Tuesday of every January. The governor must be 30 years old, a citizen of the United States for twenty years, and a resident of the state for the seven years next before his election, and shall be chosen by a plurality of votes, or, in case of an even vote, by "a majority of the members of both houses in joint-meeting," for the term of three years; but he shall not be eligible for the next three years, or nominate or appoint to any office during the last week of his term. He may veto a bill; but a majority of the members elected to each house may pass it, notwithstanding his veto. He may grant reprieves, except in cases of impeachment, for a time not exceeding 90 days after conviction; and he or his substitute, the chancellor, and the six judges of the court of errors and appeals, or a majority of them, of whom the governor shall be one, may grant pardons in the like cases. In case 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. If the governor die, resign, or be removed, more than 30 days before the election of members of the legislature, a successor shall be chosen at that election; if within 30 days, at the next election but one. Members of the legislature shall be paid not more than $3 a day for the first 40 days of the session, and not more than $1.50 a day for the remainder, and ten cents a mile for travel. In extra sessions, they shall receive such sums as shall be fixed, for the first 40 days. The president of the senate and speaker of the house receive one-third additional pay. No member of either house shall, during his term, be nominated or appointed, except by the people, to any office created, or increased in pay, during that term. The credit of the state shall not be lent in any case; neither shall the legislature create any debt, which shall raise the whole state debt above $100,000 (save in case of war, invasion, or insurrection), unless it “be authorized by a law for some single object or work, to be distinctly specified therein; which law shall provide the ways and means, exclusive of loans, to pay the interest of each debt or liability, as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal of such debt or liability within 35 years from the time of the contracting thereof, and shall be irrepealable, until such debt or liability, and the interest thereon, are fully paid and discharged; and no such law shall take effect, until it shall, at a general election, have been submitted to the people, and have received the sanction of a majority of all the votes cast." No divorce shall be granted, or lottery authorized, by the legis lature; and no lottery ticket shall be sold in the state. Every law shall have but one object, and that one expressed in the title. No special law shall be passed authorizing the sale of land belonging to minors, or other persons under legal disability. Bank charters shall be granted, continued, or amended, only by a vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house, and for a term not exceeding 20 years. The court of errors and ap peals consists of the chancellor, the justices of the supreme court, and six judges, appointed by the governor and senate, for six years, one every year; and such of the six as attend receive a per diem compensation, to be fixed by law. The chancellor and supreme court judges, on appeals from themselves, may state the reasons of their judgment, but shall have no vote. The secretary of state is clerk of the court. The chancellor, appointed by the governor and senate for seven years, constitutes the court of chancery, and is the ordinary and judge of the prerogative court. The supreme court consists of a chief justice, and not less than two associates, appointed by the governor and senate for seven years. The circuit court may be held by a judge of the supreme court, or by a distinct judge, and has, within the county, a common-law jurisdiction, except in criminal cases, concurrent with the supreme court; and its final judgments may be docketed in that court. The court of common pleas shall consist of not more than five judges, chosen by joint ballot of the legislature, for five years, one every year. Justices of the peace are chosen for five years by the people in towns. The salaries of the chancellor and supreme court judges shall not be diminished during their term. The attorney-general, clerks of the supreme court, and court of chancery, shall be appointed, for five years, by the governor and senate. Clerks and surrogates of counties are elected by the people therein, for five years; and sheriffs and coroners annually; but they cannot serve more than three consecutive years. All officers, not otherwise provided for, are appointed by the governor and senate. No person shall be imprisoned for debt, except in cases of fraud. In all libel cases, the truth may be given in evidence; and if published with good motives, and for justifiable ends, is a sufficient defence. The jury may determine the law and the facts. GOVERNMENT For the year ending January, 1848. CHAS. C. STRATTON, of Gloucester Co., Governor (term of office ex Ch. G. M'Chesney, John C. Smallwood, of Trenton, of Trenton, Salary. of Gloucester Co., President of the Senate, $4.00 a day. of Burlington Co., Speaker of the Assembly, 4.00 a day. J. W. C. Evans, IX. PENNSYLVANIA. Pennsylvania was granted by Charles II., by a charter signed on the 4th of March, 1681, to the illustrious William Penn, who was constituted the proprietary of the province. In 1682, William Penn, together with about two thousand settlers, most of whom, like himself, belonged to the society of Friends, or Quakers, arrived in the country; and in the following year he laid out the plan of the city of Philadelphia. He established a friendly intercourse with the Indians, which was not interrupted for more than seventy years. From the beginning of the 18th century till the commencement of the American Revolution, the government was generally administered by deputies appointed by the proprietaries, who mostly resided in England. GOVERNORS, Deputy-GOVERNORS, &c. Under the Proprietary Government. William Penn, Prop. and Gov. 1682 James Logan, Thomas Lloyd, President, Appointed. President, 1736 1684 George Thomas, Dep.- Gov. 1738 1747. 1693 James Hamilton, Dep.- Gov. 1748 1693 Robert H. Morris, do. 1754 do. 1699 William Denny, do. 1756 1701 James Hamilton, 1759 The first constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted in 1776; the second in 1790; and the present constitution in 1838. 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 I 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, |