Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-01-09

4xPkCTATfoNs. IN T
From various correspondents Of the New
York Tribune, and other reliable sources,
VIC make the following extracts -
Political matters In Alabama since the ad
journment of the Constitutional Convention
possess more than ordinary interest, both
parties marshaling their forces and prepar-
ing for vigorous contest upon the question
| of ratification. The Republicans are making
nominations for county offices, to be voted
for at the time Of the election for ratifica-
ton, and they expect to poll much heavier
vote than was cast upon the question Of
| Convention or no Convention. The Conser-
vatives, as the Rebels and Copperheads call
themselves, are holding meetings all over
the State, denouncing the new Constitution
to the colored people If they dare to come
out and vote for It, If the provision of the
law, which requires a majority of all the
registered voters to vote upon the question
of ratification, Is not repealed, they hope by
threats, intimidation, bribery, and violence
to deter SO many Union men from voting as
will be necessary to defeat the adoption of
the Constitution.
+! The despotism exercised over those Of the
white voters, who, wishing to aid Recon
struction voted in favor Of holding Con-
vention, was atrocious in the extreme. In
one city where the Union clement is we'll
known to number more than 600 white vo-
tiers, a deputation stood all day long at the
window and noted the name of every
white man who voted. If he voted at all,
he necessarily voted for Convention, and
was thus identified with the Republican par
ty. Every man thus identified was marked
for persecution. If he were in trade, his
business was injured; il q mechanic or Ia
boring man under tho employment of others,
his discharge Immediately followed.
In the North, where men are free in fact
as well as in name, is hard to conceive how
terribly the power Of the Rebels can he cx-
ercised in the South over the poor, whether
white or black, who differ from them. In
| the case mentioned, of GOO known friends of
Convention, loss than 100 actually voted.
They came mp for the purpose. but finding
what the game was, they knew that the
bread of their families would be lost if they
persisted, and they went away as they came.
| or those who did vote, the greater number
were discharged from employment within a
week.
FREE SPEECH.
The pretcnce Of free speech in Alabama,
except under the very bayonets of the mill
tary, is mockery. And if the Republicans
should claim the protection of the military
in holding their meetings, the cry would 60
cut at once that the Satraps' were carry
ing the adoption of the Constitution at the
point of the bayonet. So the loyal men
work by means Of the Union League, and
yon are not to suppose us idle because you
do not hear of great gatherings and monster
demonstrations such as you are accustomed
10 in your political campaigns. We mean
to win this fight and make Alabama a loyal
| State, and we shall succeed
| The amount of lying and abuse heaped
upon everybody anG everything connected
with the Republican party in this State is
not to be measured or described. We have
become so callous to it, that for Republi-
can to be charged with any oifense what
ever cxcites only smile among the mem
bers Of the party, and SANDER has ceased 10
be yenomous in Alabama. No man who
respects himself deems il necessary to no.
tice the foul lies with which the Rebel ia
pers are filled. They do not argue the Con
stitution or its provisions. They do not
attack the measures or the principles of the
party, on the hastings or in the papers,
Their sole staple is wholesale SANDER, per-
sonal misrepresentation, abuse, and curses
THE GEORGIA CONVENTION.
see from Northern Democratic papers
that great and persistent efforts are still
made to represent the white delegates to the
| Georgia Convention as irresponsible, house
less adventures, and pestiferous Northern
Radicals. So far is this from being true,
the fact is that of the 1856 white members
the great majority are of Southern birth, or
Southern residence of al least 20 years, of
settled residence and respectable avocations,
being mainly planters, lawyers, merchants,
ministers and professors.
There is another important fact in the his
tory of the anteccdents of these men, that
must, with any Copperhead, for ever and
Theoretically close any dis cussion as to their
responsibility. There is the fact that .ft.ity
onc-third Of these men hare served ia
The Rebel army.
And beside the men who have proved
their valor ON the stricken field, there are
many more who have displayed more true
bravery, and higher moral courage than the
best tested soldier in Johnson's army
AS write have such man before me.
A Georgian of many generations; a man OF
superior education all his life slavehold-
or; has filled positions of high RESPONSE
bility, was in the Georgia Secession Conveli-
ton of 1861 again in 1865; still uan of
wealth, and the owner of several panta-
tions Is neither oilice-seeker nor politician;
neither Democrat nor Republican; is indie
pendent ,if the iiypr 81 any party asks
nothing; Is IN Convention To the de!riment
OF his public interests, and under the Ian Of
social osltacism. He is there solely for The
J good of his country, for the salvation Of his
native State and because he desires to sec
her again happy and free
And yet such men as have described are
stigmatized rs ''adyeIturers," ''pemlds,
''scallawags, ''scoundrels," ''miScreanls,
and ITO adopt the choice phrase Of Mr.. Ben
!, HID, ''scum of hell =
NORTH CAROLINA.
letter from Chowan county says;-
"Negro Barbarians." stNeyro Suprcma
cyl" What stupcndous lies We have mel
in this country more harbarc Than the ne
groes, wins, on the contrary, are remarkabl,
for their doclity, their mcekness, and thei
5 earnest efforts to progress in all that per
:. tains to civilization. Nineteen tweuticlh
r. of all the school-houscs and churches buil
, in the South during the last half dozen YEAR
have been built by the negroes ''Negr,
: supremacy where the negroes are but ,
portion of our Union vote, and not push
ing or prelentious portion either! We hay,
thousands OF white men who, to the yer,
n core of their hearts, are true, patriotic lover
! OF the nation, and earnestly anxious fo
5 restoration TO the Union, and have no faul
. to lind with the plan now offered us; but W,
Union men are Of the middle and poore
eiaSo VI SHhchs lne large lunullOluerS, tlli
aristocracy, and the political managers ar,
It generally against us, so that in many local.
e ties our friends are crowded down and back
d and their riyhtful influence is not known q
y felt. In this State a decided majority of IN,
r white men are Union men, and at thu recen
!, election for delegates "a "a CONSTITUTIONS
. Convention they very generally dared yot,
% their sentiments. Especially was this III,
o case in the central and western counties
y where the negro vote is small, and yet wher
l. the Union Republican ticket was elected il
s. nearly every county.
= But in the lower counties hundreds of poo
a white men who wanted to vote will M
:, didn't dare to, and in many instances eve,
= voted against us. The old arisioeracy i
l. still strong and insoiani. But with ever,
, succeeding election the Union white vote il
y these counties will be a growing one, an,
1f SO we need the sympathy and friendship o
rs the North until our weak back brethren cal
/, stifien up to duty.
& THE REBEL BATS THAT DIDN'T TAKE.
nf Our opponents, while the election wa
m pending, had no horror whatever of nepr
voting, but tried most perseyerngly to re