constitution in 1777, under which a government was organized in March, 1788; and in 1791, Vermont was admitted into the Union.

The first constitution of this state was formed in 1777; the one now in operation was adopted on the 4th of July, 1793.

Every man 21 years old, resident in the state for the last year, of a quiet and peaceable behavior, may vote, on taking the oath. Representatives (one from each town) shall be persons most noted for wisdom and virtue, resident for the two last years in the state, and one year in the town, and chosen annually, on the first Tuesday of September. Two-thirds of the members elected are required to form a quorum when a state tax is voted. The senators, 30 years of age, and 30 in number, are chosen by a plurality of votes every year, in counties, one from each county, and the remainder according to the population. The governor shall have been a resident of the state for the last four years, and shall be chosen annually by a majority of votes; and, if there be no choice, one of the three highest candidates is chosen by the general assembly, by joint ballot. The lieutenant-governor and treasurer are chosen in the same manner. The councillors (12 in number) are chosen annually, by general ticket, and by a plurality of votes. The governor and council shall appoint to offices which are not otherwise filled, and fill vacancies; and they may grant pardons for all crimes, excepting treason and murder, in which they may grant reprieves until the end of the next session of the general assembly; and excepting, also, impeachments, which can be reversed only by act of the assembly. The governor presides in the council, and has a casting vote only. He may veto a bill; but two-thirds of both Houses may pass it again, in spite of his veto. He is allowed a secretary of civil and military affairs, appointed and removable by himself, and paid by the state. Judges of the supreme, county, and probate courts, sheriffs, and justices of the peace, shall be elected by the general assembly, in joint ballot. Slavery shall be prohibited. Imprisonment for debt shall be permitted only in case of fraud. Deeds of land shall be recorded in the office of the town-clerk, and for want thereof, of the county clerk. Perpetuities shall be prohibited. Every alien of good character, coming to settle in the state, and swearing alle

giance thereto, shall have a right to hold land. Once in seven years, 13 censors shall be chosen, on one ticket, by the people, whose duty it shall be to inquire whether the constitution has been observed in every particular, and whether all public servants have acted faithfully, with power to pass public censures, to order impeachments, to send for persons and papers, and to recommend to the assembly the repeal of unconstitutional laws; and also to call a convention for amending the constitution within two years, six months' public notice being given of the amendments proposed.

GOVERNMENT

For the year ending October, 1847.

of Woodstock,

Sec. Civil and Military Affairs, 200

of Rutland,

of Montpelier,

composed of about 230 members, one member from each town. Pay of the members of each House, $1.50 a day, during the session of the legislature.

State Geologist.

400

Daniel Kellogg,

Hiland Hall,

Charles Davis,

Peter T. Washburn,

The judiciary powers are vested in a Supreme Court, consisting of six judges; in County Courts, or Courts of Common Pleas, comprising six Circuits, each County Court being composed of one judge of the Supreme Court, who is, ex officio, chief-justice of the County Courts of his Circuit, and

*And $250 as Superintendent of Common Schools, Commissioner for the Deaf, Blind, Insane, &c.

two assistant judges for each county; and in Justices of the Peace; all the judges and justices being chosen annually by the legislature.

The Supreme Court sits once, and the County Courts twice a year, in each county. Each judge of the Supreme Court is Chancellor of a Circuit. The Court of Chancery has two stated sessions annually in each county, and is always in session for all purposes except the final hearing of a cause. An appeal from the decree of the Chancellor lies to the Supreme Court.

Common Schools.-Number of school districts in the state, 2,276; number of children between 4 and 18 years, 79,757; amount of wages paid male teachers, $52,236.07; amount of wages paid female teachers, $38,233.63; public moneys received, $71,177.27; average amount paid for each scholar, $1.18.

Vermont Asylum for the Insane, Brattleboro'. — William H. Rockwell, M.D., Superintendent. Within the year, new buildings have been completed sufficient to accommodate 300 patients. Since the opening of the Asylum, there have been admitted, to September, 1846, 1,032 patients; 741 have been discharged, and 291 remain in the institution. Of the 1,032 patients thus admitted, 432 recovered, equal to 42.05 per cent.; 84 have died, equal to 8.12 per cent. During the past year, the whole number of patients was 460. Admitted, 197; discharged, 169; remaining in the institution, 291. Of those discharged, 95 were cured.

Terms of Admission. For first six months, $2 per week, and $1.50 afterwards. When the insanity is connected with epilepsy or paralysis, $2.50 per week. No patient received for a less term than three months, unless he recover before that time. Patients are received from other states on the same terms.

State Prison.-Average number of convicts, in 1846, 65; expenditure, $5,469.10; income, $3,943.34.

IV. MASSACHUSETTS.

The territory of Massachusetts comprised, for many years after its first `settlement, two separate colonies, styled the Plymouth Colony and the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay.

The first English settlement that was made in New England was formed by one hundred and one persons who fled from religious persecution in England; landed at Plymouth on the 22d of December, 1620; and laid the foundation of Plymouth Colony.

The settlement of the colony of Massachusetts Bay was commenced at Salem in 1628. Boston was settled in 1630.

The two colonies continued separate and elected their own governors annually till 1685-6, when they were deprived of their charters, and were placed under the government of Joseph Dudley, and afterwards of Sir Edmund Andros. In 1692, they were united into one colony under a new charter, and the governors were afterwards appointed by the king.

After the Dissolution of the First Charter.

[Joseph Dudley, appointed President of New England, October 8, 1685. Sir Edmund Andros assumes the government of New England, December 20, 1686—is deposed by the people, April 18, 1689.]

Thomas Hinckley, elected

1689 | Simon Bradstreet, elected 1689

Governors of Massachusetts under the Second Charter, appointed by the King.

[In October, 1774, a Provincial Congress assumed the government, and in July 1775, elected councillors; in 1780, the Constitution was formed.]

Thomas Gage,

1774

Partial amendments have been made since the constitution of this state was formed in 1780, and amended in 1821.

Every male citizen, twenty-one years old, excepting paupers and persons under guardianship, resident the last year in the state, and the last six months at the place of voting, and who, unless exempt from taxation, shall have paid any state or county tax within the last two years, may vote. Every town containing 1,200 inhabitants may elect one representative, and an additional representative for every 2,400 inhabitants above 1,200; and every town of less than 1,200 inhabitants may elect a representative as many times within ten years as 160 are contained in 1,200; and two or more towns may unite, in 1840, and every tenth year thereafter, and form a representative district; and all these numbers shall be raised one-tenth when the population of the state shall be 770,000, and at the same rate for every increase of 70,000 thereafter. A census shall be taken every tenth year, for the purpose of settling the ratio of representation and the senatorial districts. The General Court may fine towns that neglect to choose represent