XXIV. OHIO. The first permanent settlement of Ohio was commenced at Marietta, in 1788; in 1789, the country was put under a territorial government, and called the "Western Territory," which name was afterwards altered to the "Territory North-west of the Ohio;" and in 1802, it was erected into an inpendent state. GOVERNORS. 1789 Arthur St. Clair, Governor till the end of the territorial government. Every white male inhabitant, twenty-one years old, resident in the state one year next before the election, and who has paid, or is charged with, a state or county tax, may vote. Representatives shall be twenty-five years old, citizens of the state and of the United States, residents of their county for one year next before the election, and have paid a state or county tax. They shall be chosen annually, and shall be not more than thirty-six, nor fewer than twenty-four, until the number of white male inhabitants, twentyone years old, shall be 22,000, and thereafter not more than seventy-two, nor less than thirty-six. Senators (in number not more than one-half, nor fewer than one-third of the number of representatives) shall be citizens of the United States, thirty years old, residents for two years of their district or county, and have paid a state or county tax, and shall be chosen biennially, one-half every year. The governor shall be thirty years old, a citizen of the United States for twelve years, and of the state for four years next before the election, and shall be chosen biennially by a plurality of votes of the people, or, in case of an even vote, by the two houses on joint ballot, and shall receive a fixed compensation. In case the office of governor be vacant, it shall be filled by the speaker of the senate, and after him by the speaker of the house. The supreme court has jurisdiction at common law, and in chancery, both original and appellate. The court of common pleas, beside its other powers, acts as probate and orphans' court. The judges of both courts are elected by joint ballot of both houses for seven years. Justices of the peace shall be elected in towns for three years. Slavery is prohibited. No state or county tax shall be laid on polls. The salaries of the supreme court judges, and of the presidents of the common pleas, shall not be diminished during their term. Whenever two-thirds of the General Assembly think fit to amend the constitution, they shall recommend to the electors, at the next election of members, to vote for or against a convention; and, if a majority of votes be in favor thereof, it shall be called within three months after the next session. But no amendment introducing slavery shall ever be made. GOVERNMENT. Salary. WILLIAM BEBB, of Hamilton, Governor (term of office expires on the 1st Monday in December, 1848), $1,200 Oran Follett, Samuel Forrer, E. N. Sill, Commissioners of the Board of Public Works. of Sandusky, Erie Co., Jacob Blickensderffer, of Tuscarawas, Tuscar. Co., do. Acting Commissioner of the Canal Fund, 666 The Auditor and Treasurer of State are advisory Commissioners of the Canal Fund. President, $2.50 a day. $1,000 1,000 Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad.-(Extending from Sandusky on Lake Erie, to Dayton on the Miami Canal, where the Mad River forms a junction with the Miami River.) — Length of road, 160 miles. Contracts for construction were The charter of this company was obtained in 1832. made as early as 1835, and a portion at the northern end was completed in 1838. The financial crises at this time affected the affairs of the company; and, although additional portions were brought into active use from time to time, it was not until 1845 that a loan enabled the company to push on its work efficiently. The road is now completed, and cars run daily from Sandusky to Bellefontaine, 102 miles. To West Liberty, the superstructure will be done by 1st August, 1847, 110 miles; to Urbana, 120 miles, by 1st Nov vember. Between Urbana and Springfield (at which latter point, 25 miles from Dayton, it will intersect the Little Miami Railroad running direct to Cincinnati), upwards of $30,000 has been expended. The cost per mile is estimated at $8,000. The business of the road is fast increasing, averaging, on the commencement of the summer travel for 1847, $600 a day for travel and transportation. It is estimated, that the receipts for the year commencing 20th Oct. 1846, will exceed $100,000. When completed, the travel over this route to and from the great Mississippi Valley will be very great, while the transportation will come up to the utmost capacity of the road. XXV. MICHIGAN. Detroit, the capital of Michigan, was settled by the French about the year 1670. In 1805, the country was erected by the Congress of the United States into a separate territorial government; in 1812, it was taken by the British under General Brock; in 1813, it was recovered by the army of the United States under General Harrison; and in 1836, it was admitted into the Union as an independent state. GOVERNORS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. J. S. Barry, ent. upon office, Jan. 1842 1846 W. L. Greenley, Lt. & Act. Gov. 1847 ABSTRACT OF THE CONSTITUTION, Adopted in Convention, May 11, 1835; ratified by the People, October 5, 1835. Every white male citizen, twenty-one years old, resident in the state six months before the election, or at the signing of the constitution, may vote. Representatives in number not less than forty-eight, nor more than one hundred, shall be chosen on the first Monday and Tuesday of November. Senators, in number one-third of that of the representatives, shall be chosen for two years, one-half every year. Any qualified elector, resident in the county or district, may represent it in either house. Bills may be vetoed by the governor; but two-thirds of each house may pass them, notwithstanding his veto. The governor and lieutenant-governor shall have been citizens of the United States for five years, and residents of the state for two years, and shall be chosen for two years by a plurality of votes. The lieutenant-governor and the president of the senate, in succession, fill the office of governor when vacant, until it is filled by the people at the next election. The judges of the supreme court are appointed by the governor and senate, for seven * Died, July 6th, 1834. † Elected U. S. Senator in 1841. Elected U. S. Senator in 1847. years, and shall receive a salary not to be diminished during their term. Judges of all county courts, associate judges of circuit courts, and judges of probate, shall be elected by the people, in counties, for four years; and justices of the peace for the same term, in towns. Any judges may be removed, upon address of both houses. A superintendent of public instruction shall be appointed by the governor and legislature; a system of public schools shall be established; a permanent school fund may be created; and a library shall be collected in every town, to which all military and penal fines shall be devoted. Slavery is prohibited. No act of incorporation shall be passed without the assent of two-thirds of the members of each house. Lotteries, and the sale of lottery tickets, are prohibited. Amendments, if agreed to by a majority of the members of each house, shall be published three months before the next election; and if two-thirds of the members of the next legislature sanetion them by their votes, they shall be submitted to the people, and, if ratified by a majority of votes, shall be adopted. If two-thirds of each house deem it necessary to revise the whole constitution, they shall submit the question to the people; and, if a majority of votes be in its favor, they shall pass a law calling such a convention, within six months from its date. GOVERNMENT. WILLIAM L. GREENLEY, of Adrian, Lieut. & Acting Governor (term expires 1st Monday of January, 1848), Gideon O. Whittemore, of Pontiac, Salary. $1,500 Secretary of State, Fees and 800 Since December 25th, 1847, the seat of government has been permanently established at Michigan, Ingham Co. JUDICIARY.* Epaphroditus Ransom, of Kalamazoo, Chief Justice, Salary. $1,500 * The Court of Chancery was abolished by the Revised Statutes, which took effect March 2, 1847. Its powers devolve upon the Circuit Courts. |