ALABAMA. 



15 



exceeding $10,000,000, the interest on which will not 

 exceed $420.000 per annum. 



In view or these facts, your committee have been 

 stimulated to extraordinary exertions in trying to so 

 shape the financial article in the constitution as to 

 meet the ends which we have been induced to be- 

 lieve can be accomplished. 



"We recommend -economy in each branch of the 

 government. 



We recommend property to be taxed in proportion 

 to its value. 



We recommend a prohibition of the State from en- 

 gaging in works of internal improvement, or the 

 loaning of its credit for that purpose. 



We recommend that no debt shall be incurred by 

 the State, except to suppress insurrection, rebellion, 

 or invasion. 



We recommend a reduction of 25 per cent, on all 

 salaries, and a reduction of pay and mileage of mem- 

 bers of Legislature, from six to four dollars per day, 

 and from forty to ten cents per mile. 



We recommend that the Legislature shall not, in 

 any one year, levy more than three-fourth of one per 

 cent, tax upon the property of the people for State 

 purposes. 



We believe with these economical views, fully car- 

 ried out, and the contemplated compromise consum- 

 mated, with this rate of taxation fixed at three-fourths 

 of one per cent, as a maximum, that our State will 

 once more gain her deserved prosperity ; that capital 

 seeing that our debt is reduced, and our taxing power 

 limited, will seek investment in our cheap lands, and 

 population, always following capital, will fill up our 

 waste places ; that our property will enhance in value 

 and a rapid reduction of the rate of taxation may be 

 had, with yet sufficient revenue to meet an economical 

 administration, and pay interest on the public debt. 



With this report the article on taxation was 

 submitted. The constitution when completed 

 was adopted by the convention with but two 

 dissenting votes. The first article is made up 

 of a " Declaration of Rights," in thirty-nine 

 sections. Among these are the following: 



SECTION 1. That all men are equally free and inde- 

 pendent; that they are endowed by their Creator 

 with certain inalienable rights; that among these 

 are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 



SEO. 2. That all perso.ns resident in this State born 

 in the United States, or naturalized, or who shall 

 have legally declared their intention to become citi- 

 zens of 'the United States, are hereby declared citi- 

 zens of the State of Alabama, possessing equal civil 

 and political rights. 



SEO. 3. That all political power is inherent in the 

 people 2 and all free governments are founded on their 

 authority, and instituted for their benefit ; and that, 

 therefore, they have, at all times, an inalienable and 

 indefeasible right to change their form of govern- 

 ment, in such manner as they may deem expedient. 



SEC. 4. That no religion shall be established by 

 law ;^ that no preference shall be given by law to any 

 religious sect, society, denomination, or mode of 

 worship ; that no one shall be compelled by law to 

 attend any place of worship, nor to pay any tithes, 

 taxes, or other rate, for building or repairing any 

 place of worship, or for maintaining any minister or 

 ministry ; that no religious test shall be required as 

 a qualification to any office or public trust, in this 

 State ; and that the civil rights, privileges and capa- 

 cities of any citizen, shall not be in any manner af- 

 fected by his religious principles. 



SEO. 21. That no person shall be imprisoned for 

 debt. 



SEO. 31. That immigration shall be encouraged; 

 emigration shall not be prohibited ; and no citizen 

 shall be exiled. 



SEC. 33. That no form of slavery shall exist in this 

 State ; and there shall be no involuntary servitude, 



otherwise than for the punishment of crime, of which 

 the party shall have been duly convicted. 



SEO. 34. The right of suffrage shall be protected 

 by laws regulating elections, and prohibiting, under 

 adequate penalties, all undue influences from power, 

 bribery, tumult, or other improper conduct. 



SEO. 35. The people of this State accept as final 

 the established fact that from the Federal Union 

 there can be no secession of any State. 



SEO. 36. Foreigners who are or may hereafter be- 

 come "bonajide residents of this State, shall enjoy the 

 same rights in respect to the possession, enjoyment, 

 and inheritance of property^ as native-born citizens. 



SEC. 37. That the sole object and only legitimate 

 end of government is to protect the citizen in" the 

 enjoyment of -life, liberty, and property ; and when 

 the government assumes other functions it is usur- 

 pation and oppression. 



SEC. 38. No educational or property qualification 

 for suflrage or office, nor any restraint upon the same 

 on account of race, color, or previous condition of 

 servitude, shall be made by law. 



Article IT. defines the boundaries of the 

 State, and declares that the counties shall re- 

 main as before, the Legislature having power 

 by a two-thirds vote to change their bounda- 

 ries. Article III. lays down the distribution 

 of powers into legislative, executive, and ju- 

 dicial. Article IV., consisting of fifty-six sec- 

 tions, greats of the Legislative Department. It 

 provides that the General Assembly shall con- 

 sist of not more than thirty-three Senators and 

 one hundred members of the House of Repre- 

 sentatives, apportioned among the several dis- 

 tricts and counties as prescribed in the consti- 

 tution. The term of service of Senators is 

 fixed at four years, and of Representatives at 

 two years, the election occurring on the first 

 Monday in August, 1876, and every two years 

 thereafter, and all the Representatives and 

 half the Senators being elected at each election. 

 The pay of members is fixed at four dollars a 

 day and ten cents a mile for travel in going to 

 and from the seat of government, "by the 

 nearest usual route traveled." The Senate 

 elects a President and the House a Speaker 

 from their own members. The General Assem- 

 bly is required to meet biennially, "on the day ( 

 specified in this constitution, or on such other 

 day as may be prescribed by law, and shall 

 not remain in session longer than sixty days at 

 the first session held under this constitution, 

 nor longer than fifty days at any subsequent 

 session." 



The date for the beginning of the regular 

 sessions is nowhere prescribed in the consti- 

 tution. The requirements and restrictions laid 

 down for the guidance of the Legislature do 

 not differ in their main features from those of 

 other States. The following provisions are 

 made regarding local and special legislation : 



SECTION 23. No special or local law shall be enact- 

 ed for the benefit of individuals or corporations, in 

 cases which are or can be provided for by a general 

 law, or where the relief sought can be given by any 

 court of this State ; nor shall the operation of any 

 general law be suspended by the General Assembly 

 for the benefit of any individual, corporation, or as- 

 sociation. 



SEO. 24. No local or special law shall be passed, 

 on a subject which cannot be provided for by a gen- 



