The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-02-14
GneQmtelli lliQettrer..
A SOUTHERN JOURNEY.
The Alabama EIectIOn...StudIes from
the POlIs---Ths Freedman aS
VOIer.--The Issues aud
the Result.
Correspondence Qf the Cincinnati Commercial

the POlIs---Ths Freedman nS
VOIer.-The Issues aud
the Result.
Correspondents Of the Cincinnati Commercial.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Feb. 8, 1868.
For four days now l have been a look
er-on at the election held to determine
the fate of the new Constitution of Ala
bama. The spectacle is a curious one.
ahoruinS, as 1t does, many studies from
the most remarkable page in the histo.
~ OF the ballOt-box in this Republic.
The white citizens of this State, with
very few exceptions, have been strug-
Cling to keep voters away from the
polls, and the black citizens have shown
contrasted eagerness to exercise their
right OF suffrage fully, though crudely,
comprehending that the continued en-
toyment of that right is at stake. In
defiance OF fatigue, hardship, hunger,
the threats OF employers, the arguments
OF brighter intellects than their own,
the sacrifice OF valuable friendships
and of pleasant situations, the majority
of the black men of Alabama have re-.
corded their votes in favor of the new
charter.
The influence brought to bear to in
duce them to cooperate with the late
master class have been ingenious and
manifold. fgood.humoredly reasoned
with they would only nod in reply.
Scolding tell on their impaSsive heads
as uselessly as spitball. Expostula-
tion was of no avail. Threats of pro-
scription have been less fruitless, but
many thousands disregarded every
motive save the one that spurred them
to vote for the political elevation of
their race. 1t is universally asserted
by the Conservatives that the poor me-
groes are the dupes of designing white
''carpet- t-baggers," who desire to be
tioated into office and emolument. That
such designing persons exist is not to
be doubted, but the black man, at this
election, is trying to pull out of the fire
the largest and most succulent chest
nuts for himself and his own people,
Read the proposed constitution and
judge for yourself If he be swapping for
more shadow than substance. Though
often credulous, and by nature always
conhding, he has just apprehension
OF the stake played for in this deal of
the political cards.
For four days the election has been
quietly proceeding. To-day is the last
of the term allowed. II ratification
fail, it will not be because time enough
was not given to muster all who de-
sired to vote. Originally but two days
were named, then four. The voting
commenced in a raw rain storm, the
creeks became swollen, and It was
feared that many negroes would be
kept at home by the wretched weather
and roads. So another day was added
by General Meade, making five in ali.
The first two days were exceedingly
chilly, wet and gloomy. The second
two were mild and sunny. To-day
promises to be a lovely one. But, rain
or shine, the streets of Montgomery
have been thronged with negroes. The
curb stone restaurants (ranging in size
from hand-basket to a rickety tablet
have continued operations on a scale
adapted TO the crisis. Ebony cobblers
on back streets have been pegginR
away, day and night, at the shocking
bad foot-gear of the tramping voters
from distant plantations. Wooden
awnings have sheltered a nightly
bivouac. Every hospitable hut has
lodged enough darkeys to give it a
double claim to be called a black hole.
The warm sides of the avenues have
had their ebony procession heightened
and widened to the election standard;
and philanthropic auctioneers have
about closed out their stock of goods
and stock of conscience, at a fearful
sacrifice, of course.
If the reader will now come with me
and watch for awhile how the voting
proceeds, promise him a novel expe-
rience. We will not take the first day
OF the voting, for then it was painful to
see the crowd of ragged colored men
storm, waiting to slip in their tickets,
and so fearful OF losing their turns that
one who had deposited his vote found
no avenue of egreSs save that paved
with the heads of those behind. Let US
choose the third day, for the air is bland
and the sky cloudless. There stand
the black pilgrims you see, ranged (for
better order prevails today in dou-
BILE queue. At the side of the window
where the vote is handed in are two
pOlicemen-one to admit the voter, the
other to point the way out. In front of
the window is the Conservative chal-
longing committee of four. One of the
four keeps tally of the vote; another
scans the registI alton list as the name
of each voter is announced; the third
writes down the names not found reg
istered, and the fourth makes himself
generally watchlul. Behind the win
dow three judges are seated around a
table bearing in its center large pine
ballot-box.
The column of negroes waiting to
vote is jamm ed together as II by some
uncomfortable muscular impulse, but
it surGeS back whenever the barrier of
the first policeman threatens to give
way. They do not talk to each other,
deeming silence, perhaps, to be due to
the sacred importance OF the occasion.
IT their eye catches yours (you are a
Caucasian, remember,) II falls with an
expression of embarrassment, as If they
felt that you, being white, looked with
keen disfavor on the act they had
drawn up to perform. Fallstaf's re-
cruits were not greater ragamuffins.
Look at the garb of these negroes, and
L defy you to point out one unpatched
garment in fifty. Gray coats and blue
coats. worn out three years ago, still
are forced to serve in a tattered sarto-
rial invalid corps. One coat doubtless
for Sunday and elections) Is made of
cheap ingraln carpeting. The panta-
looms are more shred-like than the
coats; the hats advanced to all degrees
of organic decay. Not one in twenty
wears boots, and few shoes retain much
oftbeir original homely integrity. In
shape they might inclose either a small
ham, or the foot of any human being
deformed by toll among the clouds OF
cotton fields. II you study the heads
and the faces you will find more indi-
cations of gentle, submissive, ease
loving heart than of active intelligence
or ambitious disposition.
Whatever the natural aptitudes ofthe
African may be, hundred years of
slavery in Alabama have not added
anything attractive to his chronological
development. That many OF them are
very ignorant OF the scope and mean
ing OF ofcitizenshlp, is as plain as their
determination 10 learn more about II.
The hunger to have the same chances
as the white man they feel and COM
prehend as clearly as they understand
physical craving That is what
brings them here, and not the expecta-