Year: 1868

| the opponents Of Reconstruction voted against
Convention. Louisiana will probably have
finished her work in a few days. The result
of the election is doubtful there is an
unfortunate split in the Republican party,
which threatens trouble. 1t ought to be
healed Immediately. In Mississippi the Con-
vention is doing reasonably well; but there
is an active spirit Of hostility throughout the
State that promises ill for the result. We
learn that it becomes daily more and more
manifest that the contest over the new
Constitution, when it is presented to the
people for their action, is not to be permitted
to 90 by default. Every art will be piled,
every means will be used to induce or force
the Republican voters to stay away from
the polls. There are rumOrs OF immense
sums of money that have been and are being
raised, within and without the State, to defeat
at all hazards the "mOngreln Constitution
monstrosity that negroes and mean whites"
are framing here. The "White Mans
"partyn is on the alert. and deter
mined TO make strong and united pull
to crush the whole work. One OF the latest
tricks is to drive the colOred voters from the
State. The "Whte Mans party" is tull OF
rancorous hatred toward the black voter, which
crops out under all possible opportunities. Inc
bitterness of the press and the people is IN
tense, and we have little hope Of anything really
progressive in that quarter The Virginia
Convention is getting along toleraby WELL
There are many discOrdant elements among the
delegates, and the Richmond press has been ex-
ceedingly severe upon their doings, but they
will, probably, perfect their work within
fortnight. So far, the Constitution appears to
be liberal and reasonably regardful OF the
States condition. The do-nothing policy does
not find favor among the "White Mans
"partyr in Virginia, and it is supposed that
when the new Constitution comes to vote,
determined fight against it by actual voting will
be made. In North Carolina, the work is
nearly done. Here the negro element is entirely
subordinate, and little is said in the way of COM
plant at their presence or their acts. 1t Is ex-
pected that the Constitution will be ratified by
a vote equal to about two to one. The South
Carolina Convention has had reasonably
quiet time, and is well advanced in its work.
The Opposition, thus far, have not developed
their programme; but il q perfectly fair cleo
ton can be secured, the Constitution Will
be indorsed by considerable major
ity In Georgia, there is new phase
Of opposition. All at once the extreme COnser-
yatiyes have begun to praise the unfinished
Constitution, and to profess an ardent desire to
vote for it. This somewhat alarms the other
side, and they are apprehensive of some trick
that may result in their defeat The COnyen-
ton has got pretty we'll along, and ought to be
through its work within q couple of weeks.
In Florida, there has been much confusion On
the question of the admission of certain dele
gates, the Convention had long wTangle, and
finally split into two bodies Gen. Meade made
them visit, and brought about seeming re-
union of the adverse elements. This had scarcely
been done when there was another quarrel, and
at the present time affairs are in doubtful
condition, with prospect of two Constitutions
and two State Tickets.


We do not accept the doubtful result in Ala
bama as indicative of the voting yet to come.
As we have shown, in some States the COnstl-
tutiOns thus far recommend themselves to
popular favor, and there is no active OppOsi-
tion except that which springs from deter
minaton not to be reconstructed" in any
form. If the act regulating voting did not
give double power to those who do not vote Mt
all. we might look for something like fair
contest on these constitutions. But while this
rule holds, while staying at home is equal to
voting "No," aud while the poor and humble
who favor reconstruction are under the ter
rorism of their enemies, and are threatened
with loss of labor, and consequently loss Of
food for themselves and their families if they
dare to exercise the rights guaranteed to them
by Congress, so long we may be temporarily
disappointed in the result of these Southern
elections. Hunger is powerful weapon, and
it will be used to its utmost extent by the un-
repentant ex-Rebels, who are determined, fairly
or unfairly, to defeat what they stigmatize as
Yankee reconstruction.