he has not received a discharge. A State Treasurer shall be chosen biennially by joint ballot. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor, chosen by a plurality of the electors, shall hold office for four years. They must be thirty-five years old, and have been citizens of the United States and residents in the State for fifteen years. The Governor shall be inelegible for the four years succeeding his term of office. The Lieutenant Governor shall be president of the Senate. He may veto a bill, but two thirds of both Houses may pass it again in spite of his veto. The Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice, receiving $6,000, and three Associate Justices, receiving $5,500 annually, appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for the term of eight years. The Court shall sit in New Orleans from the first Monday in November to the end of June, inclusive. All the judges may be impeached, and they may be removed by the Governor on the address of three fourths of both Houses. The Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction only, when more than $300 are in dispute, when the legality of any tax is in question, on all fines and penalties imposed by municipal corporations, and in criminal cases, on points of law alone, when death, hard labor, or a fine of more than $300 is imposed. They may issue writs of habeas corpus in all cases where they have appellate jurisdiction. If the judges are equally divided, the judgment appealed from shall stand affirmed. There shall be an Attorney General, and as many District Attorneys as may be necessary, appointed for two years. The legislature shall divide the State into judicial districts, not less than 12, or more than 20, in number, which may be re-organized every sixth year. One District Judge shall be appointed for six years, for each district, except for the Districts of New Orleans and Lafayette, where as many shall be appointed as are necessary. Each of these judges shall receive an annual salary, not less than $2,500, which shall not be increased or diminished during his term of office. He must be a citizen of the United States, over 30 years old, a resident of the State for five years, and have practised law therein five years. The District Courts shall have jurisdiction when more than $50 are at stake, and in all criminal cases. All civil officers, except the Governor and the Judges, are removable on an address of a majority of both Houses. Members may address either House in the French or English language. The seat of government shall be removed, after 1848, to a place distant at least 60 miles from New Orleans; (Baton Rouge is the place selected.) The credit of the State shall not be lent to any person or corporation whatsoever; but new bonds may be issued to replace outstanding ones. No State debt shall be contracted for more than $100,000, except in case of war, invasion, or insurrection, unless authorized by law for some distinctly specified object or work; which law shall impose taxes to pay the running interest during the whole term of the debt, and also to pay the debt itself at maturity; and this law shall be irrepealable till the debt and interest are fully discharged, and shall not go into force till again enacted by the next legislature after its first passage. The State shall not subscribe to the stock of any company or corporation; no corporate company shall be hereafter created, renewed, or extended with banking or discounting privileges. After 1890, the charters of all corporations may be revoked; and no charter shall now be granted, except for municipal or political purposes, for more than 25 years. Taxation shall be equal and uniform; property shall be taxed according to its value, no one kind being taxed more than another; an income tax may be levied. Any one who fights a duel, acts as second, sends or accepts a challenge, shall neither hold an office nor enjoy the right of suffrage in this State. There shall be a Superintendent of Public Education, holding office for two years. Free public schools shall be established throughout the State; the proceeds of lands granted for the purpose, and of lands escheated to the State, shall be held as a permanent fund, on which six per cent. interest shall be paid by the State for the support of these schools. A university shall be established in New Orleans, to be called the University of Louisiana, consisting of four faculties, — law, medicine, natural sciences, and letters; the Medical College of Louisiana, as now constituted, shall be its faculty of medicine. Amendments of this Constitution shall be first approved by three fifths of both Houses; then published in the newspapers throughout the State three months before the next general election; then approved by a majority of both Houses in the succeeding legislature; then published again as before; then submitted to the people, and if ratified by a majority of the voters, shall form a part of this constitution. The property of the State is estimated as follows: One square of ground on Canal Street, Slaves and machinery for public works, Notes and bonds of individuals, Shares in Clinton and Port Hudson railroad, One sixth of profits of Union Bank, 462,178 acres of land, given by the United States, at $3, $250,000 00 60,000 00 425,401 30 20,000 00 275,000 00 1,386,536 25 First Judicial District. — Matagorda, Wharton, Colorado, Austin, Fort Bend, Brazoria and Galveston counties. Second District. — Comal, Gaudaloupe, Travis, Bastrop, Fayette, La Vaca. De Witt and Gonzales counties. do. do. Clarksville, 1,750 Wm. C. Young, Clarksville, do. Third District. - Brazos, Robertson, Leon, Limestone, Navarro, Milam, Burleson and Washington counties. Calhoun, Jackson, Victoria, Goliad, Refugio, San Patricio, Nucces and Bexar counties. Fifth District.-Jasper, Newton, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Panola, Upshur, Harrison and Cass counties. Sixth District.-Nacogdoches, Angelina, Houston, Cherokee, Rusk, Anderson, Henderson, Smith and Dallas counties. Seventh District. - Harris, Montgomery, Walker, Grimes, Liberty, Polk, Tyler and Jefferson counties. Eighth District.— Bowie, Lamar, Red River, Fannin, Grayson, Collin, Denton, Hopkins, Titus and Hunt counties. Public Lands. Superficial extent of Texas, as comprised within the limits defined by statute of first Texan Congress, 397,319 sq. miles, or p. 313, 254,284,160 acres. Total amount of land issued by the various Boards Total amount of legal claims to lands issued by the authorities of Texas, Total amount issued by the Department of War, as bounty and donation claims, 6,300,000 Total amount of Land Scrip sold by the Government of Texas, Total amount issued by the various Boards of Land FINANCES. [From a Report of a Committee of the Texan House of Representatives, inclosing a Report from the Comptroller, March, 1846.) The Comptroller states, from the best evidence which can be obtained, that the outstanding domestic debt is as follows: Foreign Debt. Borrowed of the Bank of the United States, for which sterling bonds amounting to £94,500, at 10 per cent. interest were issued, Interest on these bonds from July 1839, to March 1846, Claim of J. Holford and others for purchase of steamer Zavella, paid in sterling bonds, £40,476. 13s. Interest on these bonds, same dates, F. Dawson and others, payment for naval vessels, . $400,000 00 266,666 66 180,029 68 120,019 73 560,000 00 408,333 33 $1,935,049 40 8,013,957 65 $9,949,007 05 The Committee state, that Texas issued her securities during the war with Mexico at an enormous rate of discount, and that most nations have forborne to pay such revolutionary currency; but the legislature, “desirous of sustaining the public faith and honor," will cause the creditors to be paid in full the amount which the republic actually received from them, so far as it can be ascertained, with the interest stipulated thereon; and they recommend the following classification of the debt for that purpose: Balance of 10 per cent. cons. stock, including int. 1,213,755.45 404,585.15 Third Class; to be paid at 30 cents on the dollar. 10 per cent. stock of Feb. 5th, 1840, including int. 1,266,350.00 379,905.00 |