Alabama | A scarce contemporary printing of Alabama's "Reconstruction" constitution

Alabama

Reprint of the Official Constitution of the State of Alabama, as Revised and Amended by the Convention Assembled at Montgomery on the Fifth Day of November, A. D. 1867. Washington, D.C.: Printed at The Great Republic Office, [1867?]

8vo (222 x 146 mm). Upper margin of p. 16 age-darkened. Self-wrappers. Red cloth chemise and slipcase, red morocco spine lettered gilt.

A scarce contemporary printing of Alabama's "Reconstruction" constitution under which the state rejoined the Union after the Civil War. It is accompanied by a printing of "Election Orders" regarding the vote on the constitution, issued by Brevet Major General John Pope, the commander in charge of the Third Military District, to which Alabama belonged.

The two-page Election Orders set up the framework for the Alabama constitutional ratification vote, which was scheduled to take place in early February 1868. When the vote was finally held, despite overwhelming approval by those voters who actually a cast a ballot, the constitution was defeated under the terms of the Reconstruction Act, as a majority of voters in the state did not participate. The United States Congress eliminated the provision requiring majority participation, putting the constitution into effect, and thus readmitted Alabama to the Union.