New-York tribune., 1868-02-15
THE ALABAMA ELECTION.
STUDIES FROM THE POLLs-THE FREEDMAN AS
YOTER-THE ISSUES AND THE RESULT.
Correspordepes Of Ths Cincinnati Commercial
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Feb. 2. ists.

COrresDondeues Of The Cincinnati Commercial
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Feb a. 1868.
For four days now have been q lOOker-On
at the election held determine the fate OF the new Con-
stitutIOn OF Alabama The spectacle is eurisus one
aorng as II does many studies from the most remark
able page In the history Of tho baotbox in this Republic
The white citizens Of this State with very few EXCEPTIONS
have cen struggling TO keep voters away from the po
and the black citizens have shown contrasted eagernesS
to exercise their right Of suffrage fully. though crudely
right ia at stake In defiance OF fatigue. hardship,
brIg6er tsllects than their own saeEce Of valuR
BILE friendships aud Of pleasant situations 'ne T
The Influences brought to bear to induce them to coop
manifold II gOOdhumoredly reasoned with they would
only nod in reply scodiDg fell their impatsiye heads
Treas Of prescription been less fultess but many
thousands dsregarded every motive save me one th9
spnrred them for the political elevation OF their
1t Ia universally asserted by the
hSs 1et who desire to be oae Into once and
emelument That snch designing persons exist 10 not 70
TO pu out Of the fire the largest and most succuent
cbestnuts for himself and his people Read the pro-
p,nS FOR more shadow than substance. Though often
credulous and by nature always eoDnding he has just
apprehension Of the stake played for IN THIS deal OF the
For four days the election has been quietly proceeding
To-day is the last of the allowed II ratification fa
II Will not be time enough was not given to mus
ter all who desired to vote Originally but Two days
were named then four The voting commenced In raw
rainstom the creeks became swollen, and u was feared
that many negroes would be kept at home By tho Wretched
Meade making iye in sl. The first two days were ex-
ceedinely chilly wer and gloomy Ihe seeohd .wE were
But rain shine the streets OF MONTGOMERY have been
Ing in size from bandbasket TO rckety table, have
continued operations scale adapted TO the crisis
Ebony cobbers on back streets have been pegng away
day and night the shocking bad foogear of trampng
voters from distant plantations wooden awnings nave
sheltered nightly byOuso Every hospitable hut has
lodged enOugh daTkies to give II double claim 10 DO
called black hole The warm sides OF the avenues have
the election Standard aud phlanhrOpc auctopeers
closed their stock Of goods and stock Of con-
II the reader now will come with me ana watch Tor
persDce e~ We viii not take the st day Of the voting
for then t painful TO the crowd OF ragged coored
Ain in their tickets and 20 fearful Of losing their turns
that who had deposited his vote found no avenue OF
let us choose the third day ar blaEd and tho
sky clOudless There stand the black pilgrims, you see
6nege Tr AT the sde Of the window where the vote
handed in two poicemenone 70 admit the voter the
Conservative challenging committee Of four One Of the
four keeps tally Of the vote; another scans the regs
third writes down the names not f0uno registered ana
the fourth makes himself generally watShiui. Behind
ing in its center large pine baIlot-boI. =, go.
get6er as II by some uncomfortable muscular impulse,
but surges back whenever the barrier OF te nfs police
other deeming silence perhaps be due the sacred
importapee of the OCCASION III their eye catches yours
(you arc Caucasian remember 1t falls with express
Of embarrassment, os II they felt that you, being
white looked with keen disfayOr on the act they had
drawn up 10 perform Falsta6E recruits were not greater
ragamufiDs Look at the garO OF these negroes and
defy yOu 10 point out one unpatehed garment In NIFTY
Gray and blue coats worn Ont three years ago s
are forced 20 serve In tattered eartoal invalid corps
One coat doubtless for Sunday and eecons Is made of
cheap lngTan c6potng The penaloOne are more shred
like than the coats the hats advanced 10 al degrees OF
organic decay Not In twenty wears Doots and Few
shoes retain much OF their original homey integrity In
shape they might incloee either small ham, or the foot
Of any human being deformed By toll among the cods OF
eOttOieds II You study the heads and the faces you
Will nnd Indications Of gentle, suDmssiye' ease
loving heart than Of active intelligence or AMBITIOUS oS
Whatever the natural apttudes Of the African may be,
hundred years Of slavery in Alabama have not ADDED
anything attractive 70 his chronological development
That many Of them are very ignorant OF the scope ana
70 learn about It, The hunger 10 nave the same
chances az the white they feel and comprehend as
clearly 80 they understand physical craving Ihht
what brings them here and not the expectation OF Retung
free lands free fatona and free nlus Your Conserya
tive friend may tell you that hey look for such Hndias
but talk 70 many the subject l have. and you
will accumulate the strongest OF reOuttDg evidence
The last Eonnded looked at with shade OF re-
buke and said mo sah spect 70 git nuthn but what
I works hard for, and when Use sick I'll Ret d0cked
Enter the first voter. lie takes OF his hat, and nery
ously gives bis name 20 the judges They run over the
registration list. SO do the Conservative chaiengers
Who as You see afforded every facility contes and
apalyze II the negro has o smooth foce they demand
bis name be found the judges announce the column In
hch n stands aud the chRllengers In vain
the voter seeing hs vote glide into the box and making
hs ewn way out, strives 10 choke down tho delight that
heavy stake (which trust you have unless t
at charming BgdenR BADEN, or eOmo place In NOwlOrk