The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-18

In 1912 the third generation of ne- groes from that which was liberated in the fall of the Confederacy, live in the specific relation to their former master race which the masters established and maintain on their own resources, against i the will and efforts of the eonqueror
 No chapter in the annals of patriotic defense of country, from the earliest to the latest. presents a situation so preg- nant with the deepest problems of or ganlzed society as that chapter which tells of the defense which the people of the South made against the frag- mentary congress, setting in Washing ton in the year 1867 and several subse- quent years.
 The present connection of the negro race with the state of Alabama is a connection only. General Pope came to compel absorption, miscegnation, ex- tincton of race dividing lines, in every sense and every particular. Nothing Is here but that limit of race contact per- rnltted by the whites at discretion. All over vast, fruitful and beautiful Alabama, an absolute despotism of the sword was set up. There was to be no mutual counsel among neighbors, no sanction among fellows to walk together | in pats of ancient peace and amity. Runnymede was a phantasm If d white man offended a negro or was so charged, the caprice of the local mili- tary commander, an entire stranger in the land, determined the judgment against him. He had no civil tribunal to consider his cases.
 The negro of 1912 is a producer and a consumer We had in 1861, 74S miles of railroad. State labor built all. We have, in 1912, several thousand miles of railroads The freedmen built all and are building more. Negro labor in the third generation from emancipation chops cotton and haryests and markets cotton.
 In all those years, when the fragmen- tary congress usurped all functions of government, all commerce, all facilities of exchange, all burders of taxation were military regulations in the name of ne- gro equality The agents of congress might give support, unlimited, to idle or aged negroes. They might buy land, build houses on it. erect asylums and school houses and churches at the pub lie cost for freedmen All this was a part of the scheme of amalgamation, miscegnation and extinction of race di- visions In Alabama and certain other states
 To effect the ends just described a new constitution was ordered for Ala bama.
 The incidents that follow here were in line of preparation of the negroes to vote and thus to order and control the convention that should frame the consti- trtion.
 We should understand that congress and General Pope, also General Wager Swayne and the host of missionary agen- cies and factors, coming from the north orked among themselves harmoniousy and with great energy Against this concord of darkness and hate, Clanton and his committee stood with bare breasts. Our country What is it. The law of God, that fixes the boundaries; the work of God that fashioned the peo- pie, and the breath of God that moves their minds and hearts.
 The freedmen's state convention for May 1, 1867. called to prepare for the constitutional convention, met at Mo- bile.
 The representation from the plantation section was disappointing. Travel was costly. Negroes were not enthusiastic in the country.
 This meeting Is important to the his- tory of Alabama. It was held under the most solemn auspices of the gov ernment of the United States, speaking through the freedmans bureau. It was designed by it's promoter to open the way tc a new state government. for Alabama that would forever reduce the white inhabitants to level with the negroes or drive them Into exile or extinction, This was the bare, clear cut purpose.
 The resolutions adopted set forth the condition precedent on which the negroes should chose delegates to the state con- stitutional convention to-wit:
 "The undeniable right of the colored people to hold public office;
 "ro sit on juries;