ALABAMA IN CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION

A list, set forth below, of Alabama laws from 1859, through the Civil War and early Reconstruction, in various bindings and conditions. Overall Good+ to Very Good.

ACTS OF THE SEVENTH BIENNIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALABAMA, HELD IN THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, COMMENCING ON THE SECOND MONDAY IN NOVEMBER, 1859. Montgomery: Shorter & Reed, State Printers. 1860. 724pp.

Smith, William R.: THE HISTORY AND DEBATES OF THE CONVENTION OF THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA, BEGUN AND HELD IN THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF JANUARY, 1861; IN WHICH IS PRESERVED THE SPEECHES OF THE SECRET SESSIONS, AND MANY VALUABLE STATE PAPERS. BY...ONE OF THE DELEGATES FROM TUSCALOOSA. Atlanta: 1861. viii, [9]-336, 339-464, [2 blanks], xii [Index] pp. As issued [the text is continuous]. Modern cloth. Text with some toning and spotting. Good+.

This early Confederate imprint details Alabama's march out of the Union and into the Confederacy. The imprint records Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, and Atlanta printing sites; but the title page's verso makes clear-- as Parrish & Willingham note-- that the book was printed in Atlanta.
The book records the landmark political events and decisions of the Convention, with records of speeches, the Call of the Convention, the list of delegates, resolutions of secession and debates thereon, the decision to offer "resistance to the attempt to place the United States under the Government of the Black Republican party," reports on and discussions of the formation of a provisional government, debates on the new Constitution and on a variety of other subjects [including the African slave trade].
Howes S722aa. Crandall 2845. Parrish & Willingham 5864. Ellison 1308. Not in De Renne, Marke, or Harv. Law Cat.

ACTS OF THE CALLED SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALABAMA, HELD IN THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, COMMENCING ON THE SECOND MONDAY IN JANUARY, 1861. Montgomery: 1861. 161, [1 blank] pp, with the tipped-in certification by Alabama's Secretary of State. Prominently rubberstamped on title page, couple of other light rubberstamps, outer margin trimmed slightly into text on several leaves, affecting an occasional letter. Good+.
[bound with] ACTS OF THE SECOND CALLED SESSION, 1861 AND OF THE FIRST REGULAR ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALABAMA, HELD IN THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, COMMENCING ON THE 28TH DAY OF OCTOBER AND SECOND MONDAY IN NOVEMBER, 1861. Montgomery, Ala.: Montgomery Advertiser Book and Job Office. 1862. 304pp. Browned. Good+. The two items bound together in modern cloth, with institutional rubberstamp on front pastedown.
These are the first two Sessions of Alabama's Confederate legislature. Numerous Acts place the State on a war footing, regulate the activities of "free colored mariners" and other Free Negroes, accompanied by bellicose Joint Resolutions.
Parrish & Willingham 2620, 2621.

ACTS OF THE CALLED SESSION, 1863, AND OF THE THIRD REGULAR ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALABAMA, HELD IN THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, COMMENCING ON THE 17TH DAY OF AUGUST AND THE 2D MONDAY IN NOVEMBER, 1863. 248pp, lightly foxed.
[bound with] ACTS OF THE CALLED SESSION, 1864 AND OF THE FOURTH REGULAR ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALABAMA, HELD IN THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, COMMENCING ON THE 27TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER AND THE 2D MONDAY IN NOVEMBER, 1864. Montgomery, Ala.: Saffold & Figures, State Printers. 1864. 218pp, lightly foxed. The two items bound together in worn contemporary half sheep and dark cloth. A rubberstamp on front free endpaper. A couple of contemporary ink signatures. Good+ or so.
Many war-related laws and resolutions, with detailed Index for each volume.
Parrish & Willingham 2625, 2627.

ACTS AT THE SESSION OF 1865-66, OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALABAMA, HELD IN THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, COMMENCING ON THE 3D MONDAY IN NOVEMBER, 1865. Montgomery: 1866. 631, [1 blank] pp. Blank margins of last leaf archivally reinforced. Clean text. Very Good, in later buckram with title and name of library stamped on spine.
The first post-War Session of this rebellious State praises the "wise and just" Reconstruction policy of President Johnson; urges the withdrawal of federal troops from Alabama because its citizens have "renewed their allegiance to the federal government with unexampled unanimity and sincerity of purpose;" pleads for the release from prison of Alabama politician C.C. Clay; urges ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery; and enacts a variety of post-War public and private laws.
Ellison 1431. Babbitt 6.

ACTS OF SESSION OF 1866-7, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALABAMA, HELD IN THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, COMMENCING ON THE SECOND MONDAY IN NOVEMBER, 1866. Montgomery: Reid & Screws, State Printers. 1867. 811pp.

ACTS OF THE SESSIONS OF JULY, SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER, 1868, OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALABAMA, HELD IN THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, COMMENCING JULY 13TH, SEPTEMBER 16TH, AND NOVEMBER 2D. Montgomery: Jno. G. Stokes & Co., State Printers. 1868. 663pp.

ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALABAMA, SESSION OF 1869-70, COMMENCING ON SECOND MONDAY IN NOVEMBER, 1870. Montgomery: John G. Stokes & Co., State Printers, 1870. 512pp.

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA, AS REVISED AND AMENDED BY THE CONVENTION ASSEMBLED AT MONTGOMERY ON THE FIFTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1867. Montgomery: W.W. Screws, State Printer. 1871.xxx pp. [Bound with] ACTS OF THE SESSION OF 1870-71, OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALABAMA AND OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, HELD IN THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY, COMMENCING NOVEMBER 21st, 1870. Montgomery: W.W. Screws, State Printer. 1871. 367pp.