Every white freeman, 21 years old, resident in the state for one year, and in his election district for ten days next before the election, and who has paid within two years a state or county tax, assessed at least ten days before the election, may vote; but white freemen who are between 21 and 22 years old, being citizens of the United States, need not have paid a tax; and qualified voters, who are citizens of the United States, and who have removed from the state and returned, may vote after six months' residence. Representatives, not less than 60 or more than 100 in number, shall be 21 years old, citizens and inhabitants of the state for the last three years, and, for the last year, of the district which they represent, and shall be chosen annually. There shall be an enumeration of taxable inhabitants every seven years, to fix the number of senators and representatives, and every county shall have at least one representative; but counties erected after 1838 shall have none, until entitled thereto by their population. Senators, in number not less than one-fourth, nor more than one-third of the representatives, shall be chosen for three years, one-third every year. They shall be 25 years old, citizens and inhabitants of the state for the last four years, and for the last year, of their districts. The General Assembly shall meet on the first Tuesday of every January. No representative shall be appointed to any civil office created, or increased in pay, during his term. The governor shall be 30 years old, a citizen and inhabitant of the state for the last seven years, and shall be chosen on the second Tuesday of every October, for three years from the third Tuesday of January ensuing. He shall receive a fixed compensation, and shall not be eligible more than six years out of every nine. He may remit fines, and grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment. He may veto a bill; but it may be passed by a vote of twothirds of each house, notwithstanding his veto. He may appoint a secretary of the commonwealth during pleasure. The governor and senate appoint the judges of the supreme court for fifteen years; "all other judges required to be learned in the law, for ten years;" and the associate judges of the court of common pleas for five years; all being removable upon address of two-thirds of each house. The judges of the supreme court, and the presidents of the several courts of common pleas, shall receive a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their term. The judges of the supreme court have criminal jurisdiction in the counties; and when not in session there, the same jurisdiction, subject to such right of appeal as the law may give, shall be given to the common pleas. Limited chancery *powers, which may be enlarged by law, are given to both courts. Any two judges of the common pleas may hold, in any county, a court of quarter sessions of the peace, and an orphans' court; and, with the register of wills, shall compose the registers' court. Sheriffs and coroners shall be chosen by the people, in counties, for three years, but not for two consecutive terms. Prothonotaries of the supreme court are appointed by the court, for seven years. Clerks of the other courts, registers of wills, and recorders of deeds,

1

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.

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.

$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

Richard Bassett, Governor, 1798

James Sykes, Acting Governor, 1801 David Hazzard,

Charles Polk,

David Hall,

Governor, 1802 | Caleb P. Bennett,

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,