New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-12
ALABA ANA.
Governor Smiths Veto of the Electoral
Biil-ExcItInR Debate on the Veto
Membera LOse Their Discretion.

r MONTGOMERY, August 1l.-Mr. J. NJ. Tar
bell brought into the city this morning
bale of new crop cotton. 1t classed good
middlng, weighed six hundred pounds, aud
was sold at auction tor forty-two and half
cents per pound.
A flutter was created in the Legislature
to-day. Governor Smith sent into the
Senate, where it originated, veto of the
bill authorizing the Legislature to cast the
electoral vote of the State. Governor
Smith says:
after the most mature reflection am
forced TO the conclusion that the bill is
wrong in principle, and that it would be a
dangerous precedent in a republican gov
ernment. As my judgment does not ap-
prove the bill it is my constitutional duty to
return it to the Senate with my objections
ut can not but be regarded as remarkable
that the first Republican Legislature
convened in Alabama shall, in the
face of the principles of its Or
ganization, which every Republican
processes to hold dear, deny, not only to the
colored, but to the white men, the right, by
his vote, to indicate his choice for Presi-
dent and Vice President of the United
States, and take the matter into its own
hands.
What excuse can there be for it? Is il
mere party expediency p If so, then tiS an
abandonment of the principles or an ac-
knowledgment that the material out of
which the Republican party is composed
can not be trusted. In other words it is to
say that the colored men will not do to be
trusted.
"This action of the General Assembly
will be regarded as still more remarkable
when considered in connection with what
seems 10 have been the almost unanimous
opinion of the leading members of the Re-
publican party of Alabama. 1t was be.
lieved by most of them, and so represented
at Washington, that u large majority of the
voting population of the State were in favor
of the new constitution. This was as much
as to say that the Republican party WAS in
large majority in the State, for it is we'll
known that none but Republicans favored
the constitution, and even some of them
opposed it. If the party is as strong as it
has been supposed to be, then the necessity
| of party expediency does not exist, but
| even if it did exist we would not be justi-
| fable in resorting to it.
"As much as desire the election of
Grant and Colfax, | am unwilling to be-
| come a party in behalf of that desirable
result, to scheme which practically denies
the very principles for which those standard
bearers stand pledged before the country
The message created q warm discussion,
and caused much bitterness. Sibey, Coon,
and other extreme Radicals were violent In
| their expressions about the Governor. Mr..
| Coon strongly urged the defeat OF the
veto, and SAID that the object of the men
who were sustaining the Governor in this
| matter was to get up war. Ii the war
must come, let it come. He was ready for
| it; and ninety thousand freemen of Ala
bama would give the opposition bellyfull
of war before it was over with. He
would stand by the Republican party in
Alabama in the war, and victory would
perch on its banners.
Mr.. Jones replied to Mr.. Coon and told
hat 10 rannorlra rua
but that if he wanted war he could have
war, and the war would last until none of
his sort were left to desecrate the soil of
Alabama.
Mr.. Jones said that he was Republican,
but when war is talked about, and Alaba-
mians are to be slaughtered, he would be
found on the side of his own people, those
in this bright and sunny but oppressed land
to whom this country and the government
of it Justly belongs. He said he could
raise squadron OF town boys, and whip
out anything the gentleman from Iowa
could bring against him. He could mar
shall twenty thousand colored men to follow
his banner in defense of Alabama and Ala
bamians. The colored men OF Intelligence
knew that the carpet baggers were not
their friends, and that g sqnatter would
desert them in the hour of peril ana heed'
The debate was conducted altogther oy
Republicans, there being but one Democrat
ia the Senate. without ACTION VIC s'ona'o
adjourned to 8 P. NJ. 1t is not likely that
the bill can become law oyerthe Govern
ors veto. The Legislature VIII probably
adjourn tomorrow.
LATER-The consideration of the mes
sage of the Governor vetoing the bill which
allowed the Legislature TO cast the electoral
vote of Alabama was postponed until ten
O'clock tomorrow. A great many members
have already left.
The following card from Mr.. Jones, Re-
publican, will appear in the morning pa
pers. Mr.. Jones and Mr.. Coon are both
Republican Senators.
SENATE CHAMBER, August IL, 1868.
HaviuP beeu denied the privilege OF re-
peating in the Senate MIR. Coon's ineendiary
remarks in the Governors office on the
moruing of the eleventh of August, here
by publish said remarks to the best OF my
recollection.
He said to the Governor that he would
not leave here until some measure was
adopted for The protection Of those whom
he calls the loyal men; hat Il any Union
mans blood was spilled In Dallas county ne