Texas, formerly a province of Mexico, declared its independence in March, 1836, and achieved it by the battle of San Jacinto on the 21st of the following April. In September of the same year, the first election was held under the constitution. In 1845 it was admitted into the Union as an independent state, by a joint resolution of both houses of Congress, which was signed by the president, March 1, 1845, and ratified by the Texans in convention, July 4, 1845. Presidents of the Republic of Texas. Saml. Houston, ent. upon office 1836 Saml. Houston, ent. upon office 1842 Governor of the State of Texas. J. Pinckney Henderson, entered upon office, Jan. 1846. ABSTRACT OF THE CONSTITUTION, 1844 Adopted in Convention at Austin, August 27th, 1845, and ratified by the People, October 13th, 1845. Every free white male, twenty-one years old, a citizen of the United States, or of Texas when this constitution was adopted, who has resided in the state one year, and six months in the district, county, city, or town, where he offers to vote, shall have the right of suffrage. Electors absent from home, but within their own district, may vote for district officers; and anywhere in the state, they may vote for state officers. The sessions of the legislature shall be biennial; representatives shall be chosen for two years, and they must be qualified voters, who have lived two years in the state, and one year in the place where they are chosen. Senators are chosen for four years, one-half of them leaving office biennially; they must be qualified voters, thirty years old, who have lived in Texas three years, and the last year thereof in their district. The number of representatives shall not be less than forty-five, nor more than ninety; a census shall be ordered at the first meeting of the legislature, and the representatives shall be apportioned according to the number of voters ascertained by it. The senators, not less than nineteen, nor more than thirty-three, in number, shall be ap portioned in like manner. The city of Austin shall be the seat of government till 1850, when a place shall be selected by vote of the people. Members of the legislature shall receive $3 a day, and $3 for every twenty-five miles of travel. The supreme court shall consist of a chief justice and two associates, each receiving annually not less than $2,000, holding office for six years, and shall hold sessions once a year, between June and October, in not more than three places in the state. This court shall have appellate jurisdiction coëxtensive with the limits of the state; but in criminal cases, and appeals from interlocutory judgments, it shall be under legislative regulations. There shall be convenient judicial districts, one district judge in each, holding office for six years, receiving annually not less than $1,750, who shall sit twice a year in each county. Judges shall be nominated by the governor, and confirmed by two-thirds of the senate; they may be removed by address of two-thirds of both houses. The district courts shall have original jurisdiction in all criminal cases, and in all suits in which more than $100 are at stake. In criminal cases, if the punishment be not specifically determined by law, the jury shall determine it. An attorney-general, holding office for two years, shall be nominated by the governor, and confirmed by two-thirds of the senate; a district attorney for each district shall be chosen by joint ballot of both houses, also for two years. In equity causes, either party may demand a jury. The governor and lieutenant-governor shall be chosen by a plurality of votes for two years, and shall not be eligible for more than four out of any six years. They must have the same qualifications as a senator, and the governor at first shall receive $2,000 a year. The lieutenant-governor shall preside in the senate, and be paid the same sum as the speaker of the house. A secretary of state shall be nominated by the governor, and confirmed by the senate for two years; a state treasurer and a comptroller of accounts shall be biennially chosen by joint vote of both houses. The governor may veto a bill; but two-thirds of both houses may pass it in spite of his veto. Any person concerned in a duel, sending or accepting a challenge, shall be ineligible to any public office. Grants of money for private purposes, or for internal improvement, must be made by two-thirds of both houses. Within five years, the laws, civil and criminal, shall be revised, digested, arranged, and published; and a like revision shall be made every ten years thereafter. A wife's property, both real and personal, acquired before or after marriage, shall be her separate property; and its registration shall be provided for by law. The legislature may protect by law some of the property of all heads of families from forced sale. A homestead of not more than two hundred acres, not included in a town or city, or city or town lots worth not more than $2,000, shall not be subject to forced sale for any debt hereafter contracted. No corporation shall be created, renewed, or extended, with banking or discounting privileges. Private corporations can be created only by a vote of two-thirds of both houses; the state shall not subscribe to their stock, and their charters may be revoked by making compensation for the franchise. The state shall not borrow money except by a like vote, nor contract an aggregate amount of debt of more than $100,000, except in case of war, invasion, or insurrection. The salaries of the governor and judges are fixed at the minimum herein expressed, and shall not be increased for ten years. No law shall be passed to emancipate slaves, except by their owners' consent, and by paying a full compensation for them. Emigrants to this state shall not be prevented from bringing their slaves with them; but the bringing hither of slaves as merchandise may be forbidden. Laws may be passed obliging owners to treat their slaves with humanity, and to abstain from injuries to them affecting life or limb; in case of disobedience of these laws, the slaves may be taken away, and sold for the benefit of the owners. Slaves accused of higher crimes than petit larceny shall have a fair trial by jury. Any one who maliciously dismembers, or deprives a slave of life, shall be punished as if he had committed the same crime on a white person, except in case of insurrection of such slave. One-tenth of the annual revenue of the state derived from taxation shall be set aside as a permanent fund for the support of free public schools. All public lands granted for such schools shall not be alienated in fee, nor leased for more than twenty years. Two-thirds of both houses may propose amendments to this constitution, which shall then be published three months before the next general election; and if approved at that election by a majority of the voters, and then ratified by two-thirds of both houses in the next legislature, they shall then be valid. 5. O. M. Roberts, San Aug'ne, 1,750 J. M. Ardry, San Aug'ne, do. Arkansas was separated from the territory (now state) of Missouri in 1819, and erected into a separate government. In 1836, it was admitted into the Union as an independent state. TERRITORIAL GOVERNORS. appointed 1829 do. 1825 William S. Fulton, do. 1835 George Izard, James S. Conway, elected STATE GOVERNORS. 1836 Samuel Adams, Acting Gov. 1844 1840 Thomas S. Drew, elected 1844 ABSTRACT OF THE CONSTITUTION, Adopted January 4th, 1836. Every free white male citizen of the United States, 21 years old, and a citizen of Arkansas for the six months next before the election, may vote in the county or district where he resides. Representatives (in number not less than 54 nor more than 100) shall be white citizens of the United States, 25 years old, resident in their counties, and shall be chosen for two years. Senators (in number not less than 17 nor more than 34) shall be 30 years old, inhabitants of the state for the year before the election, and of the district at the time, and shall be chosen for four years. The governor shall be 30 years old, a native-born citizen of Arkansas, or of the United States, or a resident of Arkansas for ten years before the adoption of the constitution; and also (in any case) resident therein for four years next before the election; and shall be chosen for four years (but not more than eight years in any twelve), by a plurality of votes. He may veto bills; but a majority of *Elected Representative to Congress. the members of each house may pass them, notwithstanding his veto. If the office of governor be vacant, it shall be filled by the president of the senate, and after him by the speaker of the house, until the end of the term; or, if the vacancy occur within 18 months of the end of the term, until a new election is had. The General Assembly may pass laws to prohibit the introduction of slaves who are criminals, or as merchandise; and to oblige masters to treat them with humanity. Slaves shall not be deprived of trial by jury, and shall have the same punishment for a capital crime as a white man. No laws can be passed to emancipate slaves without the consent of their owners, or to prevent immigrants from bringing with them persons deemed slaves in any one of the United States; but the law may permit owners to emancipate them, saving the rights of creditors, and the public from being at their charge. No person denying the being of a God shall hold civil office, or be allowed his oath in court. Lotteries, and the sale of lottery tickets, are prohibited. "No bank or banking institution shall be hereafter, (1847,) incorporated or established in this state." The supreme court (except in specified cases) shall have only appellate jurisdiction. It has three judges, who shall be 30 years old, and shall be chosen for eight years, by a majority of the joint votes of the General Assembly. Judges of the circuit court must be 25 years old, and shall be chosen for four years, by a majority of joint votes in the General Assembly. Judges of both courts shall receive a salary not diminishable during their term. The justices of the peace, in each county, form a county court, and shall be elected in towns for two years, and have exclusive jurisdiction in civil cases below $100. Amendments proposed by two-thirds of each house shall be published 12 months before the next election; and, if passed by two-thirds of each house, shall be adopted. Thomas Johnson, William S. Oldham, of Union, President of Senate. Supreme Court. of Saline Co., Chief Justice, BR George C. Watkins, do. do. Attorney-General, Reporter, Fees & 800 Term ends. Salary. 1852, $1,500 1848, 1,400 |