New-York tribune., 1868-01-01
FITZPATRICK OF ALABAMA
ON RECONSTR CCTION
OAK GROVE. E1MoRE Co., Dec. "a, 1867.

OAK GROVE, ELMORE Co, Dec. 20, 1851
No; H. C. sEMPLE, montgomery, 4 a.:
= DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 23d instant has
Sust beon received LII matter OF surprise 10 me 10
the Constitution framed by the recent Convention at
Montgomery have at no time SAID OF dohe any IN enig B
That could be 50 construed, and you do me injustice IN
suppOsing that sucn report OF my opinions Is ms
position to the ratification OF that Instrument than nave
been and am now. / can scarcely conceive greater
tuOn 1t gives all the former slaves over the age Oh ~
years the State the right TO vote and takes that rgh
nan who has held office and taken an oath TO
support the Constitution OF the United States ara
conflict between the two sections, is put under the
ban and deprived OF tho elective franchise. was op
States Senate and, believing had no right 70 remain
1herc after the State did secede left that body aud re-
now submitted for the approval Of the people Ihaye re-
maipcd at homo quiet peaceable ctlzen ever SINCE
Constitution though all the slaves formerly owned, who
hTe years Old allowed 10 vote The test-oath as
vote must take oath TO support the Constitution
Rnd laws OF the United States aud the Constitution and
laws OF the State Of Alabama. WHO'S wise TO know
all the laws Of the United States and this state so
as to observe his oathi THIS tesoath further provides
that he accepts the civil and political equality OF
any pcrson or persons on account of race,
color, or previous condition, Of any political
Other or e' class s of en fRe General Assem-
bly might declare the civil or political equality OF al
men require voter TO swear that ne accepts IL
and virtually that ho Will never attempt TO ater H. De!9e
he vote is species OF LEGISLATION ~ % 70 a @
country II is true that 1t ia further PROVIDED IN the Oo
sututon that the General Assembly shall nave power
fed from voting, but where VIII you ma power @ 70
relieve any who takes this oath once taken, the
Obligation remains fixed during his lifetime on the man
who incurs IT, such legislation regard as at war Win m
the civilization OF the age IN which We nye am a.
willing any 10 the cOlored population educated
and this, believe, is the common sentiment OF our
people; but how will the system proposed 1, ~otR
and guardians Of the children Of the two
willing they should be sent 10 the same school,
4 do not In the Constitution provision Is made for
separate schools Why did not the Convention provide
have lived all my life with mixed population, the slaves
and whites of the South aud my deliberate conycon Is
You might we'll mix Oil and water without chem
lca agents as 70 attempt TO teach the children on tne
1he cOOred population greatly predOmDates the whites
Will virtually be excluded and In other sections. where
the whites in the majority the same result VIII befan
the blacks producing disorder and deadly feuds between
the two without giving IN detail my objections
the ratification OF the Consttuton-for they are too
numerous 70 mention in this letter-I win say that the
effect OF many Of its provisions TO elevate the black by
Degrading the whte race Inc constitution Is not only
prOscrptve I'm many Of its provislons but places 20
great extent the property OF The country at ne mercy OF
people. IL Is said by some that it was made up to keep
down rebellion B4qi hGoe ne PeGg6 q me Scn 70 % com
free; fields barely cultivated under the new system
weeds since emancipation, and almost evefftm ia
state OF dilapdatOn and decay. The cry Tor Diead
which comes up from almost every hill and valley
in the State has scarcely ceased ringing In our ears
an' 1T was only hushed by the liberal donations ron
fho Old World Ia any OF their long and desOatlng
wars, ever lougcd for peace than do We want
peace but not deadatOn wish be left free TO act
1or ourselves and free from the intermeddng Of those
who do not live us but come here foment dis
cord speculate upon troubles Let the people
vote down this Constitution and adopt another in
accordance with the genius Of institutions and all
will be well
Having gone into the retirement OF private life. and
feeling no desire for public position notOrety is far
from agreeable for me- to appear In newspaper; but II
you think this exprc sion OF my opinions avail any
thing toward preventing the adoption OF this Consttn.
cation
Very respectfully. your friend and Obedient servant
BENZ. FIIZPAIRiCK.