ing Baltimore with the West. The same result would hold true of all other South American and West Indian products.

Not only do the ports of Alabama look out upon the India of Columbus, but they also look out upon the India which Columbus sought.

They look across the Isthmus of Darien toward the commerce of the Pacific. The Western Continent is a repetition of the Eastern. Το the one the Gulf of Mexico is what the Mediterranean is to the other. The Isthmus of Darien bears the same relation to the new world which the Isthmus of Suez bears to the old. Across both lies the road to the Indies. When the caravans which followed the route marked out by the Crusaders, greeted the products of Europe with the riches of the Orient, upon the shores of the Mediterranean, the cities of that genial inland sea rose into beauty and magnificence. They gave arts and sciences to mankind, and broke with a rising sun through the gloom of the medieval ages.

The discovery of the Cape of Good Hope gave a cheap water route to India, and destroyed the commerce of the Mediterranean cities.

Now, the Isthmus of Suez is cut by a ship canal, and the wealth of India will again flow through the Italian cities, if they will only stretch out their hands to grasp it. Now, also, the mission of Mr. Cushing to the Colombian Government, determines the cutting of the Isthmus of Darien, and the opening of India to the commerce of the Gulf.

The Pacific Railroad, with its great length and its constant interruptions from snow, for several months of the year, can not compete with the shipping which will pass from California through the Darien Canal, to exchange the products of the Orient with those of the Mississippi Valley. Why may not Pensacola become to the commercial cities which reach from the Gulf to Chicago, what Venice became to the Hanseatic League? Why will not Mobile become what Genoa was in the days of Columbus? Are these mere visions? Was Benton dreaming when he pointed across what he believed to be a "Great American Desert," and exclaimed: "There is the East-there is India ?"

May not the people of Alabama, when they freight at Mobile the ships of our vast inland sea with the products of the great West and with the thousand commodities which may be made from her own prime products, exclaim: "There is the Ophir of the Bible-the India of Columbus-and that gateway to the Orient for which the nations of the Atlantic have been seeking a thousand years?"

STATISTICAL REGISTER.

CONSTITUTION OF ALABAMA.

PREAMBLE.

WE, The People of the State of Alabama, by our Representatives in Convention assembled, in order to establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure to ourselves and to our posterity the rights of life, liberty, and property, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of government for the State of Alabama.

ARTICLE I.

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

That the great, general and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, WE DECLARE :

SECTION 1. That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

SEC. 2. That all persons resident in this State, born in the United States, or naturalized, or who shall have legally declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, are hereby declared citizens of the State of Alabama, possessing equal civil and political rights and public privileges.

SEC. 3. That all political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit; and that, therefore, they have, at all times, an inherent right to change their form of government, in such manner as they may deem expedient.

SEC. 4. That no person shall be deprived of the right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.

SEC. 5. That no religion shall be established by law.

SEC. 6. That any citizen may speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.

SEC. 7. That the people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from unreasonable seizures or searches, and that no warrant shall issue to search any place, or to seize any person or thing without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation.

SEC. 8. That in all criminal prosecutions, the accused has a right to be heard by himself and counsel, or either; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation; to have a copy thereof; to be confronted by the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and in all prosecutions by indictment or information, a speedy public trial, by an impartial jury of the county

or district in which the offense was committed; and that he shall not be compelled to give evidence against himself, or be deprived of his life, liberty or property, but by due process of law.

SEC. 9. That no person shall be accused or arrested, or detained, except in cases ascertained by law, and according to the forms which the same has prescribed; and that no person shall be punished but by virtue of a law established and promulgated prior to the offense, and legally applied.

SEC. 10. That no person shall, for any indictable offense, be proceeded against criminally, by information, except in cases arising in the land and naval service, or in the militia when in actual service, or by leave of the court for oppressions or misdemeanor in office: Provided, That in cases of petit larceny, assault, assault and battery, affray, unlawful assemblies, vagrancy, and other misdemeanors, the General Assembly may, by law, dispense with a grand jury, and authorize such prosecutions and proceedings before justices of the peace, or such other inferior courts as may be by law established.

SEC. 11. That no person shall, for the same offense, be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.

SEC. 12. That no person shall be debarred from prosecuting or defending, before any tribunal in the State, by himself, or counsel, any civil cause to which he is a party.

SEC. 13. That the right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate.

SEC. 14. That in prosecution for the publication of papers investigating the official conduct of officers, or men in public capacity, or when the matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be given in evidence; and that in all indictments for libel, the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts under the direction of the court.

SEC. 15. That all courts shall be open, that every person, for any injury done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation, shall have a remedy by due process of law; and right and justice shall be administered without sale, denial or delay.

SEC. 16. That suits may be brought against the State, in such manner and in such courts as may be by law provided.

SEC. 17. That excessive fines shall not be imposed, or cruel punishment inflicted. SEC. 18. That all persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses when the proof is evident, or the presumption great. Excessive bail shall not, in any case, be required.

SEC. 19. The privilege of writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, except when necessary for public safety in times of rebellion or invasion.

SEC. 20. That treason against the State shall consist only in levying war against it, or adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort; and that no person shall be convicted of treason, except on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or his own confession in open court.

SEC. 21. That no person shall be attainted of treason by the General Assembly; and that no conviction shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate.

SEO. 22. That no person shall be imprisoned for debt.

SEC. 23. That no power of suspending laws shall be exercised, except by the General Assembly, or by its authority.

SEC. 24. That no ex post facto law, or any law impairing the obligation of contracts, shall be made.

SEC. 25. That private property shall not be taken or applied for public use, unless

just compensation be made therefor; nor shall private property be taken for private use, or for the use of corporations, other than municipal, without the consent of the owner: Provided, however, That laws may be made securing to persons or corporations, the right of way over the lands of either persons or corporations, and for works of internal improvement, the right to establish depots, stations, and turnouts, but just compensation shall, in all cases, be first made to the owner.

SEC. 26. That all navigable waters shall remain forever public highways, free to the citizens of the State, and of the United States, without tax, impost or toll imposed; and that no tax, toll, impost or wharfage shall be demanded or received from the owner of any merchandise or commodity, for the use of the shores, or any wharf erected on the shores, or in, or over the waters of any navigable stream, unless the same be expressly authorized by the General Assembly.

SEC. 27. That the citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for the common good, and to apply to those invested with the power of government, for redress of grievances, or other purposes, by petition, address or re

monstrance.

SEC. 28. That every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the State.

SEC. 29. That no person who conscientiously scruples to bear arms shall be compelled to do so, but may pay an equivalent for personal service.

SEC. 30. That no standing army shall be kept up without the consent of the General Assembly; and, in that case, no appropriation for its support shall be made for a longer term than one year, and the military shall, in all cases, and at all times, be in strict subordination to the civil power.

SEC. 31. That no soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner; or in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

SEC. 32. That no title of nobility, or hereditary distinction, privilege, honor, or emolument, shall ever be granted or conferred in this State; that no property qualification shall be necessary to the election to, or holding of any office in this State and that no office shall be created, the appointment to which shall be for a longer time than during good behavior.

SEC. 33. That emigration from the State shall not be prohibited; and that no citizen shall be exiled.

SEC. 34. That temporary absence from the State shall not cause a forfeiture of residence once obtained.

SEC. 35. 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.

SEC. 36. The right of suffrage shall be protected by laws, regulating elections, and prohibiting, under adequate penalties, all undue influences from power, bribery, tu mult or other improper conduct.

SEC. 37. That this State has no right to sever its relations to the Federal Union, or to pass any law in derogation of the paramount allegiance of the citizens of this State to the government of the United States.

SEC. 38. That this enumeration of certain rights shall not impair or deny others retained by the people.

ARTICLE II.

STATE AND COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

SEC. 1. The boundaries of this State are established and declared to be as follows -that is to say: Beginning at the point where the thirty-first degree of north latitude crosses the Perdido river; thence east to the western boundary line of the State of Georgia; thence along said line to the southern boundary line of the State of Tennessee, thence west along the southern boundary line of the State of Tennessee, crossing the Tennessee river, and on to the second intersection of said river, by said line; thence up said river to the mouth of Big Bear Creek; thence by a direct line to the northwest corner of Washington county, in this State, as originally formed; thence southerly, along the line of the State of Mississippi, to the Gulf of Mexico; thence eastwardly, including all islands within six leagues of the shore, to the Perdido river, and thence up the said river to the beginning.

SEC. 2. The General Assembly may, by a two-thirds vote of both houses thereof, arrange and designate boundaries for the several counties of this State, which boundaries shall not be altered, except by a like vote. But no new counties shall be hereafter formed of less extent than six hundred square miles; and no existing county shall be reduced to less extent than six hundred square miles; and no new county shall be formed which does not contain a sufficient number of inhabitants to entitle it to one representative under the ratio of representation existing at the time of its formation, or, unless the county or counties from which it is taken shall be left with the required number of inhabitants entitling such county or counties to separate representation.

ARTICLE III.

DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS OF GOVERNMENT.

SEC. 1. The powers of the government of the State of Alabama shall be divided into three distinct departments, each of which shall be confided to a separate body of magistracy, to-wit: Those which are legislative, to one; those which are executive, to another; and those which are judicial, to another.

SEC. 2. No person, or collection of persons, being of one of those departments, shall exercise any power properly belonging to either of the others, except in the instances hereinafter expressly directed and permitted.

ARTICLE IV.

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.

SEC. 1. The legislative power of this State shall be vested in a General Assembly, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

SEC. 2. The style of the laws of this State shall be: "Be it enacted by the Gen eral Assembly of Alabama." Each law shall contain but one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title; and no law shall be revised or amended unless the new act contain the entire act revised, or the section or sections amended; and the section or sections so amended shall be repealed.

SEC. 3. Senators and Representatives shall be elected by the qualified electors, on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The term of office of the Senators shall be four years, and that of the Representatives two years, commencing on the day after the general election.

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