Year: 1868

hhe AbUfSe od tne OONstft1lNeS Oh


the Adoption oftse Proposed Bones


and-BaDio Consultation.


The recent convention Of Conservatives
at Montgomery recommended that thepeo-
pie refuse to vote on the adoption of the
proposed constitution, and an address Civ
ing the reason for this course The ad
dress concludes as follows:


In advising you to refrain from voting,
We do not mean to commit you to aoa-
action. On the contrary we advise and ex-
hort you TO efery kiad and mode Of peaceful
and fair action except in eotiHg only. We
urge upon you to induce any white man.
not heretofore registered, who can register,
TO do so as soon as the Registration Boards
assemble, as they will do in few days.
We advise you to use all your powers Of
persuasion TO keep all from voting at the
proposed election for the fewer the NUNS
Der who vote, the less will be the moral
impress of their action, and the more glar-
ing the outrage threatened 70 be committed
upon the people Of Alabama-and upon
the great underlying principle of our re-
publican government-that power comes
ap to the government from the people, and
not from the government dogn to the
people.


Organize clubs in every neighborhood.
Keep up such organizations. Watch closely
the progress of events. Be ready at all
times for any and every kind of peaceful
action in defense of yonr rights. Especially
ferret out and expose all who register ille-
gally.


Non poting for the present, is not non
action. 1t is the most effective and power
ful action. The time may not be distant
when it may become your duty TO vote
and you ought to keep yourselves fully
prepared to vote your entire strength when
that times comes.


1t is said that you need the stimulus Of
voting TO keep alive your organizations aad
to arouse your energies. We believe this
to be reflection upon the intelligence of
our people. We believe that stung by the
intensity of your convictions, by an intela
ligent appreciation Of the awful majesty of
the perils that surround you, that you will
rise to level with the moral grandeur of
the occasion, and that whatever of action
or nonsaction, patriotism, love of liberty,
devotion to the great principles of consti'
lullOnhl government, HOnOf anu iii en-
lightened self-interest shall demand, will
be responded to by you with zeal and en-
ergy, ardor and alacrity worthy of an Jp~
pressed aud burthened, but noble and
magnanimous people. ,s


Fellow -citizens of the State of Alabama,
with a deep and solemn apprehension of
the perils of onr condition, with painful
sense OF the responsibility of advising or
indicating course of action; after invok-
ing the presence and guidance in our de-
liberations of that God who presides over
the destinies of nations; after elaborate,
and protracted, and unreserved conference
and discussion, We have come unanimously
to the conclusions we have announced, and
TO the convictions We have declared. In
view of the great interests involved, and
the necessity for cooperation and unity of
action on the part of the white people of
Alabama, we entreat of you calm, delib-
crate, unimpassioned, and manly consider
alton of the reasons We here submit, and of
the policy we recommend.