New-York tribune., 1868-02-17
SOUTHERN CONVENTIONS.
ALABAMA.

THE ELECTION FOR THE CONsTITUTION-REBEL
EFFOaTs TO REDUCE THE VOTE-CRUELTY
AND THBrATs TOWARD THE FREEDMEN.
Fpm Our SIeos Correspondent
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Feb. 10. 1863
Our State elections for the ratification of our
new Constitution closed Saturday evening last the sth
inst OF eOurfe here in Alabama with limited facli
ties for obtaining the distant counties is not
possible for to obtain sufficient information thus early
after the election Closes though all proper efforts have
been made enable us TO determine the result certainly
can say however with very good degree OF certainty
that the result VIII be very close suppose lhere
has not been a single vote cast against the Consntn
ton. Our Rebel enemies have relied upon an enliSy &
different policy for the defeat as they NOPE O Int
Constitution They have only voted themselves, Dut
they have r led 10 every and the vilest means they
could make available to deter and prevent oluols -
the fsf,d yoIets Itwould be utterly impossible In
letter OF Ordinary length to give you any tInk Ao s "
isacOry idea OF the unfair and wicked means eeOred 70
by tic Bebs to deter voters both white and colored,
from the polls. Wherever the CouIt @s Oi . P &
pened be the Rebel Influence as was he case IN sew
eral of the voting counties instance IN 9loht
gOmery. Bullock Lowndes sumter; EpOre; Lee, . %s we
have lost nds, yea 10000 voters Dy the aDso9oe
denial to the freedmen OF an opportunity OF chahce 20 1
poSt their vote In Bullock County where there are 5000
voters, they had but two days one voting pace, the
polls in Rebel hands and raining boin DAYS DAYS
la LOwndes there was but one vong-place and hut one
bOK opened r the two first days aud that box frequently
were standing round the polls In the rain for
two days. cm0rng 10 vOte In other instances, Union
Rebel sheriff bcaton and their lives threatened These
OutraCes have taken place in the counties adjacent TO
Montgomery how 10 has been in the distant counties we
have vet learn OF this fact there be the shadow
OF doubt that there than 100000 legal and reg
istered voters State OF Alabama who In favor
OF the ratification of this Constitution and who have pre-
sented Themselves at the polls Why, then, have they
not voted Because. IN the hrst place, IN many
counties there not sufficient voting facilities,
not boxes enough OpeHedl Again, coored men
tid in the OF their political privilege at
the baotbOX and they have been swnded out OF their
vote. in many by those who should have protected
them-mahaRcTS, sherihs, and policemen! Our present
the COnStitu,lO A., ard not one against Il! And then,
Judging from the Outrages have witnessed here IN
Montgomery. aud from what Trustworthy gentlemen tell
from other counties ana letters received detang
Of violence, menaces ana threats OF NE
and limbs aud at place total destruction OF the bal
lOtbox feel confident that there Is no extrayagance
tered desiring and intending vote for the COhstltu.
tOn have deferred and prevented ThOusalds OF
freedmen have been driven from tneI h1nts 1hni
and cOntracts because they voted, and their
fam lies deprived OF shelterl VIII not the Govern,
ment nterIOse to protect these innocent suferersf
In your article IN THE TRIBUNE IN reference 70 our eltc
tlOn OF the 4h inst this appears: The can
Vass If such ltuay be called on the part OF the Irenu
Of Reconstruction has been very quiet and even tame
white Ia Alabama have done nothing OF put niue or
and especially for the ratncatOn OF the
Constitution, you greatly mistaken. We have done
veTythng in our power. OF course, we nave had no
imposiug demonstrations i'm the way Of numerous aud
large mass meetings, and why's Because the loyal ele
ment-the Union Republican men OF Alabama-are the
PEELED to labor every day for themselves and families
Again have had but little money TO eXpend ana nave
been compelled, therefore, TO operate IN very quiet
way. Our political organization has been good ana EN-
cent for a ordinarily fair pO-one Of peace and quiet
neSsand bus for the menaclnR and unlawfu obsuctOns
practced and around the polls by the Rebel enemies OF
the plan Of Reconstruction, thereby ntn
idang ana dterring Republican voters from the polls,
success was beyond peTadventure.