A Book of the United States / Exhibiting its geography, divisions, constitution, and government ... and presenting a view of the republic generally, and of the individual states; together with a condensed history of the land, from its first discovery to the present time. The biography of about two hundred of the leading men: a description of the principal cities and towns; with statistical tables

by Unknown

PENNSYLVANIA. The first constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted in 1776; the present constitution in 1790. The legislative power is vested in a General Assembly, consisting of a senate and house of representatives. The representatives are elected annually, on the second Tuesday in October, by the citizens of Philadelphia and of the several counties, apportioned according to the number of taxable inhabitants. The number cannot be less than sixty, nor more than one hundred. The senators are chosen for four years, one fourth being elected annually, at the time of the election of the representatives. Their number cannot be greater than one third, nor less than one fourth, of the number of the representatives. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected by the people on the second Tuesday in October, and who holds his office during three years, from the third Tuesday in December next following his election;and he cannot hold the office more than nine years, in any term of twelve years. The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, in courts of oyer and terminer and jail delivery, in courts of common pleas, an orphans’ court, a registers’ court, a court of quarter sessions of the peace for each county; and in such other courts as the legislature may from time to time establish. The judges of the supreme court, and the several courts of common pleas, are appointed by the governor, and hold their offices during good behavior. The right of suffrage is possessed by every freeman of the age of twenty-one years, who has resided in the state two years next preceding an election, and within that time paid a state or county tax, assessed at least six months before the election.

DELAWARE. The constitution of this state was formed in 1792, and amended 1831. The legislature is styled the General Assembly, and consists of a senate and house of representatives. The senators are nine in number, namely, three from each county, and are elected for a term of four years. The representatives are elected for a term of two years, and are twenty-one in number, seven from each county. The general election is held biennially, on the second Tuesday in November. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected by the people for a term of four years, and is not eligible for a second term. Judicial power is vested in a court of errors and appeals, a superior court, a court of chancery, an orphans’ court, a court of oyer and terminer, a court of general sessions of the peace, and jail delivery, a registers’ court, justices of the peace, and such other courts as the general assembly may (by a vote of two thirds of each house) establish. The right of suffrage is granted to every white male citizen, of the age of twenty-two years or upwards, having resided in the state one year, next before the election, and the last month in the county where he votes; and having within two years paid a county tax. Also, to every free white male over twenty-one, and under twenty-two years of age, having resided, as aforesaid, without payment of any tax.

MARYLAND. The constitution of this state was first formed in 1776; since which time, many amendments have been made. The legislative power is vested in a senate, consisting of fifteen members, and a house of delegates, consisting of eighty members; and these two branches united are styled The General Assembly of Maryland. The members of the house of delegates, four from each county, and two each from the cities of Baltimore and Annapolis, are elected annually by the people, on the first Monday in October; and the members of the senate are elected every fifth year, on the third Monday in September, at Annapolis, by electors who are chosen by the people, on the first Monday of the same month of September. These electors choose by ballot nine senators from the western shore, and six from the eastern, who hold their offices five years. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected annually, on the first Monday in January, by a joint ballot of both houses of the general assembly. No one can hold the office of governor more than three years successively, nor be eligible as governor until the expiration of four years after he has been out of that office. The governor is assisted by a council of five members, who are chosen annually by a joint ballot of the senate and house of delegates. The general assembly meets annually (at Annapolis) on the last Monday in December. The council of the governor is elected on the first Tuesday in January; the governor nominates to office, and the council appoints. The constitution grants the right of suffrage to every free, white, male citizen, above twenty-one years of age, having resided twelve months within the state, and six months in the county, or in the city of Annapolis or Baltimore, next preceding the election at which he offers to vote. The chancellor and judges are nominated by the governor, and appointed by the council; and they hold their offices during good behavior.

VIRGINIA. The old constitution of this state was formed in 1776, and continued in operation until 1830, when the present amended constitution was formed by a convention, and accepted by the people. By this constitution, the legislative power is vested in a senate and a house of delegates, which are together styled The General Assembly of Virginia. The house of delegates consists of one hundred and thirty-four members, chosen annually. The senate consists of thirty-two members. Senators are elected for four years; and the seats of one fourth of them are vacated every year. In all elections to any office or place of trust, honor, or profit, the votes are given openly, or viva voce, and not by ballot. A re-apportionment for representation in both houses is to take place every ten years, commencing in 1841, until which time there is to be no change in thenumber of delegates and senators from the several divisions; and after 1841, the number of delegates is never to exceed one hundred and fifty; nor that of the senators, thirty-six. The time of election of delegates is fixed by the general assembly, and at present takes place in April. The executive power is vested in a governor, elected by the joint vote of the two houses of the general assembly. He holds his office three years, commencing on the first of January next succeeding his election, or on such other day as may be from time to time prescribed by law; and he is ineligible for the three years next after the expiration of his term of office. There is a council of state, consisting of three members elected for three years, by the joint vote of the two houses: the seat of one being vacated annually. The senior counsellor is lieutenant governor. Judges of the supreme court of appeals, and of the superior courts, are elected by a joint vote of both houses of the general assembly, and hold their offices during good behavior, or until removed by a concurrent vote of both houses; but two thirds of the members present must concur in such vote, and the cause of removal be entered on the journals of each house. Right of suffrage is extended to every white male citizen of the commonwealth, resident therein, aged twenty-one years and upwards, who is qualified to exercise the right of suffrage according to the former constitution and laws; or who owns a freehold of the value of twenty-five dollars; or who has a joint interest to the amount of twenty-five dollars in a freehold; or who has a life estate in, or reversionary title to, land of the value of fifty dollars, having been so possessed for six months; or who shall own and be in the actual occupation of a leasehold estate, having the title recorded two months before he shall offer to vote—of a term originally not less than five years, and of the annual value or rent of two hundred dollars; or who, for twelve months before offering to vote, has been a housekeeper and head of a family, and shall have been assessed with a part of the revenue of the commonwealth within the preceding year, and actually paid the same.

NORTH CAROLINA. The constitution of North Carolina was agreed to and resolved upon, by representatives chosen for that purpose, at Halifax, December 18, 1776. The legislative authority is vested in a body, styled the General Assembly, consisting of a senate and a house of commons, both elected annually by the people. The chief executive officer is the governor, who is chosen annually by a joint vote of the two houses; and he is eligible for three years only in six. He is assisted by an executive council of seven members, chosen annually by a joint vote of the two houses. In case of the death of the governor, his duties devolve upon the speaker of the senate. Judges of the supreme and superior courts are appointed by a joint vote of the two houses, and hold their offices during good behavior. The constitution grants the right of voting for members of the house of commons to all freemen of the age of twenty-one years, who have been inhabitants of the state twelve months immediately preceding the election; but in order to vote for a senator, a freeman must be possessed of a freehold of fifty acres of land.

SOUTH CAROLINA. The first constitution of this state was formed in 1775; the present constitution was adopted in 1790. Legislative authority is vested in a General Assembly, consisting of a senate and a house of representatives. The senate consists of forty-five members, who are elected by districts for four years, one half being chosen biennially. The house of representatives consists of one hundred and twenty-four members, who are apportioned among the several districts, according to the number of white inhabitants and taxation; and are elected for two years. The representatives, and one half of the senators, are chosen every second year, on the second Monday in October and the day following. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected for two years, by a joint vote of the senate and house of representatives, at every first meeting of the house of representatives. A governor, after having performed the duties of the office for two years, cannot be re-elected till after the expiration of four years. At the time of the election of governor, a lieutenant governor is chosen in the same manner, and for the same period. The chancellor and judges are appointed by the joint ballot of the senate and house of representatives, and hold their offices during good behavior. The constitution grants the right of suffrage to every free, white, male citizen, of the age of twenty-one years, having resided in the state two years previous to the day of election, and having been possessed of a freehold of fifty acres of land, or a town lot, at least six months before such election, or (not having such freehold or town lot) having been a resident in the election district in which he offers his vote, six months before said election,and having paid a tax the preceding year of three shillings sterling towards the support of the government.

GEORGIA. The first constitution of Georgia was formed in 1777; a second, in 1785; and a third, the one now in operation, in 1798. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives, which, together, are styled the General Assembly. The members of both houses are chosen annually, on the first Monday in October. One senator is elected for each county, and the number of representatives is in proportion to population, including three fifths of all the people of color; but each county is entitled to at least one, and no one to more than four members. The executive power is vested in a governor, who was formerly elected by the general assembly, but he is now (and ever since 1824) elected by the people, and holds the office for two years. The constitution grants the right of suffrage to all ‘citizens and inhabitants who have attained the age of twenty-one years, and have paid all the taxes which may have been required of them, and which they may have had opportunity of paying, agreeably to law, for the year preceding the election, and shall have resided six months within the county.’ The judicial power is vested in a superior court, and in such inferior jurisdictions as the legislature may, from time to time, ordain and establish; and the superior and inferior courts sit twice in each county every year. Judges of the superior court are elected by the legislature for three years; justices of the inferior courts, and justices of the peace, are elected quadrennially by the people; and clerks of the superior and inferior courts biennially.

ALABAMA. The legislative power is vested in two branches, a senate and house of representatives, which together are styled The General Assembly of the State of Alabama. The representatives are elected annually, and are apportioned among the different counties in proportion to the white population; the whole number cannot exceed one hundred, nor fall short of sixty. The senators are elected for three years, and one third of them are chosen every year. Their number cannot be more than one third, nor less than one fourth of the number of representatives. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected by the people for two years, and is eligible four years out of six.

The representatives and one third of the senators are elected annually on the first Monday in August and the day following; and the governor is elected biennially at the same time. The general assembly meets annually at Tuscaloosa, on the fourth Monday in October. The right of suffrage is possessed by every white, male citizen of twenty-one years of age, who has resided within the state one year preceding an election, and the last three months within the county, city, or town, in which he offers his vote. The judicial power is vested in one supreme court, in circuit courts, and such inferior courts as the general assembly may, from time to time, direct and establish. The judges are elected by a joint vote of both houses of the general assembly, every six years.

MISSISSIPPI. The constitution of this state was formed at the town of Washington, in August, 1817, but has been recently revised. Among the articles of the bill of rights of the new constitution, there are some, embracing subjects which are elsewhere made the subject of legislation. In all prosecutions for libel, if the defendant shall make it appear that the matter charged as libellous is true, and has been published with good motives and for justifiable ends, he is to be acquitted. It is also provided that the person of a debtor, who shall deliver up his estate for the benefit of his creditors, shall not be detained in prison, unless there is ‘strong presumption of fraud.’ Another article declares, that no person shall be elected or appointed to any office for life, or during good behavior: but the tenure of all offices shall be for some limited period of time. The principle of representation is as follows: The legislature is at stated periods to require an enumeration of the free white inhabitants to be made, and to cause the whole number of representatives, which is not to be less than thirty-six, nor more than one hundred, to be apportioned among the several counties, cities, or towns, entitled to separate representation, according to the number of free white inhabitants in each; but each county is to be entitled to at least one representative. When any city or town shall have a number of free white inhabitants equal to the established ratio, it is to have a separate representation; and if the residuum or fraction in any such city or town, shall, when added to the fraction of the county in which it lies, be equal to the ratio, the county, city, or town, having the largest fraction, shall be entitled to such representation. The senators are at the same time to be apportioned among several districts, according tothe number of free white inhabitants in each, and their number is not to exceed one third, or be less than one fourth, of the number of representatives. These districts are to be formed by the legislature, at stated periods. The judicial department is to be constituted as follows: The state is to be divided into three districts, in which three judges of a high court of errors and appeals are to be chosen by the people, for the term of six years. In the first instance, however, the seat of one judge is to be vacated in two years, that of a second in four, and that of the third in six, so that there may be a new election in each of the districts, at the expiration of every two years. Their jurisdiction is described to be such as properly belongs to a court of errors and appeals. A circuit court is to be established, consisting of judges to be elected in districts, into which the state is to be divided for the purpose, and each of which is to comprehend not more than twelve, nor less than three counties. Among the other provisions of this instrument, is the following: That no loan shall be raised on the credit of the state, nor the public faith pledged for the redemption of any debt, unless the bill for that purpose, after passing the legislature, shall be published, for three months successively, in three newspapers, and shall be passed a second time by the next succeeding legislature.