The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-04-14
The Political Future of Alabama


licves to be right, we cannot refrain
fro the expression of respect and al.
IMITATION. Such man, in our opinion,
il John Forsyth, Esq, the able editor
OF the Mobile Register. He has plant
cd himself fairly and squarcly upon the
great principle of A White Mans Gov
eminent, and is laboring to bring about
such an organization Of the Democracy
Of Alabama as will result in the over
throw of universe suffrage and the So
called Fifteenth Amendment. A cor.
respondent OF the Register briefly
states the difficulties surrounding the
matter in the following language:
The real question is as to the
course the Democratic or Conservative
party, if that name p'eases better, Of
Alabama shall adopt in reference to
negro suffrage as it now crisis; for il
does exist, and is exercised beyond all
denial 1t exists and is exercised by
virtue of the constitution and laws Of
Alabama, and by virtue Of the XVIII
Amendment of the Constitution Of the
United States.
"You, and I, and others, who view
the matter from the same stand point,
believe that the present State govern
ncnt is an usurpation merely, ind that
its present pretended constitution and
the laws passed in pursuance thereof
are utilities. We also believe that the
XVth Amendment, though declared
by the President ratified and TO be a
part of the Constitution, is equally =
nullity, as not having been constitu
,onally and voluntarily ratified by
two--thirds Of the States Of the Union
The Democratic party, North and
South, believe the same thing; but,
nevertheless, 'nulltics" as they are,
in our estimation and according to the
true theory Of the government Of the
United States, practically and as a mat
ter of fact they are operating with all
the vigor and vitality with which a
puissant party can inspire them. The
fact, fixed and memorable, stands be-
fore us, and it is no less fixed and mex
orable because we shut our eyes and
refuse to look uron it. Now, as u
practical and practicable question, how
are we deal with tY
II have read, with admiration and
approval your two leaders on this sub
jec.. They have the ''rng of the true
metal" and touch chord in every
heart not deadenci by the corruptions
ur the times; but, in debating this
grave and momcntous question, il is not
enough to dcclaim, though never SO cl
oquently, against the iniquity Of the
XVIII Amendment; it is not satisfac-
tory to those who are groaninS beneath
this mountain Of wrong, simply TO be
toll that they are under it, and
That It is crushing out their life blood
They know this, alas too well. The
great point is, to get from under; to
have some lever applied to roll the
weight Off from them. In other words,
what remedy do you propose? what
practically do you advise? confess
that ] am not prepared to make q plat
form on this question: and no doubt
thousands of your readers are in the
same condition. may be anticipating
the course of your discussion on the
.ubject; but am ANXIOUS TO hear
from you, and have written the fore.
going simply to bring your attention
TO the phase of the subject which more
than all others pcrplexes me. H."
To this communication the editor of
the Register responds as follows:
"When our correspondent asks us
for remedy for the evils he is pleased
to say we depict with SO much force,
lie asks q question that he is rs fully
competent to answer as VIC are. He
asks q question. too, that we did not
propose to answer for the white people
ofAlabama, when we wrote the articles
be SO highly commends. These art-
cles were written, not to dictate what
should be the platform, but to declare
with sll emphasis, what We believed
should not be the platform. And if we
"declaimsd though never so eloquently
against the iniquity Of the XVIII
Amendment" it was not to acquaint
our fellow citizens with wrongs they
so keenly felt, but to protest against
their consent to perpetual acquies-
ccnce in that shot iniquity' We
wrote to warn the people not to allow
themselves to be persuaded or showed
on to the Radical platform; for if we
agree to abide by the XVIII Amend
ment,' how do We differ politically in
the presentation of our cause to the
tribunal Of the people from the Jaco-
bin party2 We arc sensible Of deep
conviction that victory In November