Year: 1867

Sensible Letter from Gov. ration.


Several citizens of Alabama having ask
ed Gov. Patton as to the best course to be
pursued in relation to the Reconstruction
act, he has replied in long letter. After
explaining the provisions Of the law with
much detail, he says:


The requirement Of this act Of Congress
should be accepted as conclusive upon The
subject of negro suffrage. To contend
against it now is simply to struggle against
the inevitable. Such struggle would be
utterly hopeless, and could accomplish no
good to any one.


At the election Of delegates to the State
Convention, portion OF our people will
be deprived Of the privilege Of either vot-
Ing, or of being chosen members. The
persons composing this class are those who,
as United States officers, or as members
Of the Legislature, or executive OF Judicial
officers Of the State, took an oath to sup
port the Constitution Of the United States,
and afterward participated in the war
against the Federal Government. This
disfranchisement excludes many good men
from voting, and will deprive the conven-
ton Of the services Of many who, for their
talents, experience, wisdom, and consist
ent efforts to uphold the integrity Of the
national Government, deserve and enjoy
the confidence Of the people. But such
Is the law, and We need not fear but what
wise and patriotic convention may be
chosen from those who are eligible.


All who will be entitled to vote should
unhesitatingly exercise that privilege, and
those who are disfranchised, should use
their influence for the accomplishment Of
all possible good. Let il not be supposed
that they can do nothing because they are
unable to vote. The freedmen are now to
vote the first time. We should cherish
against them no i'll feeling. The elective
franchise is conferred upon them; let them
exercise il freely aud in their own way
No effort should be made to control their
votes, except such as may tend to enable
them TO vote inteIligently, aud such as may
be necessary to protect them against mis-
chievous influences to which, from their
want of intelligence, they may possibly be
subjected. Above all things We should
discourage everything which may tend to
generate antagonism between white and
colored voters.


This is an important crisis for us oil.
We require prudence and moderation,
coupled with decision and frmness L
have every confidence that these sterling
qualities will be so exercised by our peo-
pie as that We will soon have, so far as
Alabama is concerned, definite and eff
fectivo settlement Of the great question of
reconstruction. l confidently anticipate
the choice OF such delegates TO the Con-
-yeptiou az will give US q good constitution,
aud one that viii be accepted by Con.
gress. With constitution recognized by
the national Legislature, our State would be
relieved from the uncertainties and en-
barrassmenls which now hang over us un-
Ill We are restored to harmonious relations
with the national Union.


II is, perhaps, unnecessary, and might
be Improbable, TO inquire whether or not
the state OF things now upon us, might
have been avertcd by n policy different
from that which has been pursued in this
State. | may say, however, that for some
time | have been thoroughly convinced
that too little consideration has been acord-
cd 10 Congress. That body now wields
the chief power in the Government. IL
asserts and exercises the right to control
the whole question Of reconstruction. Its
power TO do so is complete; and time and
again IL has given evidence Of an unyield.
ing purpose TO enforce its policy in this
regard. While this has been 10 mo clear.
ly manifest | have regretted to find such
on unfricndly disposition toward H. IL
would have been better for us IL, before
this, In accepting the national "situation"
we had made proper concessions to Con-
gressional requirements. We cannot
place ourselves In amicable and harmoui.
Gus relations with the general Govern
ment while defiance aud donunciations
are hurled against its controlling depart.
ment.


The sntrgouism between Congress and
the Southern States has already brought
mischief upon us aud We will suffer more
II II does not cease. Our State should not
be continued in an attitude of hostility to
the law-making power Of the Government
Upon this vital question our people should
profit by experience. The events Of the
past few months show incontestibly that
persistent opposition aud abuse Of Con.
gress entail upon US increased exactions.
Those who cannot see this, or will not
admit II, are anything but wise or practi-
cal men.


X X


am Of tho opinion that il is our true
interest TO have the State placed in its
proper position in the national Union as
early as practicable.


In view Of all that has transpired in
the last twelve or eighteen months, IL is
utter folly to expect that this can be dono
on any terms more favorable than those
embraced in the present act. 1 think
that by proper concessions, better feelings
might have been secured heretofore; but
il is now too late. If we fail to reorgan-
ize the State in accordance with the re-
quirements of this act. we may, and think
viii, be subjected to moro onerous exact
ions. Hence, think that this reorgani-
ration should be perfected just as soon as
m opportunity for doing so is presented