are elected by the people, in districts, for three years; and justices of the peace, or aldermen, in wards, boroughs, or towns, for five years. Every person directly or indirectly engaged in a duel is disqualified for office; but the governor may remove this disqualification. No person acknowledging "the being of a God, and a future state of rewards and punishments, shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified" for office. In all libel suits, if the matter concern the official conduct of public men, or the matter be proper for public information, the truth may be given in evidence. Imprisonment for debt is abolished, except in cases of fraud. Amendments to the constitution, if approved by a majority of the members of each house, shall be submitted to the people, and, if approved, in the same manner, by the next legislature, shall be again submitted to the people; and, if ratified by a majority of votes, shall be adopted. But no amendment shall be submitted oftener than once in five years. Charles Pleasants, Joel Jones, President Judge for the City and Co. of Philadelphia, $2,000 James Thompson, Judge for Erie, Crawford, Venango, Warren, Mercer, 2,000 Judges, James Campbell, William D. Kelley, Anson V. Parsons. 2. Lancaster, 3. Berks, Northampton, and Lehigh, 4. Centre, Clinton, and Clearfield, 5. Alleghany, 6. Erie, Crawford, Venango, and Warren, 7. Bucks and Montgomery, 8. Northumberland, Lycoming, and Columbia, 9. Cumberland, Perry, and Juniata, 10. Westmoreland, Indiana, Armstrong, and Cambria, 11. Susquehanna, Wyoming, Wayne, and Pike, 12. Dauphin and Lebanon, 13. Luzerne, Bradford, and Tioga, 14. Washington, Fayette, and Greene, 15. Chester and Delaware, 16. Franklin, Bedford, and Somerset, 17. Beaver, Butler, and Mercer, 18. Potter, M'Kean, Warren, Jefferson, and Elk, Ellis Lewis. J. Pringle Jones. Jeremiah S. Black. John Bredin. Alex. M'Calmont. William N. Irvine. Abraham S. Wilson. Luther Kidder. FINANCES. $1,752,335.06 State arsenals, powder magazine, &c., estimated, 100,000.00 Stock in sundry corporations, par value, Money due on unpatented lands, estimated, 2,021,198.52 180,000.00 $31,208,631.03 Statement of the Tax assessed on Real and Personal Estate for the last six years, and the Amount thereof received into the State Treasury. From this sum must be deducted, on various accounts during the six years, $588,755.35, which gives the available sum of $5,131,183.37. This leaves, Dec. 1st, 1846, the sum of $542,688.64, to be realized at the treasury. Total receipts during the year ending Nov. 30th, 1846, Balance in the treasury, Nov. 30th, 1845, Total revenue, Expenditures during the same period, Balance in the treasury, Nov. 30th, 1846, $3,529,057.28 384,886.09 3,913,943.37 3,529,264.67 $384,678.70 During the year, all accruing liabilities, including the interest on the public debt, have been met, and $246,816.22 of the debt have been paid. During the last two years, the taxes have been cheerfully and promptly paid. No loans have been made; the public liabilities have been met; the revenues have increased from nearly all sources, and the public debt is diminishing. X. DELAWARE. The first European settlement in this state was formed by Swedes and Finns, in 1627; in 1655, the colony was taken from the Swedes by the Dutch, under Governor Stuyvesant; and after the conquest of New York by the English, in 1664, it was placed under the jurisdiction of the government of New York. In 1682, the country was granted to William Penn, and placed under the same executive and legislative government with Pennsylvania. It was then, as it is now, divided into three counties, Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, generally styled, till the American Revolution, " The Three Lower Counties upon the Delaware." In 1701, the representatives of Delaware withdrew from those of Pennsylvania. The first separate legislative assembly met at Newcastle, in 1704; and it ever afterwards continued distinct from that of Pennsylvania; though the same governor presided over both provinces till the 4th of July, 1776. Presidents under the First Constitution. 1777 Nicholas Van Dyke, elected 1783 1778 Thomas Collins, John M'Kinley, elected Cæsar Rodney, do. do. 1786 Joshua Clayton, Governor, 1793 | Caleb Rodney, Acting Governor, 1822 Jacob Stout, Acting Governor, 1820 William Tharp, elected 1846 John Collins, Governor, 1821 * Died in office, March 2d, 1846. † Died in office. ABSTRACT OF THE CONSTITUTION. The first constitution was formed in 1776; the second, in 1792; and the present amended constitution, in 1838. Every free white male citizen, 22 years old, resident in the state for one year, and in the county where he offers his vote one month next before the election, who has paid within two years a county tax, assessed at least six months before the election, may vote; and every such citizen, between 21 and 22 years old, may vote without paying such a tax. Representatives shall be 24 years old, for three years citizens and inhabitants of the state, and for one year, of their county, and shall be chosen for two years. Senators, in number not less than one-third, or more than one-half of the number of representatives, shall be 27 years old, possessed of 200 acres of land in freehold in the county, or of any estate therein worth £1,000, citizens and inhabitants of the state for three years, and for the last year of their county, and shall be chosen in counties for four years. The General Assembly meets biennially, on the first Tuesday of January. No corporation (unless one for public improvement) shall be created for more than 20 years; nor unless by a vote of two-thirds of each branch of the legislature, with the power of revocation reserved. The governor (elected for four years by a plurality of votes) shall be 30 years old, a citizen and inhabitant of the United States for twelve years next before the first meeting of the legislature after his election, and for the last six an inhabitant of the state. If the office of governor be vacant, it shall be filled by the speaker of the senate, and after him by the speaker of the house; and after him by the secretary of state; and, if the secretary fill the office, at the next meeting of the General Assembly, they shall choose a governor ad interim. If the governor-elect die, decline, &c., the governor in office shall continue until a new election. The governor may be removed for inability, by a vote of two-thirds of the members of each house. The secretary of state shall be appointed by the governor, to hold office during his term. There shall be five judges in the state. One shall be chancellor, and president of the orphans' court. Of the other four judges, one shall be the chief justice of the state, and the other three shall be associate judges, one of whom shall reside in each county. The chief justice and two of the associates (one of the three judges being always disqualified by his residence in the county) shall form the superior court, and court of general sessions; and all the judges, except the chancellor, shall form the court of oyer and terminer. The court of errors and appeals is composed of three or more of the judges. The orphans' court consists of the chancellor, and the associate judge of the county. All the judges are appointed during good behavior, and receive a salary which cannot be diminished below a sum named. The registers' court is held by the register, with appeal to the superior court; and all the proceedings shall be in writing. No ordained clergyman, or preacher, while he continues such, shall be a member of the legislature, or hold a civil office. Elections are held on the second Tuesday of November. Suits may be brought against the state, as the law shall provide. Twothirds of each house, with the governor's approval, may propose amendments, which shall be published not less than three, nor more than six months before the next election of representatives; and, if three-fourths of each house, after that election, and before another, ratify the amendments, they shall be adopted. |