The New York herald., 1868-03-18
Thad Stevens RecOmmits His Ala
bama Admission Bill.
bcbatc in the Senate on the Bill TO Exempt
Manufactures from Tax.

what his actual defence will prove. But his counsel
have pressed upon him the importance Of allow
tng no indication to be made public Of what
this may be. Andrew Johnson's political view
Of the question upon which he is arraigned,
when filtered through the professionally
legal minds OF those employed to conduct the de-
fence, may assume different aspect and what that
aspect may be rendered perhaps it would be impru
dent to foreshadow. To do so would be to
1Orewarn and forearm; and it Is therefore wise
On the Presidents part to withhold information
from the enemy and strike him in vital place while
unprepared. His counsel are hard at work maturing
their plan Of operations, and will open on the i'm
peachers when the battle fairly commences with a
heavy sweeping broadside, the character OF which 1t
h now an object Of intense solicitude to conceal.
Minority Report Of the Reconstruction Com.
rnittee ON the Proposed ReadmissiOn Of Ala.
bama.
The following is the minority report of the Recon-
structon Committee ON the bill to readmt the State
Of Alabama.
The undersigned, members Of the Reconstruction
Committee having carefully examined the report OF
The majority since its publication, the acts or Con-
gress known the Reconstruction acts and the con-
gtttutiOn and ordinances rejected by the people or
the State Of Alabama, submit their report to this
House the following preamble and resolution
Whereas an act to provide for the more efficient
government Of the rebel States, passed March 2
1867, and an act supplementary thereto passed on
the ga Of the same month, provides for calling
convention to prepare constitution for the govern
Nent OF the State OF Alabama and for holding an
election in that State for the ratification rejection
Of said constitution, by those persons who were
under the said acts TO register ana vote n
that purpose in said State, commencing on the 4th
day OF February last and continuing until the sth OF
that month, which resulted in the rejection OF said
constitution by majority OF fifteen thousand OF the
registered voters under said acts, and who were ex
pressly authorized under aud by the provisions
Of ood said COustitutiOn either
by deposting their votes against 1t or not
voting at said election and whereas this large ma
jority Of registered voters were utterly opposed to
the ratification OF said constitution.
Flrst-Because 1t deprives large number OF the
white males OF said State Of the right TO vote or hold
Secomd-Because 1t confers the right to vote and
hold ofice all the black males thus DISTINGUISHING
Intelligence end capacity and enfranchising ignorance
xhd incapacity.
.Tnird-Because 1t requires all persons before vot-
ing to subscribe ON oath that they accept the civil
and political equality Of all men, and agree not to at
tempt to deprive any person or persons, on account
Of race color previous condition. OF any political
or civil right privilege or immunity enjoyed by any
Fburth-Because in apportioning representation
70 the people OF the several counties OF the State
ignores three counties and leaves them without any
FVth-Because it gives to twenty-four Of the 1fty
nine counties in the State, which are recognized as
having q white population Of 49, 407 and a black
population Of 32S3l0, sixtyfve OF the one hundred
representatives who compose the House oi Repre-,
counties, having white population OF 2s0,2S2 and
black population OF Ill l6s but one representative
% each; because 1t apportions representation IN the
same way as near as may be.
SSxth-Because by these means It places the power
hands Of those who win be ncn-taxpayers when it
goes into operation, and deprives majority OF those
who wl have to pay the taxes Of the right to vote
si0n with which they win be inevitably visited.
Seuenth-Because 1t makes no provision for and
does not make 1t the duty of the Legislature to ap
nrnnrfata raised DV law common
schools equally and separately for the benefit Of the
white and black children in the State.
NQhnt-Because after declaring in the irst section
Of the third article the powers OF the government OF
the State OF Alabama shall be divided into three dis
and judcia-it provides In the nth section Of the
eleventh article that the Board OF Education shall
exercise full legislative powers In reference to the
educational institutions OF the State, and Its acts
when approved by the Governor or when re-enacted
by twothrds Of the board in case OF his dsapproya
shall have the force and effect OF law unless repealed
Ninth-Because il divides the militia into two
classes namely, the volunteer militia and the re-
serve militia-and 1t is made the duty OF the Gov
ornor by ordinance which was not published
with the constitution for the Information OF the peo-
ble to organize Immediately one hundred and thirty
seven companies OF volunteer militia, who are TO
be armed and paid when in service at the same
rate as United States officers and soldiers out OF the
State Treasury, the mounted men TO have hve per
cent per day for their horses.
fenth-Because by the twentieth section OF said
ordnance, which goes into operation with the con-
stitution all proceeds OF the sale OF contraband and
captured property seized or captured by the militia
are to be paid thus melting the volunteers to ha-
Tass the people in time OF peace by unlawful seizures
the property seized is honestly turned over.
Eserenth-Because this constitution provides for
3 % sum which the taxpayers Of the State
are wholly unable to meet In their present impover-
And whereas said registered voters believing that
they had right to defeat constitution so objec-
tonabe this In either Of the ways provided In the
fsifh Of Congress in their behalf they made public
ther resolution, some weeks In advance OF said cleo
on not to vote at said election but TO stay away from
the polls and whereas this large majority OF regis
tered voters for the reasons aforesaid were opposed
20 the adoption Of said constitution and did not
vote In said election, and did not go TO the polls,
thereby avoiding ali occasion Of violence or disorder
and whereas Il Is now claimed by those who favor
she adoption Of said constitution that there Is no
voters residing In the State actually voted at said eec
0n and believed they voted for the constitution and
10 vote but unable 50 @ 'res
ct forth In paper published in the Ddfv Globe OF
March H. 1885, and sworn 70 by Albert Grimm, John
city Of washington, on the 18th OF February, 1868;
and whereas those registered voters who opposed
tie adoption OF the constitution have no desire TO
avoid q thorough and searching investigation OF all
matters connected with said election; and whereas
there II good reason to believe
XSrst-That the freedmen In large numbers In all
or most OF the counties OF the State refused to vote
lor the adoption OF said constitution when they saw
the great body OF the old white citizens, with whom
ehcy were ali acquainted, among whom they had
always lived and with whom they expect TO con.
tinue TO live, and who were permanently interested
IN the State, were opposed to II.
SecoNd-That their purpose not 70 vote was
strengthened by the fact that those white men who
were most active In favor OF its adoption were new
Comers OF whom they knew little or nothing, and
who had no visible interest In the State or the freed
men, except to get ONCE.
Tnfrd-fhat in many instances these new corners
and those who aided them and used threats OF violence
90 the freedmen II they did not come and vote, IN
they promised them land and mules, and In this
way induced or scared many into going to the polls
and voting who would not otherwise have gone.
Fuurth-That many freedmen voted who were not
OF legal age and also voted for others who were un
willing TO comet the polls and vote or were unable
20.
FU1h-That many OF the freedmen voted more than
one ticket, and In some instances, when they were
detected they excused themselves because OF iQnor
ance and gave the names OF white men, who were
candidates for once, as the persons who had given
them the roll OF paper and told them to put Il into
che box. that n WAS all right