“I SHALL DISCHARGE EVERY NIGGER WHO VOTES TO ADOPT THIS RADICAL YANKEE CONSTITUTION.”
“I SHALL DISCHARGE EVERY NIGGER WHO VOTES TO ADOPT THIS RADICAL YANKEE CONSTITUTION.”
“I SHALL DISCHARGE EVERY NIGGER WHO VOTES TO ADOPT THIS RADICAL YANKEE CONSTITUTION.”
The Florida Convention met January 20, 1868. At first there was considerable difficulty—two factions existing in the Convention, which seemed determined to divide and ruin its councils; but through the friendly interference of General Meade, who had succeeded to General Pope in command of the district on the 28th of December, 1867, the two parties were reconciled, and the Convention perfected its Constitution, which was ratified by the people early in May, by about 3,000 majority.
In South Carolina the Convention was called by a large majority, and met on —— ——. Its Constitution was ratified in April, by a majority of over 36,000, in a registry of 127,550, and a vote of 85,843.
North Carolina adopted her new Constitution also in April, by nearly 30,000 majority.
Arkansas voted on her new Constitution in May, and ratified it by about 2,000 majority.
Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas have each held their conventions and framed constitutions, but they have not yet been submitted to the people.[27]
25.Unofficial.
25.Unofficial.
26.See this letter on a preceding page.
26.See this letter on a preceding page.
27.According to the most complete returns now available, the vote of the registration and for a convention to form a constitution in all the desolated States, except Texas, was substantially as follows:—STATES.REGISTRATION.[28]CONVENTION.White.Colored.Total.For.Against.Not Voting.Alabama74,45090,350166,28987,6725,68372,934Arkansas33,04721,20766,80527,57613,55825,671Florida10,80415,23427,52113,88211113,528Georgia95,21493,458188,672102,2824,12782,263Louisiana45,19984,431129,63075,0834,00650,541Mississippi46,63660,167139,32769,7396,27763,311North Carolina103,06071,657174,71757,35918,635[29]South Carolina45,75179,535125,28660,2781,48063,528Texas59,66647,430107,096Virginia116,982104,772221,754107,34261,88752,525Total630,809668,2411,347,097601,213115,764424,301The latest available reports in regard to the adoption of the constitutions and the election of legislatures in these States are as follows:—Total vote.For Constitution.Against.White for.Against.Colored for.Against.Alabama71,81770,8121,0055,80290062,089105South Carolina[28]98,04670,75827,288Arkansas[29]19,97810,9858,993North Carolina—Majority for Constitution over 25,000GeorgiaMajority for Constitution over 17,923LouisianaMajority for Constitution over 17,000FloridaMajority for Constitution over 3,000The Governors elected in these States were, South Carolina, —— ——; Arkansas, —— ——; North Carolina, W. W. Holden; Georgia, —— Bullock; Louisiana, H. C. Warmoth; Florida, —— Reed. The Governors were all Republicans. The Legislatures had also in every case a Republican majority, in some cases a very large one. In Georgia, the Senate stood 27 Republicans to 16 Democrats, and 1 doubtful; the House, 96 Republicans to 24 Democrats, and 6 doubtful. In North Carolina, the Republicans had 32 out of the 50 Senators, and 68 of the 122 Representatives. In Louisiana, the Republicans had 21 out of 36 Senators, and 56 out of 101 Representatives. The other States had generally large majorities on the Republican side.The Senators from all these States were Republicans, and the Representatives in Congress were of the same party, except three from Georgia, and one from Louisiana, whose seat was to be contested.
27.According to the most complete returns now available, the vote of the registration and for a convention to form a constitution in all the desolated States, except Texas, was substantially as follows:—
The latest available reports in regard to the adoption of the constitutions and the election of legislatures in these States are as follows:—
The Governors elected in these States were, South Carolina, —— ——; Arkansas, —— ——; North Carolina, W. W. Holden; Georgia, —— Bullock; Louisiana, H. C. Warmoth; Florida, —— Reed. The Governors were all Republicans. The Legislatures had also in every case a Republican majority, in some cases a very large one. In Georgia, the Senate stood 27 Republicans to 16 Democrats, and 1 doubtful; the House, 96 Republicans to 24 Democrats, and 6 doubtful. In North Carolina, the Republicans had 32 out of the 50 Senators, and 68 of the 122 Representatives. In Louisiana, the Republicans had 21 out of 36 Senators, and 56 out of 101 Representatives. The other States had generally large majorities on the Republican side.
The Senators from all these States were Republicans, and the Representatives in Congress were of the same party, except three from Georgia, and one from Louisiana, whose seat was to be contested.
28.In a number of the States, a discrepancy will be observed between the white and colored registries and the total. It arises from the fact that we have used official totals where we could obtain them, giving incomplete divisions of the races when we could obtain nothing better.
28.In a number of the States, a discrepancy will be observed between the white and colored registries and the total. It arises from the fact that we have used official totals where we could obtain them, giving incomplete divisions of the races when we could obtain nothing better.
29.The returns of the vote in this State are so incomplete that the number not voting cannot be given.
29.The returns of the vote in this State are so incomplete that the number not voting cannot be given.