National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-03-06
The Alabama Election.

Dispatches and letters from all
parts of Alabama are coming to
hand, which afford a clear insight
into the ma .ure of the contest
through which the State has just
passed, and the failure of the loyal
men to east a majority of the votes
registered, in favor of the constltu-
ton. These accounts leave no
doubt in the minds of the unpreju-
diced that the ratification of the new
constitution is desired by large
majority of the voters of the State,
and if the fair and peacea5.e election
promised by Congress had been per
mitted to be held the returns would
have been in accordance with tins
fact. But such was not the case,
ihe rebels not only attempting to de
feat the constitution by refusing
themselves, as they have in all 9th
er states, to vote at all, but using
every means of intimidation to pre-
vent the loyal whites and blacks
from voting in favor Of it, and the
election being held five days, the
discharge from employment OF those
who were fearless enough to vote
according to the dictates Of then
consciences during the first or sec
ond days of its progress, had the
desired effect Of inducing thousands
to abstain from voting in favor o
the constitution during the remain
! ing days Of its continuance, VIII,
would have done 50 were they mo-
/ influenced or inundated.
The surveillance OF the polls wa'
entrusted to the shcriilS Of the cOUn
ties, who in most cases, are notori
GUS rebels, and they having sum
moned to their assistance as police
men the most desperate character.
within their reach, the voters going
to the polling stations had to run ;
gantlet Of from ten to twenty rulll
ans, armed to the teeth, and other
wise prepared to resort to any
means that would prevent then
from voting, if they were known tC
be in favor OF the new constitution
The order for election required thai
there be at least three polling pia
ces i'll each county, yet in some u
the most p0pulous countieS in The
/ State but one poll was opened, an(
this in a secluded and inaccesSibl,
spot; while those who presented
their votes were detained by chalIcn
/ gcs, ridiculous long charges as t
the nature OF a false oath, and ever,
irrelevant question asked that c0ulj
/ be devised in order to waste time
that the patience ofthc voters, wait
ing in the cold and rain. might b
exhausted, and they compelled to G
home again without having voted.
These facts, gathered from all il
telligcnce which has reached us lror
the State since the election, shON
the nature OF the contest. The 10y
al men have to do their duty ami
intimidations and threats, and unde
a reign CT terror similar to the vic
lcnCe which was rcsorted to to l5rin
about secession and rebellion i'll 1856
Yet Notwithstanding all these dill
culties, in the forty four countiC
heard from, / ,0G0 votes have bee
polled in favor of the constitution
while the remaining eighteen con-
ties Of the state, it is estimated, WI
swell at least 5000 more. AS III
total number of registered voters i
the State is 10000, the loyalist
would appear to have fallen shol
of q majority Of the registration b
. about 5000 votes, a result Whlc
f has been brought about because I'll
/ qualified voters of the State wei
not allowed 'the opportunity to vo
freely and without restraint, fear, I
the influence of fraud" as guara
r teed them in the act authorizing Il
!. holding Of a constitutional conve
!, ton in the State and an election f
= the ratification or rejection of the i
;, Strument framed at such conventio