The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-20
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND,
Thursday Morning, February 20, 1868


We beg serious consideration for the fol-
lowing communication, which we copy from
the Alabama correspondence of the New
York Times. II comes from source hostile
to the rec instruction policy of Congress, and
gives us an account OF the manner in which
the new constitution of Alabama was defeat
ed, which is as nearly impartial as any that
can probably be obtained. The letter is dated
at Huntsville on the Monday following the
close OF the election on Saturday the sth inst.
The paragraph headed "Hope from Northern
Democrats" is deserving efespecial consider
alton.
From the beginning the Conservatives
PLACED their sole reliance upon negative
policy. As nearly all the education and in
teilect of the South, and all the political ex-
perience were embodied in that party, they
were not slow to perceive that II they went to
the polls and deposited their votes they would
be beaten; and, therefore, they remained
away and took advantage Of the last and pre-
sent Congress, which enabled them to render
a NEGATIVE opposition more powerful that
POSITIVE one. There was time when the
Southern white people really dreamed of
supremacy over the negro, by calling them
selves his friends; but the example Of Tenn
essee last year, when the wealthy aristocrat
almost knelt down to his former slave for the
sake OF his vote, dispeled the illusion: TIE
colored vote is with the Radicals, and that ir-
reyocabiy; though they need not have been
had the Conservatives not acted in manner
to drive oil every negro, until compelled TO
accept c0lored suffrage from Radical law
makers. After the Tennessee election all
conceded that the question of Radical and
reoel supremacy must be decided by the
numerical strength of the races in various
localities; that while there might be few
Radical whites and redel blacks they were
numerically insignificant; were really a grain
OF sand on the sea-shore of politics.
l have said that these facts had caused the
Conservatives to adopt negative policy as
their only hope; the wisdom of Congress-.
which first melted that dody to the passage
OF enactments which were both wrong and
lmpolitic, also caused them to make egregious
blunders in those very acts, one of the great
est OF which was, that an absolute majority of
ali'lesal voters registered on the Constitution
framed or it would fail. The shrewd South.
ern politicians saw this, and that they resolv-
ed upon two things: First, they would remain
away from the polls themselves second, they
would induce as many negroes to stty away
as possible, and thus defeat the Constitution
by a lack OF sufficient votes to secure its
adoption. gsFrg -r
THE CASE PLAINLY STATED,
In order that there may be no misunder-
standing, will relate a conversation which
occurred between an old rebel and myself on
the first day ofthe election
Have you voted ?" asked at4- aae
No, Sir--not L. st p 7s.'aa ra-
!" Do you intend to vote p" gsa-
Not by - way, i reckon
"Why not ?"i sossf r-1l.Il ~ sa'st5 g 10 lrr.
Because | want the Constitution de-
feated.' s-r,F a r.. = -. -
And how do you propose to defeat it by
inactlon :" asked, although was fully aware
OF the conservative programme, and the rea-
son of it. :.
why, you see" said he, "there are III 900
voters registered in the State, and $4,000 must
vote on the question of the adoption of the
Constitution or it is defeated, and if hut a
little over $4,000 vote for it, and a little less
than A, GOO against it, then it is adopted: but
it $500 vote for it and no one votes against
it, it is defeated, because more than half
the registered voters are not recorded at the
polls"
"Then you think inaction is your only
policy ?'.s a
Yes, Sir, our only one. We will STAY
away from the election, and by management
we can keep $4,000 negroes away, and our
work is done" IS -.
linen you consider Congress a little oblig-
ing, alter all, Tor making that proyiso in the
Reconstruction laws which requires a ma
Jority OF all the registered voters to 60 to the
pollS? sgavJ Lg.J IG2Hr f1a# FaA y 7Ha1
Yes, Sir; obliging out of pure id stu
Piuuoy' -tEsA rs4l.ts 1854 ssF u .ss4 w