Boyd v. Alabama

On the 10th of October, 1868, the legislature of the State of Alabama passed an act, entitled “ An Act to establish a mutual aid association, and to raise funds for the common-school system of Alabama.” The act had a very fair and promising appearance, and to the casual reader would seem designed to promote the cause of science and art, advance education, and diffuse knowledge. Certain persons named in the act, and their associates, were given the right to form themselves into a partnership association for the distribution of books, paintings, works of art, scientific instruments and…