[1476] The Radical papers in Alabama were supported almost entirely by campaign funds and by appropriations from the government for printing the session laws of the United States. They styled themselves the “Official Journals of the United States Government.” When one offended and the Washington patronage was withdrawn, it always collapsed. In 1867 the reconstructionist papers in the state were Alabama State Sentinel, The Nationalist, Elmore Standard, East Alabama Monitor, Alabama Republican, The Tallapoosian, The Reconstructionist, Huntsville Advocate, Moulton Union, Livingston Messenger. See Journal Convention of 1867, p. 242. The circulation of each paper was small and almost entirely among the negroes. Special campaign editions were printed and scattered broadcast. The constitution was printed in all of the above-named papers, and also in a Washington paper which was franked by the thousands from Congressmen through the Union League as a campaign document. N. Y. World, Feb. 22, 1868.
[1477] See, for example, The Nationalist, Feb. 4, 1868 (editorial). On Jan. 16, 1868, an “Address to the Laboring Men of Alabama” stated in part, “If you fail to vote and the constitution fails to be ratified, your right to vote hereafter closes and all participation on your part in the administration of the laws of the state is at an end.” Montgomery Mail, Jan., 1868.
[1478] Selma Messenger, Jan. 24, 1868.
[1479] Cong. Globe, March 28, 1868, p. 2195.
[1480] Not yet called Democrats, but sometimes “Democratic and Conservative.”
[1481] Popular accounts say thousands, but not as many went this time as later, in the early 70’s.
[1482] Herbert, p. 46, and Journal Convention of 1867.
[1483] Cong. Globe, March 12, 1868, p. 1824.
[1484] Selma Messenger, Dec. 20, 1867.
[1485] Selma Messenger, Dec. 22, 1867.