Every white male citizen of the United States, 21 years old, who has gained a settlement in the state, has resided six months in his town, is possessed of a freehold of $7 yearly value, or has done military duty for one year, or has been excused therefrom, or has paid a state tax within the year, and who has a good moral character, may vote, on taking the oath. Every voter is eligible to any office, unless it be expressly excepted. Duelling forfeits the right of suffrage. Representatives, chosen by towns, on the first Monday of every April; and senators (in number not less than 18, nor more than 28), chosen at the same time, by districts, and by a plurality of votes, or, in case of an even vote, selected from the highest candidates by the other House, constitute the general assembly, which meets alternately at Hartford and New Haven, on the first Monday of May. The governor must be a voter, and 30 years old, and is chosen annually by a majority of votes ; and, in case there be no choice, one of the two highest candidates is chosen by joint ballot of the assembly. He may grant reprieves, except in case of impeachment, but not pardons. He may veto a bill; but a majority of both Houses may pass it again in spite of his veto. A lieutenant-governor, secretary, treasurer, and comptroller, are chosen in the same way as the gov. ernor. The judges of all the courts, and justices of the peace, are appointed by the assembly; the judges of the supreme and superior courts during good behavior, or until 70 years of age, removable by address of two-thirds of each House; and the others for one year, unless they reach 70 years of age before that time. Sheriffs are appointed for three years, by the assembly. In all libel cases, the truth may be given in evidence. When a majority of the House of Representatives propose amendments to the constitution, they shall be printed with the laws; and if two-thirds of each House, at the next session, approve them, they shall be submitted to the people, at a special town-meeting, and, if approved by a majority of votes cast, shall be adopted.

GOVERNMENT

For the year ending on the 1st Wednesday in May, 1848.

Salary. $1,100

300

1,000

Secretary of State, $84 and fees.

Comptroller,

Comm'r of the School Fund,

1,000

and Sup't of Schools, $1,250 and expenses.

Pres. pro tem. of the Senate.

of Harwinton,

of Litchfield,

of Hartford,

Thomas C. Perkins,
L. S. Foster,
Francis Bacon,

Speaker of the House.

A term of the Superior Court is held by one judge semi-annually, in each county of the state; and the Supreme Court, constituted of the five judges, meets annually in each county. The judges of this court hold their offices until seventy years of age. This court has jurisdiction in all cases where the damages, or matter in dispute, exceeds $70.

A County Court is held by one judge three times each year, in the several counties. The judges of this court are appointed annually by the legislature. They have jurisdiction in all civil actions where the damages, or matter in dispute, exceed $35. In civil cases, appeals lie in all cases from the County to the Superior Court, where the matter in dispute exceeds the sum of $70.

of school fund,

Miscellaneous,

$12,596.50

23,849.70

Chief Sources of Income.

15,934.20 Balance in treasury, April 1, 1846, $14,704.73

34,761.34 Received from forfeited bonds,

1,115.79

1,500.00

avails of courts,

1,099.39

300.00

state prison,

4,000.00

Common schools, and management

Public buildings and institutions, 12,111.75

Interest on money borrowed from

school fund,

dividends on do., 32,219.50 "miscellaneous,

847.66 Am't borrowed from school fund, 11,565.68

The whole amount of state debt (borrowed from school fund) is $11,565.68. The permanent fund of the state, on the 1st day of April, 1847, consisting or

bank stock not transferable, or subscriptions to the capital of sundry banks, which may be withdrawn on giving six months' notice, amounted to $406,000. Valuation in 1846 of real estate, $88,963,321.08; personal estate, $15,888,483.93. Aggregate, $104,851,805.02.

Common Schools. - No. of school societies, 215; school districts, 1,663. The capital of school fund in September, 1845,* was $2,070,055.01. Amount of dividends to school societies, year ending March, 1847, $125,710.65. Rate for each child, between ages of 4 and 16, in 1847, $1.45.

VII. NEW YORK.

The settlement of this state was commenced by the Dutch, in 1614, who named the country New Netherlands, and established a colonial government in 1629. In 1664, Charles II. of England granted to his brother, the Duke of York, a patent for a large tract of country, forming the present states of New York and New Jersey; and, during the same year, Colonel Nicolls with a considerable force, in the service of the Duke, made a conquest of the country; and the name of New Netherlands was afterwards changed to New York. In 1673, the colony was recaptured by the Dutch, and held by them a few months; but, with the exception of this short period, it was in the possession of the English from 1664 till the American Revolution, in 1775.

* The schedule of the property constituting the capital of the school fund is prepared and audited biennially.

[The colonial government was suspended in May, 1775; from which time to April, 1777, New York was governed by a Provincial Congress, of which Nathaniel Woodhull was President. A Constitution having, at length, been formed and adopted, the government, under this Constitution, went into operation April 20, 1777.]

GOVERNORS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.

Adopted in convention October 9, 1846, and ratified by the people November 2, 1846.

Every male citizen, twenty-one years of age, ten days a citizen, one year next preceding any election an inhabitant of the state, for the last four months a resident of the county where he may offer his vote, and, for thirty days next preceding the election, a resident of the district of his candidate, may vote in the election district of which he shall at the time be a resident, and not elsewhere. No man of color shall vote unless he shall have been for three years a resident of the state, and, for one year next preceding the election, shall have owned a freehold worth $250 above all incumbrances, and shall have paid a tax thereon. And no person of color shall be taxed unless he shall own such real estate. Persons convicted of any infamous crime, and those who have made, or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet upon an election, may by a law be deprived of their vote therein.

The state shall be divided into thirty-two districts, each of which shall choose one senator to serve for two years. A census of the state shall be taken in 1855, and in every ten years afterwards. The legislature, at the next session after such census, shall re-organize the districts on the basis of population, excluding aliens and persons of color not taxed; and the districts shall remain unaltered until the next census. Members of the assembly, one hundred and twenty-eight in number, and apportioned among the several counties according to the population, excluding aliens and persons of color not taxed, shall be elected annually and by single districts. Each county, except Hamilton, shall have at least one member of the assembly; and no new county shall be made unless its population entitle it to a member. The

*Martin Van Buren was governor from January 1 to March, 1829, when he resigned the office, on being appointed Secretary of State for the United States.

pay of the senators and representatives shall not be more than $3 a day, with $1 for every ten miles of travel, nor exceed in the whole $3 per diem allowance. In extra sessions it shall be $3 a day. The speaker shall receive one-third additional to his per diem allowance. No member of the legislature shall, during his term, be appointed to any office; and no one holding office under the United States, and no member of Congress, shall belong to the legislature. The election shall be on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November; and the legislature shall assemble on the first Tuesday of the following January. The assembly may impeach by a majority vote of all the members elected.

The governor and lieutenant-governor, chosen by a plurality of votes, shall hold office for two years. In case two persons have an equal and the highest vote, the legislature, at its next session, by joint ballot shall decide between them. They must be thirty years old, citizens of the United States, and have been, for five years next preceding their election, residents in the state. The governor may veto a bill; but two-thirds of both houses may pass it again, notwithstanding his veto. The lieutenant-governor shall be president of the senate, with only a casting vote; and if the office of governor be vacant, he, and, after him, the president of the senate, shall act as governor. The secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer, attorney-general, state-engineer and surveyor, shall be chosen at a general election, and hold office for two years. The treasurer may be suspended from office by the governor, during the recess of the legislature, and until thirty days after the beginning of the next session. At the first election, three canal commissioners and three inspectors of prisons shall be chosen, to hold office one, two, and three years, respectively, as shall be determined by lot; and afterwards one shall be elected annually to hold office for three years. The inspectors shall have charge of the state prisons, and shall appoint all officers therein.

The court of appeals shall consist of eight judges, four to be elected by the people of the state, to serve eight years, and four selected from the justices of the supreme court, having the shortest time to serve. The judges shall be so classified that every two years one shall leave office, and a new judge be elected to serve eight years. The state shall be divided into eight judicial districts, of which New York city shall be one; where the number of judges is to be fixed by law. The other districts shall each elect four justices of the supreme court to serve eight years. The justices shall have general jurisdiction in law and equity, and shall be so classified that every two years one in each district shall go out of office. Each county, except the city and county of New York, shall elect one county judge for four years, who shall act as surrogate and hold the county court. Counties of more than forty thousand inhabitants may elect a separate surrogate. Towns may elect justices of the peace to serve four years. Cities may have inferior local courts of civil and criminal jurisdiction. Tribunals of conciliation may be estab