The first constitution was formed in 1776; the present amended constitution was adopted in 1831. Every white male citizen of the state resident therein, twenty-one years old, and possessed (1) of a freehold in land worth $25, either as a joint tenant, or in severalty, or (2) entitled to a reversion, or vested remainder in fee worth $50, and having been so possessed or entitled for six months; or (3) who shall hold a lease for five years, paying a rent not less than $20, with the evidence of title recorded two months before he offers his vote; or who (4) for the year preceding has been "a housekeeper and head of a family," and has paid a state tax within that time, may vote for members of the General Assembly, in the place where such land lies, or such housekeeper lives. And if two or more joint tenants, &c., hold a freehold which does not entitle all to vote, the manner in which the proper number of votes shall be cast, shall be fixed by law; and all popular elections shall be viva voce. Members of the House of Delegates, one hundred and thirty-four in number, shall be twentyfive years old, and resident freeholders of the place they represent; and shall be chosen annually by counties, cities, towns, boroughs, or districts. Senators, thirty-two in number, shall be thirty years old, and resident freeholders of their districts; and shall be chosen annually, one-fourth every year. The senatorial and representative districts shall be apportioned every ten years, beginning with 1841; but the number of delegates cannot be above one hundred and fifty, nor of senators above thirty-six. No clergyman or priest is eligible to either house. The General Assembly shall meet or oftener every year." All laws shall originate in the House of Delegates. The governor shall be thirty years old; a native citizen of the United States, or a citizen at the time of the adoption of the federal constitution, and for the last five years a citizen of the state; and shall be elected by joint vote of both houses, for three years, but not for two consecutive terms. The council shall consist of three members (any one or more of whom may act) chosen for three years, one every year, by joint vote of both houses; and, the senior councillor shall act as lieutenant-governor, and succeed to the office, in case it be temporarily vacant. The judges of the supreme court of appeals and of the superior courts shall be elected by joint ballot of the General Assembly; shall receive salaries not to be diminished during their term; and shall hold office during good behavior; and be removable by two-thirds of the votes of both houses. The attorney-general shall be ap once pointed by the two houses in joint ballot to hold office during their pleasure; the clerks of courts shall be appointed by the courts; and sheriffs and coroners shall be nominated by the county courts, and approved by the gov The judges appoint the constables. ernor. The governor, treasurer, auditor, 2d auditor, and register of the land office are, ex officio, members of the board of public works, literary fund, north-western and south-western turnpike roads. They do not receive extra compensation for this service. * Acting lieutenant-governor in the absence of the governor. do. The productive property of the state, consisting of stocks and debts due, is $6,370,880.36. The total funds held by the state are $10,863,503 57. The net receipts from taxes during the year were $550,358.55. Chief Sources of Income. Interest on public debt, $416,937 22 Ordinary revenue and taxation, $633,525 24 Redemption of part of public debt, 45,676 67 Bank dividends, Deaf, dumb, blind, and lunatic 244,315 27 asy., 73,458 67 72,246 83 7,500 00 15,000 00 46,597 93 107,788 73 Dawson fund, 8,902 45 9,350 77 School quotas, 72,529 75 Criminal charges, 61.778 86 12,510 00 12,345 76 9,461 65 Commissioners of the revenue, 33,618 26 5,853 34 22,000 00 Appropria. and subscrip. to roads, 28,358 20 20,850 00 Investments, 26,650 00 7,144 55 Pay and rations of public guard, 23,601 91 $82,609 54 Militia, arms, &c., 27,731 97 89,231 64 Miscellaneous, 45,856 79 Loans for joint-stock cos. (int. imp.), Chief Items of Expenditure. XIII. NORTH CAROLINA. In the latter part of the fifteenth century, three different attempts were made, under the direction of the celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh, to establish settlements in North Carolina, which was then included within the limits of the country, that had been recently named Virginia. These were the first attempts made by the English to form colonies in North America ; they all proved unsuccessful; and many years passed away before the attempt to settle the country was renewed. The first permanent settlements were formed about the middle of the seventeenth century. North Carolina was long united under the same government with South Carolina; it was for many years called the County of Albemarle, or the County of Albemarle in Carolina, and about the beginning of the 18th century, the Colony of North Carolina. As early as 1715, it had a separate legislative assembly, at which time Charles Eden was governor; and in the year 1727, it was formed into an entirely distinct province. The constitution was formed in 1786, and the present amended one in 1835. Every free white man, twenty-one years old, an inhabitant of his district twelve months preceding the election, and owner of a freehold within the same, for six months, may vote for a member of the senate, and for a member of the other house without the freehold, if he has paid taxes. But no descendant of a negro, to the fourth generation, though one ancestor in each generation be white, is to be accounted a white man. Members of the House of Commons (one hundred and twenty in number) shall have resided in their county for one year, and have owned, for six months next before the election, one hundred acres as freehold, and shall be chosen biennially, not less than one to every county. Senators (fifty in number) shall be chosen biennially in districts set off on the basis of taxation; shall have resided one year next before the election, in their district; and possessed, for the same time, three hundred acres therein, in fee. An apportionment of both houses shall be made in 1851, and every twenty years thereafter. The General Assembly shall not pass any special law to alter the name of any person, to legitimate bastards, or to restore to citizenship persons convicted of infamous crimes, but may pass general laws therefor. The governor shall be chosen by persons qualified to elect members of the house, for two years (but not more than four years in every six), by a plurality of votes, or, in case of an even vote, by the two houses, on joint vote. A council of seven shall be chosen at every regular session, who shall keep a journal open to the General Assembly. The governor may lay an embargo for thirty days, with the consent of the council. 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. No clergyman, while in the exercise of his duties, shall be a member of either house or of the council. Every foreigner, who comes to settle, |