The weekly clarion., 1875-11-03
Example. for mississippi.

The election on the Alabama constitu-
ton will be held on the 9Th. No doubt
our lawmakers, in the reforms they con-
template, can CLEAN some good suggestions
from this carefully prepared instrument.
Thedeading features are as follows
A Bill or Declaration of Rights, in
which the relations of the State to the
Federal Government and of the people
to the State are defined. The ''fact
that from the Federal Union there can
be no accession of any State" IS formally
proclaimed in those words, declaration
in itself worthy of being now Incorporated
in every State Constitution, SO that all
controversy on that point may be quleted
for all time. This item was adopted IN
convention without dissenting voice.
The Bill or Declaration afirms ''the
civil and political equality of all men OF
whatever race, color or previous condl-
tion," by that means putting at rest for
ever another vexed and vexing issue,
and placing the State in accord with the
! Constitution of the Union. In other
particulars the Bill of Rights is the same
as that of the Constitution of Alabama
adopted in 1919.
The Office of Lieutenant Governor is
abolished; the Auditor is to hold Office
two years, instead of four; the Governor
must be thirty years old, and ten years
a citizen of the United States, and seven
years a citizen of the State; all State
officers must reside at the capital con
stantly; the Governor may demand In
formation on State affairs from all State
officers under oath; !; in convening an extra
session he must specify the action deemed
necessary, no other legislation being
allowable; he may divide appropriation
bills and veto some items while approving
others in the same bill. All other State
officers are required to have been for five
years preceding their election citizens O
the State. These changes are obviously
good and wholesome.
The Supreme Court is to consist of ont
Chief ustice and two Associates Thert
are to be three Chancellors instead o
FIVE, and eight Circuit Judges instead o
twelve. All judges must have been five
years citizens, and thirty years old, anC
cannot practice law. A Solicitor is pro
yided for each circuit All below The
Supreme Court are impeachable by
judicial trial before that court, and they
may be removed for drunkenness, incOm
peteney, neglect of duty, corruption ant
moral turpitude.
Every male twenty-one years old, fol
three months a resident of the county
and one year of the State, including sucf
as have legally declared their intention tt
become citizens, are voters, with the
usual exception as to convicts and male
factors.
State elections are to be held the frs
Monday in August. This separation a1d
change are to get rid of Federal interfer
ence.
The free school system is placed by the
new Constitution beyond the reach O
legislative caprice. For the support o
schools every voter pays poli-tax of
dollar and half, and the Legislature
must raise by tax at least 500, 900 an
r.ualIy. which, --:4l- -4l---- Cd re---l .:I
secure to the schools about $275, ,00C
per annum.
The Legislature meets every othel
year, with sessions limited to fifty days
Members must be three years in the
State and one in their counties. They
get 81 a day and their mileage at the
rate of ten cents per mile. Special leg
islation is strictly guarded against. NJ
bill can pass without the yeas and nays
are taken on its final passage. Persona
interest in bill disqualifes the member
from voting on it.
The issue of county bonds is forbidden.