The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-23
ALAB

ALABAMA.
~~>~~~~>~~~~~~~~~~-~~
The Political Situation-Passage OF Regis
tration Law-Extraordnary ProvisiOns-,rhe
Legislature Averse to Holding an Election
signs of Fraud.
MONTGOMERY, Oct. 4, 1868.
After considerable length OF time had elapsed.
and but one day before the period allowed by law
expired, the nondescript assembly at the capltal
called the State Legislature OF Alabama. passed q
registration law. AS the torch and turpentine ms
jority which is clamorous for casting the electors
vote itself could net trust Governor Smith, tho
Secretary OF State Maine Yankee named Miller
have BEEN by the act given absolute power in the
premises He is to be the chief Of registration ana
from his and his appointees' DECISIONS there he
no appeal. The law itself Is a most remarkable ono
In many particulars 1t was not unnatural that,
after providing for the registration Of voters, u
should require every white man In the State to take
an oath contained in the constitution to the effect
that he accepts" the ''cvll" this means sociap
ana political equality OF all men, and will never
attempt to deprive them Of any rights privileges
they now enjoy. This was to be expected but very
few persons supposed that clause would be, as Il
las been, introduced making it felony for
any person to take the oath fraudulently. How
fraudulentlys This Is undoubtedly the most extra
ordinary clause l have seen for long time in
q legislative bill. No person Is disfranchised In
Alabama, therefore the only way fraud can be COM
mitted in connection with taking the oath Is by the
swearer taking it and nevertheless rejecting The
dogma Of the "civil and political equality OF all
men," But how is the judiciary OF the State to find
out the secret sentiments Of men. II this clause c1
the law can be enforced then at least ninety thou
sand white Alabamians will be convicted OF felony,
for about that number will take the oath while firmly
hall hat ia not THAR aith
socially or politically. Another clause in this pre-
cious law DISTINGUISHES forever all persons who
shall not be registered the day or the .rst gene
raj election in $685." Is not this rich ideas Sup
pose man is SICK or suppose business calls him ont
OF the State from this day till after the Presidential
election he to be forever deprived Of the privileges
OF the elective ranchises This and the other
alluded to only show what delightful rule the white
people Of Alabama compelled to submit to. Ihave
reason for saying that the bill has been signed By
Governor Smith, only because Ii he had vetoed 10
there would have been no election by the people az
all. When I say "sgned,n mean that IL will be.
The Governor only arrived from the North to-day,
and presume has not yet had time to sign the docu
ment.
Legislature is trying Its best to prevent the people
from voting. Day after day long discussions take
place the election bill. and the prospect Is that
the whole Of the present week will be consumed IN
almost endless discussions. The extreme element
which is largely in the majority, does not wish an
would have passed their bill for that purpose ovea
the Governors veto II they could have obtained
twothirds vote some OF them + nave sad IN tss
the people are allowed to vote Seymour and BAR
will carry the State by from 10000 to 900 major
tty. Governor Smith Is abused by them In unmea-
terms but they dare not come to an open rup-
ture through fear Of utterly destroying their party.
they pass the election bill. If only to spite the mod
crate wing Of the party, the members OF which are
hntna Thp1Q
their host. II they fail to pass an election law or
they pass one OF too outrageous character 1t WIN
be vetoed, and q vote will be taken all the same
BY the old code of Alabama, which has bees
adopted, should the Judges Of the Probate Court nos
order election three freehOlders in each vOt
ing precinct can do SO, open the polls, receive ths
votes and make returns to the secretary of State.
Thus. ii the Legislature delays much longer the
whites Of the State win have absolute control Of the
polls.
solved upon by means OF which serious trouble may
ensue as It Is designed for the express purpose OF
bana, as In ali Of the Southern States onehaIf, Or
very nearly So OF the counties have an Overwheim-
ing majority OF whites, while the remaining ones
have heavy negro populations The plan il TO have
the votes registered in all Of the negro counties
where the strength Of the republicans lie, and to re-
tard registration In those localities where tho
whites, or democratic element, preponderate to .
considerable extent until the day OF election arrives
be virtually disfrancnsed. can scarcely believe
that the carpetbag Secretary OF State will counte
nance such . transparent shameful fraud. u he
thereby, there will be serious trouble, and how Il
will be met God only knows. II fair election y
held the democrats will carry the State by n very
large majority. This fact can easily be ascertaned
by any person possessed Of ordinary intelligence
who will notice the current OF public sentiment.
Confident, then in their ability to defeat the radicals
by large majority the whites are In no temper 70
~ 20 sg ther o. ey nave
and are quietly submitting to the most oncrous rule
they ever Knew Laws which no honest, liberty low
ing man can feel particle OF respect for they
silently Obey the presence OF negro legislators negro
county officers, policemen &c, they tolerate-in-
deed the white people Of Alabama have displayed .
wonderful amount of forbearance already without
having further outragcs TO submit to- IL Is To DO
ee least @ iSr 'e p ~
greet this most Infamous plot to deieat the VIII OF the
people.
party OF Alabama has been utterly dsorganized and
demorazed. So confident were the leaders lat the
made no preparations whatever towards canva5sinQ
the State. Meanwhile the democrats were hard at
work organizing and have now brought their party up
to high state Of efficiency. The objections OF near
y all the respectable native radicals the intense AMI
~ aas e sar and ~
the whites TO control the negro VOTE the
which have operated TO inIure the radicals IL an
election were held I'm Alabama next week the demo-
cracy would triumph by sixty thousand majority,
and principally because their opponents have no or
ganizatton worthy Of the name. II however, this
dlsintcgraton Is Analysed 1t will be found that 1t In
caused solely by the absence OF the power which
| away the bayonet prop from these reconstructed
states and down goes the radical party here. IL was
born OF military rule and has been In dying condi-
ton ever since Generals Meade and Sheppard ceased
to give 1t a tact II not an open support. And this
failure OF the radical party in Alabama to support
itself unless backed up by the bayonct IS not caused
by those astonishing trebel outrages, which certain
newspapers OF the North are so fond OF publishing
for the deectation OF their sentimenally phanihrO
pic readers Rather let it be truly stated that radt
callsm dies here because the wealthy the tntegcns
and the vrtuous are nearly unanimous as can 10
against it-because IL was and IL, with few honor
able exceptions, led by men who are mere advcntu-
freshmen without character or ability rs bankrupt
In pecnniarY circumstances as thew have been for