Argumentative Essay: The Alabama Constitution Of 1875

Though the Alabama Constitution of 1875 came seven short years after the adoption of the previous state constitution, it came under much different circumstances. The Alabama Constitution of 1868 is known as the “reconstruction constitution” because Congress unofficially required the proper changes to be made to the 1865 constitution to be granted their seats in Congress. However, the Constitution of 1875 undid most of this progress as it came just shortly after the federal troops had left the state. The 1875 Constitution showed the desire for Alabama citizens to return to their style of government before the Civil War. Though the 1875 Constitution was not a complete overhaul of the 1868 Constitution, the changes that were made showed the strong

Though the state government was barred from being able to “borrow or raise money on the credit of this State, except for purposes of military defense against actual or threatened invasion, rebellion or insurrection,” it was able to lend its credit. This lending of credit became an issue in the eyes of the citizens because the state was over-lending its credit, which caused for the taxes to be raised to cover the debts of the state. Another issue of the 1868 was the pay for the legislature, as they were the ones who established their own salary. This was an issue for Alabama citizens as they likely were very well paid, which also contributed to the spending and taxing habits of the state. The Alabama Constitution of 1875 placed strict limits upon the state government primarily to limit its ability to tax and

These issues, as well as the issue of the pay of legislative members were handled in Article IV of the 1875 Constitution. The limit placed upon pay to members of the General Assembly comes in section six which says, “The pay of the members of the general assembly shall be four dollars per day, and ten cents per mile in going to and returning from the seat of government.” This limit placed upon the legislature was a safeguard to help lower the spending of the state government. There are provisions which prohibit the General Assembly from allowing the credit of the State to be lent “to any individual, association, or corporation.” In addition the Constitution of 1875 prohibited the General Assembly from having any authority “to authorize any county, city, town, or other subdivision of this state, to lend its credit, or to grant public money or thing of value, in aid of, or to any individual, association, or corporation whatsoever.” These provisions found in Article IV also help to limit the public spending of the State