the
course Of their argument these senators took
occasion to denounce as ineffably stupid, the
provision under which Alabama had voted,
and which had resulted in the defeat of the
Constitution; and among these Mr.. Wilson
was conspicuous for the emphasis of his
criticism and censures. Other Republican
senators, however, opposed the proposition
to give to Alabama the questionable BEN
eft of an admission under the omnibus
bill, and Mr.. Conkling quoted from
the debates of the Senate to show that Mr.
Wilson had twice voted for the very provision
which he now SO contumeliously assailed. 1t
is noticeable, however that among the Re-
publicans participating in this discussion, not
one pretended to view the question in any
other than a party aspect. The only point
worthy to be considered was, whether the
Republican party would gain or lose by the
proposed measure. The supporters of the
Alabama amendment wanted this State added
because it could be relied on to vote properly
in November, and to complete the number of
States necessary to consummate the ratifca-
ton OF the fourteenth amendment Its op-
penents were apprehensive that so palpable
violation of faith might shock the country.
and thus damage the Republican party; aud
that the bill, if thus modified, might not be
able to succeed if it should encounter the
anticipated veto.
The vote ON the amendment showed that
there were good grounds for this apprehen-
sion. 1t hardly escaped defeat by % to 21,
although, on the final passage of the bill there
was no indication of a division in the party
tits presumsble that the patch work garment
of radical reconstruction will, finally be got
into condition for use without absolute in
decency, and that it will soon be spread over
the seven States of North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama Louisi-
ana and Arkansas. But that the vote of those
States viii be thus assured to the General
our Armies" is by no means so
certain. Engineers have been hoist with their
own petaIds, and the artifcers of crime have
suffered from their own devices The radi-
calls may find that in dragging these States
back to procure their aid in November they
may gain nothing but loss OF the coveted
electoral votes.