Constitution and Journal of the Constitutional Convention of 1875, 1875.

ArchivalResource

Alabama. Secretary of State. Administrative Division. Constitution and Journal of the Constitutional Convention of 1875, 1875.

Constitution and Journal of the Constitutional Convention of 1875, 1875.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122581806

The Constitution of 1875 consists of a preamble; Article I: Declaration of Rights; Article II: State and County Boundaries; Article III: Distribution of Powers of Government; Article IV: Executive Department; Article V: Legislative Department; Article VI: Judicial Department; Article VII: Impeachment; Article VIII: Suffrage and Election; Article IX: Representation; Article X: Exempted Property; Article XI: Taxation; Article XII: Militia; Article XIII: Education; Article XIV: Corporations; Article XV: Oath of Office; Article XVI: Miscellaneous Provisions; and Article XVII: Mode of Amending the Constitution. The last four pages consist of the signatures of ninety delegates, including Leroy Pope Walker, President of the 1875 Convention. The last page, titled "schedule," declares that the laws of the Constitution of 1868 were to remain in effect until the ratification of the Constitution of 1875. This constitution, also referred to as the Bourbon, Conservative, or Redeemer Constitution, brought about the taxation of property. A poll tax of $1.50 continued, from the 1868 Constitution, to be earmarked for public education. The article on education provided for public schools, but states that "separate schools shall be provided for the children of citizens of African descent." The back of the last page has written on it "Filed in the office of the Secretary of State, October 6th, 1875. Rufus K. Bagel, Secretary of State." The Constitution of 1875 is written on twenty-eight sheets of parchment, and is a total of forty-two feet and eight inches in length. Each sheet of parchment is glued to the one below it and held together with blue grosgrain silk ribbon. When rolled, the document is eighteen one-fourth inches in length and three one-fourth inches in diameter. The journal describes the daily occurrences of the Constitutional Convention, including discussions about ordinances to be included in the Constitution, and other matters.

Original 2 items (one oversized roll storage box and one volume).Copy 1 microfilm reel.

Alabama Department of Archives and History