Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-04-02

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Thc Radical majority Of the Recon.
H(fuciion Committee having reported
b the Rump n bill for the admission
of A lahama under the negro COnstitu-
1ion which was lately defeated by Is.
600 votes under the provisions Of the
rfcconstruction" acts, the Democratic
minority Of the committee have made
The following comprehensive and un-
nnswerable report against the bill
Tic undersigned, members of the
Rttonstruction COMMITTEES, having
chfefully examined the report Of the
nsiority siuce its publication, the acts
Of Congress knownas the Reconstruc-
1ion Acts, and the constitution and
ofdinances rejected by the people Of
the State of Alabama, submit as their
report to the House, the following
DTeamble and resolution:
4NHEREAs, An act TO provide for
tho more efficient government of the
rebel States, passed March 2, 1867,
aa1 an act supplementary thereto
u4ssed on the 2Sd of the same month,
foFides for calling a convention TO
IDrepare a constitution for the govern
Intnt of Alabama and for holding an
eIection in the State for the ratitica-
tiou or rejection of said constitution
by thoso persons who were authorized
u1ier said acts to register and vote
N aaid elections; and
}VheredS, An election was held for
that purpose in said State, commenc-
ing on the 4th day of February last
and continued until the Sth of that
mouth, which resulted in the rejection
of Bald constitution by a majority of
I6,O00 of the registered voters under
said acts, and who were expressly au-
tl1orized, under and by the provisions
Of paid veto, to reject said constitution,
either by depositing their votes
against it, or not voting at said cleo
tion and
Whereas, This large majority of
reR1stered voters were utterly opposed
to fhe ratification of said constitution:
First. because it deprives a large
npnDer of the white males of said
State of the right to vote or hold of
fce Second, because it confers the
right to vote and hold Office on all the
black males, thus disfranchising intel
ligence and capacity and enfranchising
isporance and incapacity. Third, Be
canse it requires all persons before vo-
ting TO subscribe an oath that they
accept the civil and political equality
ofal men, and agree not to attempt
70 deprive any person or persons, on
account of race color, or previous con-
dition, of any political or civil right,
pfivilege or immunity enjoyed by any
other class of men Fourth, Because
in apportioning representation TO the
people of the several counties of the
State it ignores three counties and
leaves them without representation
fJfh, Because it gives TO twenty -four
ofthe ffty-nine counties in the State,
which are recognized as having a pop
nlaton of 252,407, and black popu-
lation of 32S, $40, sixty-fve of the one
hundred Representatives which com
pose the House Of Representatives.
and it gives to the remaining thirty
five counties having white popula-
ton of $50 ,2S2, and black population
ofl1l.l57 but one Representative TO
cach because it apportlons represen
taton in the same way as near as may
be. Sirth, Because by these means
itplaces the power to impose taxes
and all other legislative power in the
hands of those who will be no tax
payers when it goes into operation,
aud depriyes majority of those who
will have to pay the taxes of the right
TO vote or the power to protect them
eelves against the oppression with
which they will be inevitably visited.
Hspenth, Because it makes no provis-
ion for and does not make it the duty
ofthe Legislature to appropriate the
money raised by law for common
schools equally and separately for
The benefit of the white and black
cbildren in the States. Eighth, Be |
cause after declaring in the first sec
tion Of the third article the power.ofl
the Government of the State of Ala |
bama shall be divided into three dis |
tioct departments. namely the legisla- /
tive, executive, and judicial, it provides
Ia the fifth section of the eleventh
arilcle that the Board Of Education
shall exercise full legislative power in
retefence TO the educational institu-
tions of the State, and its acts, W hen
approved by the Governor or when
r1-enacted by two.thirds of the Board
IN ease of his disapproval, shall have
the force and effect of laws, unless re-
pealed by the General Assembly |
Npfh, Because il divides the militia
into two classes, namely, the volun-
teer militia and the reserve militia,
and il is made the duty Of the Govern
or. by an ordinance which was not
publshed with the constitution for
the Information OF the people, as two
Others were which were less objection
able, 10 organize Immediately one
hundred and thirty-seven companies
ofVolunteer militia which are to be
armed and paid, when in service, at
the same rate as United States officers
and soldiers, out Of the State Treas
ury, The mounted men to have five
per cent. per day for their horses.
I<nfh, Because by the twentieth sec
.t;on of said ordinance, which goes in.
to operation with the constitution, all
pronHeds of the sale of contraband and
oaptnred property seized or captured
BY the militia shall constitute a part
OF he fund out of which they are to