Daniel M. Bates,

of Dover,

Government for the year 1848.

Salary.

Governor, term of office

expires on the 3d Tuesday in Jan., 1851), $1,333 1-3

Secretary of State, Fees and 400

Edward W. Gilpin,

of Wilmington, Attorney-General, Fees and 500

In 1632, Maryland was granted by Charles I. of England, to Sir George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, a Roman Catholic, and an eminent statesman, who had been secretary to James I.; but before the patent was completed, Lord Baltimore died, and the patent, dated June 20, 1632, was given to his eldest son Cecilius, who succeeded to his titles, and who, for upwards of forty years, directed, as proprietor, the affairs of the colony.

Leonard Calvert, brother to Cecilius, Lord Baltimore, was appointed the first governor; and he, together with about 200 persons, commenced the settlement of the town of St. Mary's, in 1634. A free toleration of religion

was established, and a system of equity and humanity was practised with regard to the Indian tribes.

The constitution of this state was formed in 1776; since which time more than twenty amendments have been made.

Every free white male citizen of the state, 21 years old, resident twelve months next preceding the election in the state, and six months in the county, may vote. Members of the house of delegates shall be 21 years old, and for the last year resident in their county, and shall be chosen biennially. Every county of 15,000 souls may choose 3 delegates; of from 15,000 to

25,000, 4 delegates; of from 25,000 to 35,000, 5 delegates; of more than 35,000, 6 delegates; and the city of Baltimore as many as the county having the largest representation. The elections shall be on the first Wednesday of October; and the legislature shall meet every second year, on the last Monday in December. The house of delegates may act as a grand jury. Senators (21 in number) shall be 25 years old, and residents of their county or city for the three years next before the election, and shall be chosen by the counties, and by the city of Baltimore, for six years, one-third every second year. The state shall be divided into three gubernatorial districts, from which, in turn, the governor shall be selected. He shall be "a person of wisdom, experience, and virtue," shall be 30 years old, and for three years next before his election a resident of his district, and for five years of the state, and shall be chosen for three years by a plurality of votes; or, in case of an even vote, by the legislature, upon joint ballot; and shall be ineligible for the next term. If the office of governor be vacant, the secretary of state shall be governor ad interim; and after him, the president of the senate; and after him, the speaker of the house: but the General Assembly, if in session, shall, by joint ballot, choose a successor at once; or at their next session, if the vacancy occur in the recess. The chancellor and the attorney-general hold office during good behavior. Sheriffs are elected in counties for three years, and are ineligible for the next three years. Every person appointed to any office of profit or trust shall subscribe a declaration of his belief in the Christian religion. There are six judicial districts, each of which shall have one chief judge, and two associate judges, constituting the county court, and holding office during good behavior, removable upon address of two-thirds of each house. The court of appeals is composed of the chief judges of the several districts. Any bill to abolish slavery shall fully compensate the masters, and must be passed unanimously by each house, be published three months before the next election of delegates, and be again passed unanimously at the next regular session of the assembly. Every devise of property, and every sale or gift of land to any clergyman (as such), or religious denomination, without leave of the legislature, is void, excepting not above two acres of land for a church and burial-ground. Amendments passed by the General Assembly, published three months before the next election, and confirmed by the legislature at its next session, shall be adopted, except certain local provisions, which require a vote of two-thirds of each house.

GOVERNMENT.

Salary.

THOMAS G. PRATT, of Pr. George's Co., Governor (term expires

After the 1st Monday in January, 1848, the salary of Governor will be $2,000, with the use of the "Governor's house," which is large and well furnished, at the expense of the state. From the same date the salary of the Secretary of State will be $1,000.

The state pays annually for interest,

Ordinary expenses of government,

The interest in arrear on state debt, December 1, 1846, was

$651,821.16

197,769.00

1,299,922.33

From the aggregate of the funded debts, there should be deducted $3,200 5 per cent. bonds, advanced to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, which have never been put into the market, and which, it is confidently believed, will never be a charge upon the state. This makes the absolute debt of the state $11,986,784.98, which, with a less deduction, was put down ante, p. 168, at $12,011,785.

The productive capital of the state, consisting of stocks and debts due the state, is $3,198,618.92. Besides this productive stock, the state holds $16,006,407.95 of capital and credits, at present unproductive; but which must, at some future time, become of considrable value. The estimated present value of this unproductive stock is $5,000,000. The assessed value of the real and personal property of the state, for the year 1846, was $177,555,846; and the levy thereon was $443,889.58. The new assessment of the city of Baltimore will add to the valuation $25,171,784, and to the levy $62,929.46.

Sinking Fund. - This fund amounted, on the 1st of December, 1844, to $1,276,306.70; on the 1st of December, 1845, to $1,411,911.54; and on the 1st of December, 1846, to $1,515,227.01. It is estimated, that if the accruing interest on the state debt be regularly paid, the debt itself, by the operation of this fund, will be extinguished in thirty years. During the year it has increased $103,315.47, and in the same period has lessened the public debt, $22,931.25.

An act was passed by the legislature, March 8th, 1847, in pursuance of the unanimous report of the committee of ways and means, authorizing the treasurer to resume the payment of the current interest on the public debt on the 1st day of January, 1848. The arrears of interest are to be funded, and to bear interest at the rate of 6 per cent.; but the payment of this interest is to be postponed until the whole current interest be paid on the principal debt. The estimates that were made by the committee of the revenues of the state during the year to meet the new state of things, have so far been much under the actual returns into the treasury from the several sources by it specified. All doubts concerning the success of the measure have vanished.

XII. VIRGINIA.

The first permanent English settlement formed in America was made, in 1607, by one hundred and five adventurers, on James river, in this state, at a place named Jamestown, in honor of James I. of England.

Several unsuccessful attempts had been made in the latter part of the preceding century, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, in honor of whom the country was named Virginia; which name, though now limited to a single state, at the time of the settlement, was applied to all the country in America lying between latitude 34° and 45° N.

The early history of the colony is full of interesting and affecting incidents, occasioned by dangers and calamities; by sickness, want, and contests with the Indians.

The government of the colony was at first administered by a council of seven persons, with a president chosen from among their number; but afterwards it was administered by a governor, appointed, except during the Commonwealth in England, by the crown.