XXIX. WISCONSIN TERRITORY.

GOVERNMENT.

HENRY DODGE, of Dodge's Grove, Governor, and Superintendent of Indian Affairs, (term expires March, 1849,)

John Catlin, of Madison,

Secretary of the Territory,

John White and David Merrill, Canal Commissioners,

Gillet Knapp, of Madison,

Salary.

$2,500

1,200

$3 a day.

Sup't of Territorial Property and Libr'an, 300

Wisconsin is soon to be admitted into the Union as an independent State, Congress having passed a law for that purpose in March, 1846; for which, and for a detail of the boundaries of the new State, see page 206. A convention to form a constitution was held at Madison, the capital of the Territory, on the first Monday of October, 1846.

District Courts.-The Territory is divided into three judicial districts, in each of which a district court is held twice a year, for each county within the district, by a Judge of the Supreme Court, assigned to the district.

1st Dist., Iowa, Grant, Crawford, and St. Croix; Mr. Justice Dunn.

2d do. Green, Rock, Walworth, Jefferson, Dane, Columbia, Sauk, and Portage; Mr. Justice Irvin.

3d do. Brown, Milwaukie, Racine, Dodge, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan, Mr. Justice Miller.

The Supreme Court appoints its own clerk, and holds its session at Madison, on the third Monday of July; it has appellate jurisdiction of all cases from the District Courts, and original jurisdiction of all cases of mandamus, quo warranto, prohibition, error, &c.

ABSTRACT of the Population of the several Counties in the Territory of Wisconsin, on the 1st day of June, A. D., 1846, except the Counties of Chippewa, La Pointe, and Richland, from which there are no returns.

Iowa is already a State, as Congress passed a law, in 1846, (for which see page 205,) providing for its admission into the Union, and determining its boundaries in a manner more acceptable to the people than in the former law for this purpose, passed in February, 1845. Accordingly, on the 3d of

August, 1846, the people voted to accept the constitution which had been framed for them two years before, and Iowa is now one of the United States. But the State officers were not chosen, nor was the government organized when this sheet went to press.

The Judges are appointed for four years. The Territory is divided into three judicial districts, and the Judges perform circuit duties. The Supreme Court, composed of all the Judges, meets annually, in July, at Iowa City.

ABSTRACT OF THE CONSTITUTION,

Adopted August 3, 1846.

Every white male citizen of the United States, 21 years old, insane or infamous persons excepted, having resided in the State six months, and in the county where he claims to vote thirty days, shall have the right of suffrage. The sessions of the General Assembly, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives, shall be biennial, commencing on the first Monday in January after their election. Representatives shall be chosen for two years on the third Tuesday of October; they must have resided in Iowa for at least one year previous to the election. Senators, not less than one third, nor more than one half, as numerous as the Representatives, must be 25 years of age; they shall be chosen for four years, one half biennially. Any member of the General Assembly may protest against an act or resolution, and cause the reasons of his dissent to be entered on the Journal. The governor may refuse to sign a bill; but if subsequently approved by two thirds of the members of both houses, it shall become a law in spite of his objections. No member of either house shall be appointed to any civil office which has been created, or the emoluments of which have been increased, during his term of service. No person holding any lucrative office under the State or the United States, shall be eligible to the Assembly. The pay of members shall not exceed $2 a day for the first 50 days, and $1 a day for the rest of the session. Every law shall embrace but one object, which shall be expressed in the title. No divorce shall be granted by the Legislature. No county shall be liable for the expense of any road established by special act of the Assembly. A census of the State shall be taken within two years after

the first meeting of the General Assembly, and again in every subsequent four years for the term of sixteen years. After each census, members shal be apportioned among the several counties according to the number of white inhabitants in each. The representatives shall not be less than 26, or more than 39, till the white population amounts to 125,000; afterward they shall not be less than 36, nor more than 72. For the first ten years, the salary of the governor shall not exceed $800; of the secretary of state and the auditor, $500 each; of the treasurer, $300, and of the judges of the supreme and district courts, $800 each.

The governor and lieutenant governor shall be chosen for two years; they must be 30 years old, and have resided in the state for two years. The lieutenant governor shall be president of the senate, and shall be paid the same sum as the speaker of the house. A secretary of state, auditor, and treasurer, shall be chosen by the people each for two years.

The supreme court shall consist of a chief justice and two associates, elected by joint vote of the General Assembly for four years, two of whom shall form a quorum. This court shall have appellate jurisdiction only in all chancery cases, and correct errors at law under restrictions provided by the General Assembly. The judges shall be elected by the qualified voters of their respective districts, each for four years. There shall be elected in each county one judge of probate, one prosecuting attorney, and one clerk of the district court, each for two years.

No State debts shall be created exceeding $100,000, except in case of war or insurrection, unless authorized by a special law, which shall provide for the payment of the interest, and of the principal within 20 years; which law shall be irrepealable, and, before going into effect, must be submitted to the people at a general election, and be approved by a majority of the voters.

No act of incorporation, except for public improvement, shall continue longer than 20 years; the property of its members shall be liable for its debts, and the act may be repealed at any time by the Assembly. Private property shall not be used for any incorporated company without the consent of its owner. The State shall never become a stockholder in any corporation. No bank shall be created, except the act for its incorporation be approved by a majority of the voters at a general election.

A Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be chosen by joint vote of the legislature for three years. All lands granted by Congress to this State, all escheated estates, and the five per cent. granted on the sale of the public lands in Iowa, shall constitute a perpetual fund, the interest of which shall be applied to the support of common schools. As soon as practicable, libraries in every township shall be provided, and all moneys received for exemption from military duty and for fines imposed by the courts, shall be appropriated to support such libraries. The money arising from the lease or sale of public lands granted for the support of a university shall remain a perpetual fund to maintain such an institution.

Amendments to this constitution must be passed by a majority of all the members elected to both houses in two successive General Assemblies, and must then be submitted to the people, and ratified by a majority of the vot

ers. The Assembly shall not propose amendments oftener than once in six years. Two thirds of the members of both houses may recommend a convention to revise or alter the constitution; and if a majority of the voters afterwards assent to this recommendation, such a convention may be called by the next legislature. The first meeting of the legislature shall be held on the first Monday in November after the acceptance of this constitution, at Iowa City, in Johnson county, which shall be the seat of goverment till 1865.

XXXI. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

The District of Columbia is under the immediate government of Congress. The city of Washington became the seat of the government of the United States, in 1800; and it is the residence of the President, and the other chief executive officers of the national government. By an act of Congress, in 1846, which was subsequently accepted by the people of Alexandria, the city and county of Alexandria were retroceded to the State of Virginia, and the District is now confined to the Maryland side of the Potomac.

This Court holds three terms a year, beginning respectively on the 1st Monday in March, the 3d Monday in June, and the 1st Monday in December.