The American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year

Alexander M'Nair,
Frederick Bates,
John Miller,

Daniel Dunklin,

Under the Constitution.
elected 1820 Lilburn W. Boggs,
do. 1824 Thomas Reynolds,
do. 1828 John C. Edwards,
do. 1832

ABSTRACT OF THE CONSTITUTION,

Done in Convention, June 12, 1820.

elected 1836

do. 1840 do. 1844

Every free white male citizen of the United States, twenty-one years old, resident in the state one year before the election, and three months in the place where he offers his vote, may vote. Representatives, in number not above 100, shall be chosen in counties every second year, shall be free white male citizens of the United States, 24 years old, inhabitants of the state for two years, and of the county for one year next before the election, and shall have paid a tax. Senators (in number not fewer than 14 nor more than 33) shall have the qualifications of representatives, and shall be 30 years old, inhabitants of the state for four years, and shall be chosen for four years, one-half every second year. The General Assembly shall not pass laws to emancipate slaves, without the consent and payment of their owners, or to prevent immigrants from bringing with them slaves of the same description with those in the state. It may pass laws prohibiting the importation of the slaves who have committed a high crime; or as merchandise; slaves, or the offspring of slaves imported into the United States; permitting emancipation, saving the rights of creditors, and the public from being at their charge. It shall pass laws prohibiting free negroes or mulattoes from coming into the state, and obliging the owners to treat slaves with humanity. Slaves shall have a trial by jury, in criminal cases, and shall have the same protection in their lives and persons as whites. The laws shall be revised and digested once in every ten years. The governor and lieutenant-governor, who shall preside in the senate, shall be 35 years old, natives of the United States, or citizens thereof at the adoption of the constitution, or inhabitants of the territory now called Missouri, at the time of its cession, shall have been residents of the state for four years next before the election, shall be chosen for four years by a plurality of votes, and shall be ineligible for the next four years. The governor may veto a bill; but a majority of both houses may pass it, notwithstanding his veto. If the office of governor be vacant, it shall be filled by the lieutenant-governor, and after him by the president of the senate pro tem., and after him by the speaker of the house; but a new election shall be called after three months' notice, unless the vacancy occur within 18 months of the end of the term. Sheriffs and coroners serve for two years, and are ineligible for four years in every eight. The supreme court shall consist of three judges, and shall have appellate jurisdiction only. Circuit courts have exclusive criminal jurisdiction, unless deprived of it by law, and hear all civil cases not cognizable by a justice of the peace

The

equity jurisdiction is divided between the circuit and supreme courts. Judges of the supreme or circuit court shall be 30 years old, and shall leave their office at 65, and may be removed upon address of two-thirds of both houses. One bank, and no more, may be established, with not more than five branches, a capital of not more than $5,000,000, one-half, at least, reserved to the state. The General Assembly, by a vote of two-thirds of the members, may propose amendments, which shall be published twelve months before the general election; and if, at the first session thereafter, they are confirmed by a vote of two-thirds of the members, they become part of the constitution.

James H. M'Dearman, of City of Jeffern., Aud. of Accounts,

County Courts. The jurisdiction of these courts is limited to matters of probate and local county affairs, as roads, &c. A county court sits in each county, and is composed of three justices, who are elected by the people, and hold their offices for four years. An appeal lies to the Circuit Court. Amount of state debt, $684,997.40. Interest on debt, $73,100.

XXIX. IOWA.

Iowa was erected into a territorial government by act of Congress in June, 1838, and admitted into the Union in December, 1846.

Governor under the Constitution.

Ansel Briggs, entered upon office December, 1846.

ABSTRACT OF THE CONSTITUTION,

Done in Convention, May 18, 1846; adopted by the People, Aug. 3, 1846. Every white male citizen of the United States, 21 years old, idiots, insane, or infamous persons excepted, having resided in the state six months, and in the county where he claims to vote twenty days, shall have the right of suffrage. The sessions of the General Assembly, consisting of a senate and house of representatives, shall be biennial, commencing on the first Monday in December after their election. Representatives shall be chosen for two years, on the first Monday of August; they must be 21 years of age, and have resided in Iowa for at least one year, and in their district at least thirty days previous to the election. Senators, not less than one-third, nor more than one-half, as numerous as the representatives, must be 25 years of age; they shall be chosen for four years, one-half biennially. The governor may refuse to sign a bill; but, if subsequently approved by two-thirds of the members of both houses, it shall become a law in spite of his objections. The pay of members shall not exceed $2 a day for the first fifty days, and $1 a day for the rest of the session, with $2 for every twenty miles of

travel. In all elections by the assembly, the members shall vote viva voce, and the votes shall be recorded. Every law shall embrace but one object, which shall be expressed in the title. No divorce shall be granted by the legislature. A census of the state shall be taken within one year after the ratification of the constitution, and again in every subsequent two years for the term of eight years. After each census, members shall be apportioned among the several counties, according to the number of white inhabitants in each. The representatives shall not be less than 26, nor more than 39, till the white population amounts to 175,000; afterward they shall not be less than 39, nor more than 72. For the first ten years, the salary of the governor shall not exceed $1,000; of the secretary of state, $500; of the auditor, $600; of the treasurer, $400; and of the judges of the supreme and district courts, $1,000 each.

The governor shall be chosen, by a plurality of votes, for four years; he must be 30 years old, and have resided in the state for two years. If the governor, for any cause, be disabled, the secretary of state, and after him the president of the senate, and after him the speaker of the house, shall act as governor. A secretary of state, auditor, and treasurer, shall be chosen by the people, each for two years.

The supreme court shall consist of a chief justice and two associates, elected by joint vote of the General Assembly for six years, and until their successors are elected and qualified, two of whom shall form a quorum. This court shall have appellate jurisdiction only in all chancery cases, and correct errors at law under restrictions provided by the General Assembly. The judges of the district court shall be elected by the qualified voters of their respective districts, each for five years, and until their successors are elected and qualified. There shall be elected, in each county, one prosecuting attorney, and one clerk of the district court, each for two years, and until their successors are elected and qualified. Justices of the peace shall have jurisdiction in civil cases, where the amount in controversy does not exceed $100, and by consent of parties when it is below $500.

No state debts shall be created exceeding $100,000, except in case of war or insurrection, unless authorized by a special law, which shall provide for the payment of the interest, and of the principal within 20 years; which law shall be irrepealable, and, before going into effect, must be submitted to the people at a general election, having been published in at least one newspaper in each judicial district for three months preceding, and be approved by a majority of the voters. No corporation with banking privileges shall be created, and all persons or associations shall be prohibited by law from banking or creating paper to circulate as money. Other corporations may be organized under general laws, with certain restrictions. The state shall never become a stockholder in any corporation.

A superintendent of public instruction shall be chosen by the people for three years. All lands granted by Congress to this state, all escheated estates, such per cent. as may be granted by Congress on the sale of the public

lands in Iowa, shall constitute a perpetual fund, the interest of which, and the rents of the unsold lands, shall be applied to the support of common schools. The assembly shall provide for a school in each school-district, for at least three months in each year; and all moneys received for exemption from military duty, and for fines imposed by the courts, shall be appropriated to support such schools, or the establishment of school libraries. The money arising from the lease or sale of public lands granted for the support of a university shall remain a perpetual fund to maintain such an institution. No person shall be incompetent as a witness on account of his opinions upon religion. Whoever shall be engaged, directly or indirectly, in a duel, shall be for ever disqualified from holding office. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crimes, shall ever be tolerated in this state. To amend the constitution, the assembly must submit the question of a convention to the people at the next general election; and, if a majority are in favor thereof, the assembly shall provide for the election of delegates to a convention to be held in six months after the vote of the people in favor thereof.