The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-04
0FFICIAL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF
 THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF ALABAMA
THIRTY SIXTH DAY.
MONTGOMERY, ALA.
 WedneSdav July 8. 180

 5ournment, was called to order by the President. and opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Patterson as follows:
 Almighty and Ever Living God, King of Heaven and Earth, Maker and Pre- server of our bodies and of our spirits. without whose help we can do nothing, but upon whose sympathy and support we may constantly rely. we praise ana bless Thee this morning for Thy good ness. We thank Thee for Thy provf- dential care. and we come unto Thee for Thy favor ard for Thy grace to help us during this day. We pray that Thou wilt enlighten our minds with tne knowledge of Thy truth. and that in all things we undertake to do, we may re- member that Thou art our King ana our God. We ask that Thou wilt help us. That Thou wilt strengthen us for every duty. That Thou wilt guide these Thy servants in their deliberations. Wilt Thou keep them true unto them selves unto duty and unto Thee. Sur round us all with Thy protecting care. Watch over us and our interests and those interests which are put in our trust and protection. and when Thou hast served Thy will with us here upon earth. receive and own us as Thine In Heaven. and to Thy natne shall be the praise, world without end. Amen.
 Upon the call of the roll IA delegates gates responded.
 Leaves of absence were granted to MT. Craig for Friday and Saturday; Mir. Sollie for this mornings session; MT. Sentell for this afternoon and Thursday: MT. Fitts for today: MT. Davis DeKalb) Thursday. Friday and Saturday; MT. Greer (Calhoun)~ for Thursday and Friday and Saturday; Mir. Sanford (Pike) for today and Thursday; MT. Gilmore for Friday and Saturday.
 The report of the Committee on the Journal was read. stating that the Journal for the thirty-fifth day of the Convention had been examined and found to be correct. and the same was adopted.
 MT. Reese-On yesterday I made . motion to reconsider the vote by which the article on Executive Department was ordered to a third reading.
 The President--The special order this morning will be the consideration of the motion to reconsider the vote whereby the ordinance on the Execu- tive Department was ordered to a third reading.
 MT. Reese-I desire to submit at this tirpe a few remarks as to why the vote should be reconsidered. I am not one that subscribes to the views laid down by the gentleman from Montgomery . few days ago, which asserts the infatl- bility of minorities; that minorities are always right and maJorities are always wrong. l do not prefer to be classed with minorities. would rather be with majorities. I concede, however, in the matter before this convention now. that the gentlemen with whom my sympathies are appear to have been in the minority. l tnlnk that with all due deference and respect to the gentlemen who compose the committee on Execu- tive Department that they have un- wisely advised this Convention. l think the extreme eloquence of the gen. tleman who is the chairman of that committee has carried this Convention away from it's sober thought. Guided Y by the highest and best motives. the distinguished chairman of that com nlittee has set his great and noble heart heart upon che adoption of this provision. which is directed and aimed at the SheTiffs of Alabama. I think 1t Is an extremely unwise and imprudent provision. MT. President, 1 do not be- lieve that anything that may appear in my humble remarks will perhaps have the effect of changing a vote upon this question, but was ,ent nere to repre- sent some of the citizens of Alabama, and should think that had done less than my duty if did not hold up my hand with a feeble warning to this Convention. l make an appeal, MT. President. in behalf of the constituents that I represent. and l do not make 1t to the Convention. MT. President. It may be, perhaps. in bad taste. but I make this appeal to a class in this Convention that believe the people of Dallas county have a right to appeal A m believe the people of the Black Belt have right to appeal to. MT. Presi- dent. the constituents of the class that I represent have lost their character apparently. They have lost ie-in the northern counties of this State, and they have lost 1t in that section of the United States from which 1t appears at this date that we are to be advised and by whose opinions this Convention should be guided I speaek of the maud lin sentiment or opinion of the peo- pie of the North on these questions that confront us here today. There are evils that exist in this country, and to correct those evils the distinguished gentleman, the chairman of the Exc cutive Department Committee, would make a radical departure from a sys- tenn that has prevailed since Runny- mede. The jury system of this coun- y, enough for the common people of this country. and until a man rises and gets as elevated and stands upon as high a plane as the distinguished chairman of that committee, he has confidence ip the honesty and integrity of the Grand and Petit Juries of this country.
 Mir Jones (Montgomery)-Will the gentleman allow me to ask him a ques. tion. because I might have the con- clusion and want him to have an op- portunity to answer 1t.
 Mir Reese-I would be glad to ans- wer the question of the gentleman.
 Mir Jones (Montgomery)-Has 1t ever been a part of the system of im- peachment that a party tried was en- titled to d jury trial until put in the Constitution of 1865. in certain cases?
 MT. Reese-I will answer that ques- tion by saying to the gentleman that have never heard of a Sheriff being impeached in the State of Alabama by any other method.
 MT. President. here you have a class of county officers. men selected by the electors of the county, and the gentle man has singled out 2 particular C4ass, and an active, aggressive and vindict- i've war has been made against this class of office holders. This class of office holders. MT. President, '-re. citi- gems of the State of Alabama, and good citizens. too. They are SGe best citizens we have, and in this connection I am reminded of the tragic death ot the