26 



ALABAMA. 



dress the convention. This was opposed by 

 the blacks chiefly, because lie was president of 

 the meeting in Mobile, when the riot occurred. 

 The question produced much discord and angry 

 discussion. On the next day a letter from the 

 Judge was read, suggesting the adoption of a 

 Union Eepublican platform as the more prefer- 

 able action, and the question was laid on the 

 table yeas 147", nays 25. The convention then 

 proceeded to adopt unanimously the following 

 platform reported by a committee: 



WTiereas, The loyal men of Alabama desire the 

 earliest practicable settlement of the disturbed con- 

 dition of the country ; and whereas, we believe that 

 the establishment of justice is essential to enduring 

 peace, that patriotism should be exalted as a virtue, 

 and that it is the duty of the States to cherish all its 

 people ; and whereas, those who assert these prin- 

 ciples are throughout the Union called Republicans, 



1. Resolved, That the Republican Union Party of 

 Alabama declares itself a part of, and in alliance 

 with, the National Republican Party of the Union, 

 and is the unconditional friend of the Union of these 

 States. 



2. Resolved, That we indorse the action of Con- 

 gress on the question of reconstruction, and will 

 heartily endeavor to carry out the same to its con- 

 clusion. 



3. Resolved, That we will endeavor to secure, by 

 amendments to the constitutional laws of the United 

 States, and of this State, the equal rights of all men, 

 and the full enjoyment of the rights of citizenship, 

 without distinction on account of color. 



4. Resolved, That we are the friends and advocates 

 of free speech, free press, free schools and the most 

 liberal provision by the State for the purpose of 

 educating the people thereof and henceforward 

 there is to be no distinction made between the inhab- 

 itants of this State in civil and political rights on 

 account of color or previous condition. 



5. Resolved, That we discountenance all attempts 

 to stir up strife and contention among the people, 

 believing such a course to be in every way injurious 

 to the country. 



6. Resolved, That those men who stood firm to the 

 cause of the Union are entitled to that confidence 

 which is the reward of patriotism and fidelity in 

 every land and country. 



7. Resolved, That we pledge our endeavors to 

 effect the removal of the tax on cotton and the State 

 poll-tax, and to establish a rule in the State that the 

 tax paid by every man shall be exactly in proportion 

 to the value of his property and none other. 



8. Resolved, That we recommend to the people of 

 the State that they manifest to the world their deter- 

 mination to abide by the prescribed terms of restora- 

 tion, by electing to office those men who can comply 

 in all respects with the requirements of the acts of 

 the United States, and to support for office only such 

 men as are true to the Union and- who prefer the 

 Government of the United States to any other that 

 could be formed. 



9. Resolved, That all men have a cordial welcome 

 to political equality upon this basis. 



A State executive committee was appointed, 

 and the convention adjourned. A State Loyal 

 League was in session at the same time, but its 

 proceedings were not made public. 



At this time the crops in portions of the State 

 were represented to be most promising. The 

 cotton, though not large, was more than an 

 average. Much more was planted than during 

 the previous year. Corn was well advanced 

 and had been' planted largely. The people, 

 although closely devoted to making good crops, 



in order to relieve their serious embarrassments, 

 were harmonious and unanimous on the subject 

 of reconstruction, in faithful compliance with 

 the terms submitted by Congress, believing that 

 in such a course existed the only grounds to 

 hope for the prompt return of peace and settled 

 order. The most friendly relations were exist- 

 ing between the freedmen and the whites. The 

 former, in spite of some efforts to introduce 

 exciting political sentiments, followed by a 

 neglect of labor, were industriously and faith- 

 fully performing their contracts, and seemed 

 decidedly disposed to heed the advice and 

 counsels of their present employers rather than 

 listen to agitators of political doctrines. Great 

 destitution prevailed very generally among 

 classes who from feeble age or decrepitude 

 were unable to labor, and whom the people in 

 their own exigencies were unable adequately to 

 relieve. 



On July 2Gth a long letter was addressed by 

 General Pope to the General-in-chief at Wash- 

 ington, giving his views on reconstruction. He 

 says : " The problem is to perpetuate reconstruc- 

 tion in the spirit and on the principles which 

 can alone assure free government. Should we 

 effect reconstruction after silencing the open 

 opposition of the old political leaders, we stand 

 committed to admit the reconstructed States 

 into the Union. * * The moment admission 

 into the Union is accomplished, the military 

 power is suspended, and, with all restrictions, 

 is removed. At once these old political lead- 

 ers, and the old personal and political influences, 

 will resume their activity, and we may find too 

 late that such reconstruction as we have made 

 is not only not what was needed and expected, 

 but what will simply result in a reproduction 

 of the same condition of affairs which made re- 

 construction measures necessary." He expresses 

 doubts of the future of the whites, and consid- 

 ers the condition and future of the colored peo- 

 ple far more hopeful and encouraging, etc. 



Several orders of more or less importance 

 were issued at this time by General Pope. In 

 one, dated August 2d, all civil courts of the 

 Third Military Division are prohibited " to en- 

 tertain any action against officers or soldiers, 

 or any other persons, for acts performed in ac- 

 cordance with orders from the military author- 

 ities or by their sanction, and all suits pending, 

 or in which costs had not been collected, were 

 ordered to be at once dismissed." Post and 

 detachment commanders were required to en- 

 force this order strictly, and to report to head- 

 quarters any judge or other civil authority who 

 attempted to disobey it. 



Another order, of August 19th, required all 

 grand and petit jurors to be taken exclusively 

 from the lists of voters prepared by the Boards 

 of Eegistration created by the acts of Congress. 

 Each juror was required to take an oath that 

 his name was duly registered. This order was 

 further explained on August 23d to apply to 

 juries already drawn in the Third Military Dis- 

 trict, so far as to require each individual to 



