The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-12-26
New Constitution of Alabama

] IOOuNGuGlOn winch mas JUST CLOSEUP IL
sittings at Montgomery. This change
in the fundamental law of one of the
Oldest slave States, marks an era in
human progress, and calls to mind the
extraordinary events of the revolution
through which Alabama has passed -
As this Constitution will doubtless Le
ratified on the 4th of February, when
the qualified electors will vote upon
its adoption, let us notice some Of its
most important provisions.
In the declaration of rights, after
adopting the language of the Declara-
ton of Independence, and incOrpOa-
ting many provisions usually found in
the best State Constitutions, the fram-
ers declare:
! That all persons resident in this
State, born in the United States, or
naturalized, or who shall have legally
declared their intention TO become
citizens of the United States, are here
by declared citizens of the State OF
Alabama, possessing equal civil and
political rights and public privileges.
/ That any citizen may speak, write
and publish his sentiments ON all sub
jects, being responsible for the abuse
of that liberty.
That the people shall be secure in
their persons, houses, papers and pos.
sessions from unreasonable seizures Oh
( searches, and that no warrant shall is
sue to search any place, or to seize any
, person or thing without probable
cause, supported by oath or aftirma,
ton.
That all courts shall be open, that
every person, for any injury done him
in his lands, goods, person or reputa
, tiOn, shall have a remedy by due pro
cess of law; and right and justi,
shall be administered without sale
denial or delay.
That the citizens have a right, in {
peaceable manner,tO meet together fOI
the common good and to apply to those
invested with the power of Govern
ment, for redress of grievances, o
other purposes, by petition, address o
remOnstrance.
That no form Of slavery shall exis
in this State; and there shall be n,
involuntary servitude, otherwise thai
for the punishment of crime, of whicl
the party shall have been duly con
victed.
In article ". the following are tn
most noticeable provisions
SEC. q. The General Assembl,
shall meet annually, on such day a
may be by law prescribed, and shal
not remain in session longer thai
thirty days except by vote Of two
thirds of o.,rh House
SEC. 35. Any citizen of this Stat
who shall, after the adoption of thi
Constitution, either in or out of thi
State, fight duel with deadly weaI
, Ons, or send or accept a challenge s
to do, or act as second, or knowing
ly aid or assist in any manner thOs
offending, shall be incapable of hold
ing any Office under this State.
I The article on elections provides III
Every male person, born in the I'm
ted States, and every male person VIII
has been naturalized, or who has lt
gally declared his intention to becOm
Il citizen of the United States, twenty
one years old or upward, who shaI
have resided in this State six month
next preceding the election, and thre
months in the county in which he o
fers to vote, except as hereinafter Pre-
vided, shall be deemed an electOr =
, Provided, That no soldier, or sail
or, or marine in the militaryOr nava
service of the United States, shall here
after acquire a residence by reason q
being stationed on duty in this State
= 1t shall be the duty of the Genera
= Assembly to provide, from time t
time, for the registration of all elect
Ors, but the following classes of per
Sons shall not be permitted to register
vote or hold office: 1st. Those who
= during the late rebellion, inflicted, o
caused to be inflicted, any cruel o.
unusual punishment upon any soldier
sailor or marine, employee, or citizen
of the United States, or who in an!
other way violated the rules Of civil
zed warfare. 2nd. Those who ma,
be disqualified from holding office b.
the proposed amendment to the Con
.StitutiOn of the United States, know
as "ArticIe XIV" and those VIII
: have been disqualified from register
ing to vote for delegates to the Con
ventiOn to frame a Constitution 70
the State of Alabama, under the &C
of Congress, ''tO provide for the NOR
efficient government of the rebe
States" passed by Congress, March
1867, and the acts Supplementary.
thereto, except such persons as aide'
in the reconstruction proposed by Con
gress, and accept the political equalit.
of all men before the law: Provided
That the General Assembly shall hav
power to remove the disabilities in
Cured under this clause. Bird. ThOs
who have been convicted of treason
embezzlement of public funds, NAL
fpasance in office, crime punishable b!
law with imprisonment in the peni
tentiary, or bribery. 4th. Those VIII,
are idiots or insane.
Provisions for the education Of al
are certainly ample:
The proceeds of all lands that hav
been or may be granted by the Unitet
States to the State for educational pur
poses of the swamp lands, and of al
lands or other property given by indi
: viduals or appropriated by the Stat
for like purposes; and of all estate
Of deceased persons who have diec
without leaving will or heir; ant
all moneys which may be paid as al
equivalent for exemption from militia
D ry duty, shall be and remain perpet
d uaI fund, which may be increased bu
not diminished, and the interest ant
Y income of which, together with tn
rents of all such lands as may remail
, unsold, and such other means as. tn
General Assembly may provide, shall
be invioIably appropriated to educa
: tionaI purposes, and to no other pur
t nose whatever,