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JUDICIARY.

The Judges are appointed by the Governor and Senate for 7 years, and the senior in commission is the Chief Judge.

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This Court holds its sessions at Indianapolis, in May and November. It has appellate jurisdiction only, except in cases in chancery in which the President of the Circuit Court may be interested.

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The President Judges are elected by the legislature, for 7 years; the attorneys are chosen by the people for 2 years; and the Associate Judges and Clerks of the Courts are elected by the people for 7 years. The President Judges receive each a salary of $800, and the Judge of the 5th Circuit is allowed $300 in addition, optional with the County Commissioners of his Circuit: the Attorneys have each a salary of $150 and perquisites. The Judges hold two terms in each county annually. There are two Associate Judges in each county, who receive $2 a day during the session.

FINANCES.

Public Debt. Bonds on which the State pays interest,

Bonds on which the Bank pays interest,

Arrears of interest due Jan. 1, 1846,

Total,

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The annual interest on the State Bonds is $556,220. There are also outstanding treasury notes, which, with the interest due on them, amount to $1,204,760; the annual interest on these notes is $51,552. Adding these sums, the grand total of the State debt is $16,462,080; and the annual in terest payable by it is $607,772.

The legislature in 1846 passed an act to provide by taxation for the payment of 2 per cent. of the interest on the public debt, relying, for the payment of the remainder of the interest, on the tolls, water rents, and lands of the Wabash and Erie Canal. The old State bonds are to be surrend ered, and new certificates issued, redeemable at pleasure after 20 years. Such new certificates specify the amount due as principal on the surrendered bonds, and also the amount due as interest to 1st of January, 1847, computing such interest at the rate of two and a half per cent. per annum. On the principal specified in such new certificates the State will pay two per cent. per annum, from 1st January, 1847, to 1st January, 1853; at which latter period the amount of interest specified as having been due on 1st January, 1847, together with one-half of one per cent. on the specified principal, from 1st Jannary, 1847, to 1st January, 1853, shall be added to the principal; and the State will pay interest at the rate of two and a half per cent. per annum, upon the amount of principal and interest so added, until the same shall be finally redeemed.

For the purpose of providing for the remaining two and a half per cent. per annum, not payable from taxation, the holders of State bonds shall have the privilege of raising among themselves, by pro rata subscription on the amounts respectively held by each of them, before the 1st of January next, a sufficient sum (not less, however, than $2,250,000) to complete the Wabash and Erie canal to Evansville, within four years from the taking effect of this act. The canal lands and tolls and revenues of said canal are to be conveyed to trustees, to secure to said subscribers the reimbursement of said advances, and the payment of the remaining interest on the said bonds. This proposition has been accepted by the bondholders, and the State is freed from responsibility for the principal and interest of one half of this debt.

The expenses of the State Government for the year 1845, amounted only to $71,122, a reduction of $22,246 upon the preceeding year; and the estimates for 1846 reduced that item still more, leaving it at $67,000. The number of polls is 124,000, and the value of the taxable property $118,500,000, making an increase over the year 1844 of 6,000 polls and $2,300,000 in the value of taxable property. The State revenue paid in during the fiscal year ending the 31st Oct. 1845, amounts to $271,963. The domestic scrip has been nearly absorbed so far as the same is afloat, and a large amount of the income of the State is thus left to be applied to pay the interest on the State bonds.

Statement showing the probable revenue from the Wabash and Erie Canal, from 1846 to 1855, inclusive, as estimated 8th December, 1845.

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NOTE. The cost of constructing the Canal to Lafayette, as near as can be ascertained, was $2,404,000. * Extraordinary repairs must be made this year.

† About this time some structures will require rebuilding.

Statement showing the value of taxables, the number of polls, the annual yield of a three mill tax up to 1850, inclusive, and thereafter three and a half mills, and a poll tax of seventy-five cents; also, the net revenue to be derived from these sources, after deducting twenty per cent. for cost of collection and delinquencies, for each year from 1846 to 1855, inclusive. The taxables are supposed to increase on an average of $6,000,000 and the polls 6000 per annum.

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1852, 162,000,000 166,000 124,500
1853, 168,000,000 172,000 129,000
1854, 174,000,000 178,000 133,500 131,100
1855, 180,000,000 184,000 138,000 135,600

122,100

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126,600

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XXVII. ILLINOIS.

GOVERNMENT.

AUGUSTUS C. FRENCH, Governor, (term ends 1st Monday in December, 1850,)

J. B. Wells, Lieutenant Governor, $4 a day during the session, and $3
for every 20 miles of travel.

Thompson Campbell, of Galena, Secretary, (including clerk hire,)
Thomas H. Campbell, Auditor,

(do.)

Salary.

$2,000

800

1,600

Milton Carpenter, of Hamilton Co., Treasurer,
George R. Weber, Public Printer.

The Governor is, ex officio, Fund Commissioner.

(do.)

008$

David Leavitt, of New York, and W. H. Swift, of Massachusetts, are Canal Trustees on the part of the bond holders, and Jacob Fry, of Lockport, on the part of the State.

Each member of the legislature receives $3 a day during the session, and $3 for every 20 miles of travel. The Lieutenant Governor is Speaker of the Senate.

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800

Hugh T. Dickey, of Chicago, Judge of the Cook Co. Court,

Patrick Ballingall, Attorney for Joe Daveiss Co.

Fees and 200

The judges are elected by the legislature, and hold their offices during good behavior. Five constitute a quorum. The judges all perform circuit duties, the State being divided into circuits corresponding with the number of Judges. There is a State's Attorney for each circuit, who is elected by the legislature biennially. Salary, $250 and fees.

The only other courts now in the State are those held by probate justices and justices of the peace. The former have jurisdiction in actions of debt or assumpsit by or against administrators, &c., where the amount in controversy does not exceed $1,000, and the general powers of probate courts. The latter have jurisdiction in actions of debt or assumpsit, not exceeding in amount $100; and exclusive jurisdiction in cases of assaults and battery. In trespass on personal property and trover, where the damages claimed do not exceed $20, justices of the peace also have jurisdiction. In all suits for debts, where the damages claimed exceed $20, the Circuit Courts have jurisdiction, and they are Superior Courts of general jurisdiction.

The Governor and Justices of the Supreme Court constitute a Council of Revision, which acts upon all laws, approving or disapproving them. A bill, if disapproved, is returned to the house in which it originated; and if afterwards passed by a majority of all the members elected in both houses, it becomes a law in spite of the disapproval.

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* Portions of these counties have been cut off.

In these four counties the census for the year has not been received.

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