The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-13
TEN YEARS OF ALABAMA
No. 18-Administration of Governor Patton
18o51874

forever. Thus amended, 1t passed and not
otherwise
| We are now In the beginning of the
year 1857. In order to understand the
occurrences. ready made for us in Ala
bama, we must examine conditions re-
mote.
February is was the day next before the
final adjournment of the legislature, and
yet that body had taken no notice OF the
fourteenth article of amendment. Prob
ably silence was intended to emphasize a
righteous Indignation
But now the governor sent to both
houses In hot haste and excitement a
special message, accompanied by semi
confidential paper just arrived through a
semi-mysterious channel, from Washing
ton City.
All the governor seemed to know about
the origin of this paper he told, and
that was that In secrecy 1t had come. No
author avowed responsibility, and none
were known to him. The nondescript
paper thus laid before the legislature,
both houses at the same moment, set forth
an outline of conduct which it alleged the
state of Alabama must reconcile itself to
even In the last hours of the legislature.
There must be bargain struck.
Congress, as the paper alleged, expected
to make square deal" to give quid
pro quo Let the southern states ratify
TIE II Qlu not give lH6 ne
gro the right to vote; ii did give to north
ern holders of government bonds perfect
relief from distressing anxiety. Let the
southern states ratify. then three other
articles of amendment would be submitted
Immediately, to-wit: "a The constitution
would give to Congress power to suppress
secession of state from the union; ~
Congress would be required to recognize
the equality of all the states of the
union; go all voters in every state must be
able TO read the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and show clear title to $3.50 each
In mixed property.
As soon as the special message and the
confidential paper reached the senate it
was referred without debate to the COM
mittee on federal relations by vote of
"A to 5. The committee without delay re-
ported by joint resolution, rejecting the
article, and their report was adopted with
out division. The joint resolution passed
the house. as we have seen, with practical
unanimity--1 to 9.
Throughout the session of three months
members of the legislature had taken no.
tiee daily of the increasing hostility of
Congress toward the southern statts.
They read reports of the extravagant
IDEAS prevailing throughout the north OF
the relation of the races in the south.
A suggestion came from Washington that
the legislature should petition Congress.
In this instance IN favor OF the enactment
of a bankrupt law. The body firmly but
mildly declined to appear as petitioner
before an authority that persistently de-
MED to the state the right of represen-
tation in its councils. Nevertheless reso-
lutions passed inviting the northern peo-
pie to investigate the opportunities offered
by the state for settlement and invest
ment.
In this great crisis, the people were self
f,, tIal,. -tra
Lutte in their native courage, defiant of
oppressors and contemptuous of the boasts
OF intruders.
JOHN wITHERSPoON DUBOSE,