Mariamno D. Papy,

A bill to make the

of Leon Co.,

do.

sessions of the General Assembly biennial was passed during the last session. If ratified at the next session, it will become a law.

Mobile, in the southern part of Alabama, was settled long since by the Spanish; yet the territory which now forms this state contained but very few civilized inhabitants before 1810.

lation has been exceedingly rapid.

Since that time, its increase in popu

Alabama was erected into a territorial government in 1817, and in 1820 it was admitted into the Union.

GOVERNORS.

William W. Bibb, appointed 1817, Governor of the Territory of Alabama.

Every white male person, twenty-one years old, a citizen of the United States, resident in the state one year next preceding an election, and three months in his county, city, or town, may vote. Representatives shall be white citizens of the United States; resident the last two years in the state, and one year in the place they represent; shall be chosen for two years, and shall number not less than forty-four, nor more than sixty, until there are one hundred thousand white inhabitants in the state, and thereafter not less than sixty nor more than one hundred. Senators shall not be more than one-third, nor less than one-fourth, of the number of the representatives, and shall have all their qualifications, and shall also be twenty-seven years old, and chosen for four years. -one-half every second year. The sessions of the General Assembly shall be biennial. A census shall be taken every six years to apportion senatorial and representative districts, and every county shall have at least one representative. The governor is chosen, by a plurality, for two years; and, in case of an even vote, the legislature chooses one of the two highest candidates. He must be thirty years old; a native citizen of the United States, and resident in the state for the last four years; and shall not be eligible more than four years out of every six. His veto may be defeated by a majority of the whole number elected to each house. A state treasurer and comptroller shall be chosen annually, and an attorney-general and county solicitors, once in four years, by the General Assembly. The supreme court shall have only appellate jurisdiction; but its judges (unless otherwise provided by law) shall sit at Nisi Prius, as a circuit court, which shall have original jurisdiction in all criminal cases, and in civil suits above fifty dollars. Judges are appointed by the General Assembly, with a fixed salary, and to hold office during six years; and they may be removed upon address of two-thirds of both houses, after notice to the judge and a hearing. The General Assembly may direct the manner of bringing suits against the state; may grant divorces, provided two-thirds of both houses agree thereto, and a decree in chancery be previously obtained. A state bank and branches may be established upon certain conditions, by a twothirds vote of both houses; and there shall be no other banks in the state chartered hereafter. No laws shall be passed to free slaves without the owner's

consent, or without paying for them; or to prevent immigrants from bringing in slaves of the same description as those within the state, provided they be bona fide property, and not criminals. Laws may be passed permitting owners to free slaves, saving the rights of creditors and the public from being at their charge; also, laws directing humane treatment of slaves, and ordering a sale of them, on the owner's account, if it be not complied with. Slaves have a right to trial by jury in all charges above petty larceny; and the maiming or killing of a slave (except in case of insurrection) is punishable like that of a free white person. No person shall be imprisoned for debt, except in cases of fraud. Amendments to the constitution, after being proposed by two-thirds of each house, shall be submitted to the people, three months before the next election of representatives; and, if approved by a majority, and afterwards passed by two-thirds of each house, they are valid.

Government for the year 1848.

REUBEN CHAPMAN, of Marshall, Governor (term of office expires on the 1st Monday in December, 1849),

Salary.

$2,500

William Garrett,

Secretary of State,

Fees and 1,200

Jefferson C. Van Dyke, Comptroller of Public Accounts,

Fees and 1,000

The first session of the legislature in the new capital at Montgomery commences the first Monday in December, 1847.

This court sits at the seat of government, on the first Monday of June and the second Monday of December.

The state is divided into forty districts; and one session of the court is held annually in each district, except in Mobile, Sumter, and Montgomery districts, where two sessions are held.

Two sessions of the Circuit Court are held each year in every county in

This court holds three terms in each year, on the first Mondays of November, February, and June.

FINANCES.

"It is considered doubtful whether the university and school funds, and the surplus revenue, will ever be repaid from the treasury of the state. The interest on the state bonds has hitherto been punctually paid, and principally from the assets of the state bank and its branches, which are all now in a course of liquidation. The aggregate amount of these assets has been estimated at $14,023,113; and the whole amount collected by the commissioners, from the period when they were placed in liquidation to the first of July, 1847, is $2,864,771.35; and it is very questionable whether more than $4,500,000 will be realized altogether. Should this anticipation be verified, at least $8,000,000 must be provided for by taxation, or by some other means, which have not yet been devised."

XVIII. MISSISSIPPI.

This state was included within the country which was discovered and possessed by the French, who formed a settlement at Natchez about the year 1716; but, in 1763, it was ceded to the English, with the rest of the French possessions to the east of the Mississippi.

There were but few inhabitants within the present limits of this state before the end of the last century. In 1798, the country was erected into a territorial government; and, in 1817, into an independent state.

ABSTRACT OF THE CONSTITUTION.

The constitution of this state was formed in 1817.

Every free white male person, twenty-one years old, a citizen of the United States, resident in the state one year, and in his town or county four months, next before the election, may vote. Representatives, not fewer than thirty-six nor more than one hundred in number (and not less than one to each county), shall be chosen every second year, on the first Monday and Tuesday of October, for two years, and shall meet on the first Monday of January following. They must have the qualifications of voters and be residents of the state for two years, and for one year of the place they represent. A census shall be taken at intervals, of not more than eight nor less than six years. Senators, in number not fewer than onefourth, nor more than one-third of the number of the representatives, must be thirty years old; for four years citizens of the United States, and for one year residents of their district, and be chosen for four years, one half every two years. The governor must be thirty years old; for twenty years a citizen of the United States; for five years a resident of the state; be chosen, by a plurality of votes, for two years; and cannot hold office more than four years in every six. He may veto a bill; but it may be passed, notwithstanding his veto, by a vote of two-thirds of both houses. All officers are elected, either in districts or counties, or by the people at large. No person denying the being of a God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, can hold office. No money can be expended for internal improvements, except by a vote of two-thirds of both houses; and no state loan can be raised, unless the bill be passed by a majority of each house, be published three months before the next election, and be confirmed by a majority of each house at the next legislature. The legislature may direct how suits may be brought against the state. It cannot emancipate slaves, without the owner's consent, except on account of great public services, and then must pay for them; nor can it prevent immigrants from importing slaves of the same description with those in the state, if they be bona fide property, and not criminals. It may pass laws enabling owners to emancipate slaves, saving the rights of creditors, and the public from being at their charge; and laws directing a sale, on the owner's account, if he treat his slaves cruelly. The introduction of slaves, as merchandise, after May 1, 1833, is prohibited; but settlers may import them for their own use, until