Abolishment of Macon County (AL 132)

On December 17, 1957, the Alabama voters decided that Macon County should be abolished.  The vote was 51,478 for and 36,820 against. Even though the "colored" citizens" were a majority of the Macon County population, the County's white voters outnumbered them 2 to 1.  The bill (Amendment 132) was sponsored by Senator Samuel Englehardt, Jr., the Executive Secretary for the Alabama Association of Citizens Councils (a pro-segregation group).  The reason given was that the "colored" citizens were on the verge of gaining to much political power.  The amendment to the Alabama Constitution is still a part of the document.  The Tuskegee Civic Association stated that this was a device to "maintain an undemocratic system of social relationships, a system that cannot be justified morally or politically".

Later, another amendment was passed to prevent the abolishment from taking place.  This bill was introduced by Rep. Thomas Reed, Sr. of Tuskegee, Alabama.

Sunday News Journal Article

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This issue of the News Journal was published on December 18, 1957 with the title:  "Might Abolish County in Alabama".

Macon County Committee

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The Macon County Committee was formed by the Alabama State Legislature, to examine the procedures for abolishing Macon County, Alabama.

Amendment to Abolish

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This is the text from the Amendment in the Alabama Constitution to abolish the county of Macon and distribute the lands to surrounding counties, thereby increasing their sizes.

Lewiston Evening Journal Article

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This issue of the Journal was published on December 18, 1957 with the title:  "Ala. Voters would Abolish Macon Co.".

Schenectady Gazette Article

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This issue of the newspaper was published on December 18, 1957 with the title:  "Victory Seen in Move to Eliminate Macon, County in Alabama Preponderantly Negro".

Sen. Englehardt Video Clip

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This video is Senator Samuel Englehardt discussing the Association of Citizens Councils

Click Here for Senator Englehardt's plan on how to deny people the right to vote, from TIME magazine.