The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-25

\ the Constitution and ordinances rejected by the
people Of the State of Alabama submit as their
report 10 this House, the following preamble and
resolution:
WHEREAS, An act to provide for the more eff.
| cient government of the rebel States passed
March 2, 1867. and sn act supplementary thereto
passed on the sd OF the same month, provide for
| calling convention to prepare Constitution for
the government OF Alabama and for holding an
election in that State for the ratification or reiec
ton Of said Constitution by those persons WHO
were authorized under said acts to register and
vote in said election; and
WHEREAS, An election was held for that pur-
pose 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 Is, 900 of the regis.
tered voters under said acts, and who were ex-
pressy authorized, under and by the provisions OF
said veto, 10 reject said Constitution, either by
depositDg their votes against it, or not voting at
said election, and
WHEREAS. This large majority Of registered
voters were utterly opposed to the ratification of
sad Constitution; First. Because II deprives
large number of the white males of said State of
the right to vote or hold Office Second Because
Il confers the right to vote and hold Office on all
The black males. thus disfranchising intelligence
aud capacity and enfranchising ignorance and in
capacity. Third, Because it requires all persons
before voting TO subscribe an oath that they ac-
cept the civil and political equality of all men and
aeree not TO attempt to deprive any person or per-
sons, on account OF race, color, or previous con-
dltion, Of any political or civil right privilege or
immunity enjoyed by any other class of men.
Fourth, Because In aPportionng Representation
t. the people Of the several counties of the State
tlgDores three counties, and leaves them with
out any representation. Fifth, Because il gives
to twenty -four Of the ffty-nine counties in the
State, which are recognized as having popula-
ton Of 652 407, spd black population of S2S $40.
sixty five Of the one hundred representatives aud
II gives to the remaining thirty-tiye counties hav-
rQfrn NH ia Iont. II
population of Ill Isl but one representative
10 each because it apportions representation
IN the same way as near as may be. Sixth,
Because by these means II places the power 70
impose taxes and all other legislative power in
the haf ds o. those who will be no taxpayers when
it goes into operation and deprives majority OF
those who will have to pay the taxes of the right
to vote or the power TO themselves against
the oppression with which they will be inevitably
visited. Seventh Because il makes no provision for
and does not make it the duty Of the Legislature to
appropriate the money raised by law for common
schools, equally and separately fonthe benefit of
the white and black children in the States.
Eighth, Because after declaring in the first Sec
tson Of the third article the power of the govern
ment of the State Of Alabama shall be divided
into three distinct departments. namely, the legis-
atve, executive, aid Judicial, it provides in the
nth section Of the eleventh article that the Board
OF Education shall exercise full legislative power
10 reference TO the educational institutions Of the
state, and its acts, when approved by the gov
efnor when re-enacted by two-thirds of the
board in case Of his dsappr0val shall have the
force and effect of laws, unless repealed by the
General Assembly Ninth, Because il divides the |
militia into two classes. namely, the volunteer
militia and the reserve militia, and il is made the
duty OF the governor, by an ordinance which was |
rot published with the Constitution for the |
Il formation OF the people. as two others |
v erelwhich were less Objectionable. to organize |
nme diafely l37 companies OF volunteer militia, |
which are 10 be armed and paid, when in service |
81 the same rate United States officers and |
soldiers, out Of the State treasury, the mounted |
men TO have per cent. per day for their horses.
Tenth, Because by the twentieth section of said
ordinance, which goes into operation with the
Constitution, all proceeds of the sale of CONTRA
band and captured property seized or captured /
~ me militia shall constitute part of the fund /
,nt CT which they are TO be paid, thus melting the
TO hsrass the people in time of peace
~ uni Wful seizures, and so provide the means OF
,syi themselves, it the property seized is hon.
stiy turned over. Eleventh, Because this Con-
utntion provides for government which will cost
annually from $l,500,000 to 81 900 900, a sum
ynich the tax payers OF the State are wholly no.
'ole TO meet In their present impoverished condi-
ion; and s
WHGREAs, Said registered voters believing that
hey had the right TO defeat the Constitution so
Objectionable as this in either of the ways provided
q The aforesaid acts, and relying on their own and
e good faith Of Congress in their behalf they
naoe public tn ir resolution some weeks in ad-
ut to stay away from the poles; and
WHEREAS, This large majority of registered
oers Tor the reasons aforesaid, were oOD,sad
o the adoption of said Constitution. and did Tot
ote In said election. aud did not go TO the polls,
hereby avoiding all occasion of violence Of dis
r0er and
WHEREAS. 1t is now charged by those who
svor the adoption of the Constitution that there
! no reason TO doubt that majority of legally
egisfered voters residing ia the State actually
oted at said election, and believed they voted
or the Constitution, and that at least 10000
Hgaily registered veters attempted to vote but
lere unable to do so for reasons set forth in a
arer published In the Daily Globe OF March H.
S6S, and sworn to by Albert Griffin, John G.
Iener. and others before notary public of the
s6S and a.. $500
WHEREAS. Those registered voters who opposed
be adoption Of said Constitution have no desire
} avoid thorough and searching investigation of
Il matters connected with said election |; aud
NHkREAs, There Is good reason to believe
irst That the freedmen in large numbers in all or
lost of the counties Of the State refused to vote
DR. the adoption Of said Constitution when they
aw the great body OF the old white citizens, with |
HON they were well acquainted among whom
hey bad always lived, and with whom they ex-
ect TO continue to live. aud who we're perma-
emily interested in the State. were opposed 10 IT, |
econd, That Their purpose not to vote was
heightened by tie facL that those white men
no were most active in favor of It's adoption |
ere new comeTs, of whom they knew little or |
oibing, ana who had no visible interest 10 the
tate or the freedmen, except to ge, office. Third
hat ia many instances these new corners and
lose who AIDED them. used threats Of violence to
Re freedmen il they did not come and VOTE and
Tomised them land and mules-and in this way
duced or scared many into going to the polls
no would not Otherwise have gone. Fourth.
hat many freedmen voted who We're not of legal
&c. and also voted for others who were unwilling
come to the polls and vote, or were unable to.
18th, That many of the freedmen voted more than
ne ticket, and in some instances where they were
stecteo they excused themselves because Of igno-
nee, aud gave the names Of white men. who
ere candidates for Office. as the persons who had
ven them the roll OF paper and told them to put
Into the box, that it was all right. Sixth-That
any freedmen voted in counties where they did
tiive as well as in counties where they did live:
is was the case in Mobile, Dallas, Montgomery,
arbour, Haiti, Macon, Lees, Green and Marengo
'untes, aud 70 some extent, but not as great in
veral Others Seventh-By these means many
egal votes were obtained in favor of adopting
ID Constitution, and through the active agency
great degree of those whose only interest in
g question consists in the fact that il is adopted
ey expect to get an Office OF some sort which
u enable them TO live on the substance of peO- }
e to whom they are oil strangers alike unknown
g snd unknown.
Therefore be Il reso1red, That the bill and
ndlnc amendments be recOmmitfed IN the re- |