New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-30
THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

The House OF Representatives, ny NOJc vi
102 to 90 passed, on Saturday, the following bill
BE IL enacted De- That the Constitution framed by the
Convention Of Alabama. which was submitted for ran-
cation by the people at an election commencing on Ie
9Th day OF February 1868 is hereby declared 70 be the
fundamental and organic law for Provisional Govern
for the people Of Alabama so far as the same not
in conflict with the Constitution and laws OF the united
states aud the officers elected at said election shall on
the 1st day Of May 1868, quay as provided IN sad CON
sttuton and the ordinances Of SAID Convention. aud I'M
mediately thereafter enter upon the discharge OF Their
respective offices: ,-, A.. ,,.-.-.o. -.
any time after he shall have qualified and entered upon
the discharge OF the duties OF his office may by proclaim.
aton convene the Legislature chosen at said election
the Legislature, when so convened sha possess an tho
power conferred by said Constitutions which may not DC
in conflict with the Constitution and laws OF the United
States And the Legislature is hereby further empow-
cred submit said Constitution TO the qualified electors
designate And said Legislature is also empowered by
majority vote Of each House to submit the said Constn,
ton. as framed by the Convention, with or without
amendments proposed by the Legislature and II amend
be proposed by the Legislature they sha an
tuition as it came from the Conventions ,o,.-o, ,no
psopie by a majority vote OF the electors Of Alabama
g1aed under the act of Congress OF March 20 1851 to
vote for delegates form Constitution. and actually
voting said ratification shall have ratified eonstn
nT iron sse ORGANIZATION shall have adopted the
amendment to the Constitution OF the united states pro
posed by the XXXIXth Congress, and known AS article
IT, Constitution OF Alabama may be presented 10 Con-
gress for its approval -, ...,.o
SEC. And be further enacted, That the District Com
manders shall furnish all necessary ald IN enforcing ts
act and the OF March 1861 entitled an act to provide
fo- efficient government Tor me keDe STATES anu
the supplemental TO and amendat0ry Thereon sha
remain In full force in Alabama, except az modified by
this act until Alabama shall be resoredto representation
We trust that the Senate will promptly con-
cur, so that Andrew johnson will stand the
only impediment--we trust not an insulmOunt-
able impediment-to the restoration of Alabama
to self-govemment by her loyal citizens.
Cen Meade reports to Gen. Grant, under
tba fol ~
statement of the vote cast on the question OF
ratifying the new Free-State Constitution:
Whole number OF voters registered 1851
Deduct Counties OF Dale and Henry, wherein no
elections were held, LOwndes, where the ballot
boxes were stolen, and Sumter where the returns
Remainder, 1865 majority Of which s...... 1913
Actual vote excluding that OF sumter Souht .oS,9
Whites 67O2; Colored, 62,l9s; uncassed' lsl2 oo,
Against the Constitution In all lVO'
Whites 900; Col0red, 100.
Gen. Meade finds that the Constitution has
failed to be ratified according to the terms Of
Congress, and therefore says
"The Constitution falling Of ratification, the
Ihave deemed it my duty turn to the President
Of the Convention the returns OF the election for mem
beers OF Congress and State and County officers, but
have the Of certificates OF election
until the questions connected with the Constitution are
definitely settled have received, and transmit here
with letter from several members OF the RepuDlcnn
g mart ot immediate admission of the State by Con
gress maintaining that the recent election when prop
ery explained, will show majority OF tho registered
voters being in favor OF the measure. regret eI
tremoy that 1t Is not In my power 10 coincide WIN heSe
gentlemen, and cannot concur with them In their
views Acknowledging the Importance OF the
State being at the earliest moment restored to her
proper relations in the Union, cannot but look on the
result of the recent election as an expression Of opinion
that the registered voters do not desire TO be restored
under the Constitution submitted 10 them and In view OF
fhe recent act OF Congress giving ratification to major
ty Of the votes cast would prefer seeing the Conyen
ton reassembed for revision OF the Constitution, and
the revised Constitution submitted to the people under
tuition liberal IN its terms and cOuhned TO the re-
quirements Of the Reconstruction laws, would In Aaba
na-as have reason to expect II Will IN Georgia and
Forda-Ineet with the approval OF majority OF the
registered voters and beg leave to call your attention TO
so small population OF those qualified 10 take part In the
Government IN favor OF the organic law, aud TO In
larger proportion of what must be the governing
acceptable Constitution should be presented
10 them for adoption"
Not having his entire report before us, we
cannot say that the General Commanding ut
terly ignores the fact that the poorer voters,
White and COlored, were Systematically and
nhuentially threatened with prescription and
starvation to prevent their voting to ratify the
Constitution; yet we cannot see how he should
suppress SO vital a fact. Congress accorded to
the electors the right to vote or refrain from
voting II never gave, nor meant to give, the
disaffected and freedom hating arstocracy a
right to deter others from voting by threats of
social Ostracism and starvation. And yet, by
virtue of such threats, and only thus, has the
Constitution been defeated. We await the ap-
pearance of the Generals reasons for present
ing the case so imperfectly and unfairly.
The n. L. Times has the efirOntery to say Of