The Tuscumbia Rail-road, which was begun in 1831, was constructed in order to avoid the Mussle Shoals, and extends from Tuscumbia to Decatur. It consists of a single track of rails, and cost about $3,500 a mile. A company has also been incorporated to construct a rail-road from Montgomery to the Chatahoochie, opposite to Columbus, Georgia. XVII. MISSISSIPPI. GOVERNMENT. 7th, 1834, ABRAHAM M. SCOTT, Governor; term of office expires January Fountain Winston, Lieutenant-Governor. - Pay $6 a day during Salary. $2,500 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,000 The State is divided into five districts, in which the judges of the Supreme Court severally hold Circuit Courts. These Courts have original jurisdiction in all cases where the sum in dispute exceeds $50; and appellate jurisdiction from the courts of the justices of the peace, when the sum exceeds $20. They are also invested with criminal jurisdiction. In the County of Adams, a separate criminal court has been established, of which the present judge is John M. Murray; salary $800; but this court does not supersede the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court in criminal proceedings, their jurisdiction in such matters being concurrent. Probate and County Courts. There are, in every county, a Probate Court and a County Court, the judges of which have no salary, but are paid by fees and by an allowance of $3 a day during the session of the Court. The County Court is composed in some counties of three, and in others of five judges, of which the Probate Judge is the presiding justice. This Court has jurisdiction over all felonies committed by slaves; and for such trials it is vested with the powers which usually belong to courts of oyer and terminer. It has appellate jurisdiction from the courts of the justices of the peace, when the sum involved does not exceed $20. CONSTITUTION AND LAWS. A convention was held at Jackson, on the second Monday of September, 1832, to amend the constitution; and it was expected that important changes would be effected in the political system of the state. A law was enacted in 1832, requiring all free colored persons to leave the state within ninety days from the date thereof, under penalty of five years servitude. This severe enactment was made in consequence of the influence of this class of the community in exciting discontent and disturbances among the slave population. Much interest has existed in this State, during the last year, in favor of the American Colonization Society. Free blacks, of intelligence and respectability, have been sent to Liberia, to examine the country and condition of the people, and report to their brethren at home. Auxiliary societies have been formed in several counties, and they number among their members many of the most intelligent and wealthy planters. BANKS. * The Bank of the State of Mississippi has been authorized to close its affairs. It gives place to the Planters' Bank. The latter is now in successful operation, and has branches at Vicksburg, Port Gibson, Woodville, and Monticello. The United States' Branch Bank has transacted business to a great amount since it went into operation. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT. A Board of Internal Improvement was organized by the legislature in 1829, consisting of the Governor and three Commissioners. The Board was authorized to employ a civil engineer, and to negotiate a loan of the sum of $200,000 upon the credit of the state, to be appropriated to the improvement of the navigable streams and public roads within the state. By an Act of Congress, passed March 1, 1817, five per cent. of the next proceeds of the sales of public lands within the state were reserved for making roads and canals; and three fifths of this (called the three per cent. fund) are subject to appropriation by the state legislature to those objects within the State; the other two fifths are at the disposal of Congress for roads leading to the State. RAIL-ROADS. A Rail-road is projected from Woodville, in this State, to St. Francisville, in Louisiana. Three routes have been surveyed, and one of them selected for the greater portion of the distance. Length 28 miles. Cost, estimated at a little less than $6,000 a mile. Subscription nearly completed. A route for a Rail-road has also been surveyed from Vicksburg, in Warren county, to Clinton, in Hind's county, the distance of about 55 miles. The books have been opened, and a large part of the stock taken. No doubt is entertained of its going into operation. There is a "Pass," from the Mississippi river, near St. Helena, to the Yazoo river, about 100 miles above the mouth of the latter, which is about to be opened at a comparatively trivial expense. Boats navigating the Mississippi, by taking this course, will save about 50 miles; but still more will be gained in ascending, as the current of the Mississippi will be avoided. XVIII. LOUISIANA. GOVERNMENT. A. B. ROMAN, Governor; term of office expires January, 1835; F. Gardere, Salary. $7,500 Secretary of State, George Eustis, Attorney General. Treasurer. The Senate, 17 members elected for four years. ident. Sebastian Hiriart, Pres The House of Representatives, 50 members, elected for two years. Alexander Mouton, Speaker. JUDICIARY. Judges of the Supreme Court. George Matthews, Francis X. Martin, Alexander Porter. Criminal Court of New Orleans. F. Grima, Judge. The Supreme Court sits in the city of New Orleans, for the Eastern District of the State, during the months of November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June, and July; and for the Northern District at Opelousas and Attakapas, during the months of August, September, and October, and at Baton Rouge, commencing the 1st Monday in August. The District Courts, with the exception of the Courts in the First District, hold, in each parish, two sessions during the year, to try causes originally instituted before them, and appeals from the Parish Courts. The Parish Courts hold their regular sessions in each parish on the first Monday in each month. The Courts in the First District, composed of the District, Parish, and Criminal Courts, and Courts of Probate, are in session during the whole year, excepting the months of July, August, September, and Oc. fober, in which they hold special Courts when necessary. The following table, which was contained in the Almanac of 1832, is again inserted with many corrections. In the preceding table, N. O. denotes New Orleans, and W., Washington; and the figures under them, express the distances of the several Seats of Justice from these places. The Italic letters after the Parishes refer to the parts of the State in which they are situated; as s, south; m, middle; se, south east; sem, south east middle, &c. CANALS. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT Carondelet Canal extends from Bayou St. John to a basin in the rear of the city of New Orleans. It is 1 miles long, 30 feet wide, and 4 deep. Lafourche Canal passes from the river Lafourche, 16 miles below its efflux from the Mississippi. It opens from the right bank of the river into a small creek uniting with lake Verret, and is navigable only in times of high water. Plaquemine Canal is a short cut from the Mississippi into Bayou Plaquemine; navigable only in times of high water. New Orleans and Teche Canal is a partly executed navigation of 100 miles in length, extending from a point on the Mississippi, opposite to New Orleans, to the waters which unite with Teche river, at Berwick's bay. RAIL-ROADS.-Lake Ponchartrain Rail-road. Company incorporated in January, 1830, with exclusive privileges for 25 years. It is about 41⁄2 miles long, extending from Lake Ponchartrain to New Orleans. Single track. It is perfectly straight, and nearly level, the ascent and descent being only 16 inches. Completed in April, 1831. Cost, $15,000 a mile. An act of Congress has been obtained, establishing a port of entry on lake Ponchartrain; and an artificial harbor and breakwater are now constructing at the termination of the Rail-road. West Feliciana Rail-road, to extend from the Mississippi, near St. Francisville, to Woodville in the State of Mississippi. See Mississippi. XIX. TENNESSEE. GOVERNMENT. WILLIAM CARROLL, Governor; term of office expires September 1, 1833; salary, $2,000. |