The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-12-19
From the OHIO State Journal.
New Constitution of Alabama

NNh"NihuSiOn VI AAaDdknn.
A Constitution for the free State
OF Alabama has been agreed upon
BY the Convention which has just
closed its sittings at Montgomery.
This change in the fundamental
law Of one Of the oldest slave Ststcs.
marks an era in human progress,
and calls to mind the extraordina
~ events Of the revolution through
which Alabama has passed. A.
this Constitution will doubtless be
ratified on the 4th OF February.
"ben the qualified electors will
vote upon lis adoption, let us no.
tlee some of It's must important
provisions.
In the declaration Of rights, after
adopting the language OF the Dec
laratioD OF lcdependei &C, and in
cooperating many provisions usu.
ally found IN the best State Con.
stitutions, the trainers declare
That all persons resident in this
State, born in the United States. or
natnralized, or who shall have le.
gally declared their intention to
become citizens Of the United
States, are hereby declared citi.
zens OF she State OF Alabama, pos.
sessing equal civil and political
rights and public privileges.
That any citizen may speak,
write and publish his sentiments
on all subjects, being responsible
for the abuse of that liberty.
That the people shall be secure
IN their persons, houses, papers and
possessions from reasonable seiz-
ures or searches, and that no war.
rant shall issue TO search any place,
or to seize any person or thing
without probable cause, supported
by oath or affirmation.
That all courts shall be open,
that every person, for any injury
done him in his lands, goods, per.
son or reputation, shall have rem.
edy by due process of law, and
right and justice shall be admins
tered without sale, denial, or delay.
That the citizens have right,
in peaceable manner, TO assemble
together for the common good, aud
10 apply to those invested with the
power Of government, for redress
OF grievances, or other purposes, by
petition, address or remonstrance.
That no form Of slavery shall cx-
list in this State; and there shall
be no involuntary servitude, other
wise than for the punishment of
crime, of which the party shall
have been duly convicted.
In article w. the following are
the most noticeable provisions:
Sec. 2l. The General Assembly
shall meet annually, ON such Gay
as may be by law prescribed, aud
shall not remain in session longer
than thirty days, except by vote
of two thirds of each House.
SEC. 30. Any citizen of this
State who shall, after the adoption
of this Constitution, either in or
out of this State, fight a duel with
deadly weapons, or send, or accept
challenge so TO do, or act as
second, or knowingly aid or assist
in any manner those offending,
shal! be incapable Of holding any
office under this State.
The article on elections provides
that:
Every male person, born in the
United States, and every male per.
son who has been naturaIizcd, or
who has legally declared his inten-
tion TO become u citizen OF the Unit
ed States, twenty one years old or
upwards, who shall have resided
in this Stale six months next pre-.
ceding the election, and three
months in the county in which he
offers to vote, except as hereinafter
provided, shall be deemed an elec-
tor; Provided, That no soldier. or
sailor, or marine in the military or
naval service Of the United States,
shall hereafter acquire residence
by reason of being stationed on
duty in this State.
1t shall be the duty Of the Gene
raj Assembly to provide, from time
to time, for the registration OF all
electors, but the following classes
Of pereons shall not be permitted
TO register, vote Or hold office. lst.
Those who, during the late rebel
lion, inflicted, or caused to be in
bicted, any cruel or unusual pun
ishment upon any soldier, sailor,
marine, employee, or citizen of the
United States, or who in any other
way violated the rules OF civilized
warfare. I'd. Those who may be
disqualified from holding office by
the proposed amendment to the
United States, known rs article
XIV and those who have been
disqualified from registering TO
vote for delegates to the Conven-
ton to frame Constitution for the
State of Alabama, under the act OF
Congress, 40 provide for the more
efficient government Of the rebel
States" passed by Congress, March
2, 1867, and the acts supplement
tary thereto, except such persons
as aided in the reconstruction pro-
posed by Congress, and accept the
the political equality of all men be-
fore the law; Provided, That the
General Assembly shall have pow.
er to remove the disabilities ih-
Cured under this clause. Sd. Those
who shall have been convicted of
treason, embezzlement of public
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