Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

representatives is in proportion to population, including three fifths of all the people of color; but each county is entitled to at least one, and no one to more than four, members.

The executive power is vested in a Governor, who was formerly elected by the General Assembly; but he is now (and ever since 1824) elected by the people on the first Monday in October; and he holds the office for two years.

The General Assembly meets (at Milledgeville) on the first Monday in November; unless convened at another time by the Governor.

The Constitution grants the right of suffrage to all "citizens and inhabitants, who have attained the age of 21 years, and have paid all the taxes which may have been required of them, and which they may have had opportunity of paying, agreeably to law, for the year preceding the election, and shall have resided six months within the county."

The judicial power is vested in a Superior Court and in such inferior jurisdictions as the legislature may, from time to time, ordain and establish; and the superior and inferior courts sit twice in each county every year. The judges of the Superior Court are elected by the legislature for three years; the justices of the inferior courts, and justices of the peace, are elected quadriennally by the people; and the clerks of the superior and inferior courts biennially.

GOVERNMENT.

George R. Gilmer, Governor; term of office will expire in November, 1831; salary $3,000.

Senators, 76; Representatives, 140. Pay $4 a day each, and 4 cents a mile for travel. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives receive each $6 a day.

[blocks in formation]

An Inferior Court is held in each county, each composed of five justices, elected by the people every four years. These courts possess the powers of Courts of Probate. The justices have no salary.

BANKS.

[State of the Banks as reported to the General Assembly, Novem

[blocks in formation]

The "Central Bank of Georgia" is entirely the property of the state; and the design of its incorporation was to afford means of letting out the surplus funds of the state, and also to place the debts due to the state in the hands of suitable agents (the directors) for collection. Its capital is composed of all the bank stock held by the state, of all bonds, notes, debts, specialties, and judgments due to it; and all moneys arising from the sale of lands belonging to the state. Debts due to the state are collected by the bank; and persons owing the state give notes payable at the bank. "The Bank of the United States has an Office of Discount and Deposit at Savannah.

PENITENTIARY.

The State Penitentiary is situated at Milledgeville, and on the 31st of December, 1829, contained 92 convicts. The salary of the principal keeper is $1,438. The sum of about $5,000 was annually appropriated for the expenses of the institution before the year 1829, when it was put under a new management, and during the year 1829, it required no assistance from the state.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

According to a report made in 1828, "within the preceding 13 years the sum of $324,500 had been appropriated by the state for the purposes of internal improvement." But the beneficial results which were expected, have not been realized; and it is stated that "all the reports as well as the omission to make them, go to show that those entrusted with the business had not manifested that fidelity, industry, and skill, which the

*Specie and bills of Banks that pay specie.

state had a right to expect from them." In 1829 the system was changed; and the sum of $70,000 dollars was appropriated to purchase a supply of negroes, making, with what were before possessed, the number of 100. These were placed under the direction of two superintendents, by whom they were distributed into various parts of the state, to be employed under overseers in working on roads and rivers. According to the report of the Committee of Internal Improvement, the canal from the Savannah to the Ogeechee was expected to be completed in March, 1830, at the expense of about $165,000. The design is to extend the canal to the Alatamaha, making its length 72 miles.

EDUCATION.

The principal literary seminary in this state is Franklin College, or the University of Georgia, at Athens, which has funds to the amount of $136,000, of which $100,000 are invested in the Bank of the State of Georgia, which stock the state guaranties to yield 8 per cent. per annum.

The following statement relating to education is given by Mr. Sherwood in his "Gazetteer of Georgia." "There are about 80 incorporated academies in this state, 64 of which have been brought into operation. The average number of pupils in each, is 473,008. In the northern and southern sections of the state, there are probably 5 common schools in each county; 40 counties; 30 pupils each = 6,000. In the middle section, say 7 common schools in each county; 25 counties = 5,250. Total number of pupils in the academies and common schools 14,258." The state possesses Academy and Poor School Funds" to a considerable amount. "By an act of the legislature of 1792, each county academy was allowed to purchase the value of £1,000 of confiscated property: 1,000 acres of land in each county were granted for the support of schools; and also a fund of $250,000, to be vested in stocks for the same purpose.

66

INDIANS.

Two considerable tribes of Indians reside partly within the chartered limits of this state; the Cherokees in the northwestern part, and the Creeks in the western. The Cherokees have made greater advances in the arts of civilized life than any other tribe of North American Indians. A proposition to remove them to the west of the Mississippi, which has been recently made, has excited a deep interest throughout the country; and it is to be hoped that such a course will be pursued as shall be consistent at once with justice and humanity,-with the welfare of the Cherokees, and the honor of the United States. The following notice of them is extracted from Mr. Sherwood's Gazetteer of Georgia, published in 1827.

"Within the last 20 years the Cherokees have rapidly advanced towards civilization. They now live in comfortable houses, chiefly in villages, and cultivate large farms. They raise large herds of cattle, which they sell for

beef to the inhabitants of neighboring states. Many mechanical arts have been introduced among them. They have carpenters and blacksmiths; and many of the women spin and weave and make butter and cheese. The population, instead of decreasing, as is the case generally with tribes surrounded by the whites, increases very rapidly. There are now 13,563 natives in the nation; 147 white men, and 73 white women, who have intermarried with them. They own 1,277 slaves. Total, 15,060 souls; increase in the last six years 3,563.

"Their government is republican, and power is vested in a Committee and Council, answering to our Senate and House of Representatives. The members are elected once in two years. Newtown is the seat of government. Their judges act with authority, and prevent entirely the use of ardent spirits, during the sessions of their courts. The mission at Spring Place was established in 1801. Since that time nearly a dozen have been brought into operation in various parts of the nation. The number of children in the several missionary schools is nearly 500, all learning the English language."

XVI. ALABAMA.

MOBILE, in the southern part of Alabama, was settled long since by the Spanish; yet the territory which now forms this state contained but very few civilized inhabitants before 1810. Since that time its increase in population has been exceedingly rapid.

Alabama was erected into a territorial government in 1817; the inhabitants formed a Constitution in 1819; and in 1820, it was admitted into the Union.

GOVERNORS.

William W. Bibb, appointed 1817, Governor of the Territory of Alabama.

[blocks in formation]

The legislative power is vested in two branches, a Senate and House of Representatives, which together are styled The General Assembly of the State of Alabama.

The representatives are elected annually, and are apportioned among the different counties in proportion to the white population; the whole number cannot exceed 100, nor fall short of 60. The senators are elected for three

years, and one third of them are chosen every year. Their number cannot be more than one third, nor less than one fourth of the number of representatives.

The executive power is vested in a Governor, who is elected by the people, for two years; and is eligible 4 years out of 6.

The representatives and one third of the senators are elected annually on the first Monday in August and the day following; and the governor is elected biennially at the same time.

The General Assembly meets annually (at Tuscaloosa) on the fourth Monday in October.

The right of suffrage is possessed by every white, male citizen of 21 years of age, who has resided within the state one year next preceding an election, and the last three months within the county, city, or town, in which he offers his vote.

The judicial power is vested in one Supreme Court, in Circuit Courts, and such inferior courts as the General Assembly may, from time to time, direct and establish. The judges, after November in 1833, are to be elected by a joint vote of both Houses of the General Assembly, every six years.

THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATURE.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

$425 & perquisites.

Constantine Perkins, Attorney General,

The Senate now consists of 22 members; the House of Representatives of 72 members. The pay of the members of both Houses is $4 per day each.

JUDICIARY.

The state is divided into Seven Circuits, in each of which there is a circuit judge; and the Supreme Court is formed by a union of these seven judges.

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »