PUBLIC DEBT. [From the Report of the State Treasurer, Dec. 7, 1837.] Loans not pertaining to Canals and Railroads, $1,680,000.00 120,000.00 200,000.00 100,000.00 Debts due by appropriations, &c. to miscellaneous objects, 861,621.42 Debts pertaining to public improvements, by canal and railroads, 22,229,003.32 Debt due United States, account of Surplus Revenue, 2,867,514.78 $28,058,139.52 The public works, canals, railroads, and bridges con nected therewith, 23,851,023.93 To which may be added moneys due on lands, say 1,000,000.00 $29,986,953.87 INCOME OF CANALS AND RAILROADS, During the year ending Nov. 1, 1837, as stated by the Report of the Canal Commissioners. At the period of the last annual report, circumstances existed that fully warranted the Board in estimating the probable amount of revenue, from the Canals and Railroads of the State, at $1,300,000. The amount of this estimate has not been realized. During the season many departments of the industry and trade of the Commonwealth, received a severe check from the operations of extraneous causes, beyond the power of the State to control, which produced such effects, upon her commerce and business, that, instead of realizing the amount of the estimate, there have been only paid into the Treasury : EDUCATION. The following facts and statements relating to education are derived from the "Fourth Annual Report on the Common Schools, Academies, and Colleges of Pennsylvania, by Thomas H. Burrowes, Superintendent," made Feb. 19, 1838. Of the 4,841 teachers, 3,351 were males, and 1,490 females. Of the 4,089 schools, 86 were German, 22 endowed schools, and 17 for colored. Of the 182,355 scholars, 3,612 were exclusively German, 922 in endowed schools, and 714 colored. Of the whole number of schoolhouses reported, 1,577 were log houses, 1,053 frame, 290 stone, and 285 brick. The ordinary annual appropriation of school money is $200,000, payable to the districts in the ratio of their taxable inhabitants. In addition to this, the legislature, in 1837, made a schoolhouse appropriation of $500,000, to be distributed in 1838. The conditions on which the districts receive their portion of the state appropriation, are, that they accept the school system, and assess a tax at least equal to their proportion of the appropriation. The whole number of Districts (townships, boroughs, and wards) in the State, exclusive of the city and county of Philadelphia and the city of Lancaster, is stated at 1001, of which 765 are accepting districts, having assessed a tax and received their appropriation during the past year. The nonaccepting districts are chiefly in the populous counties of Berks, Lebanon, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Lancaster, York, Dauphin, &c. The city and county of Philadelphia and city of Lancaster, having peculiar systems of their own, are not subject to the school law, except that the former receives an annual share of the common school appropriation. The whole expenditure during the year, for the purpose of education in the public schools, in the city and county of Philadelphia, was $191,616.25; the number of pupils in the public schools 17,000. About 50 County Academies have received aid from the State, varying from $2,000 to $5,000 each, exclusive of land. Of these 21 reported, the during the last year, 1,188 students. Nine Colleges (one of them, Western University, not now in operation in a collegiate capacity) made reports, exhibiting, in the aggregate, 841 students, exclusive of. such as belonged to the preparatory departments. MILITIA. The militia of this State comprises 16 divisions and 33 brigades; ;(in 1837) 171,053 individuals: - volunteers - cavalry 4,699, artillery 2,842, riflemen 11,392, infantry 14,813:- total, 204,799. 10. Mifflin, Centre, Huntingdon, and Clearfield, D. R. Porter. 11. Cumberland and Perry, 12. Bedford, Somerset, and Cambria, 13. Westmoreland and Fayette, 14. Washington and Greene, 15. Allegheny, Armstrong, Indiana, and Jefferson, J. M. Davis. 16. Beaver, Butler, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Venango, and Warren, W. W. Perkins. All free, able-bodied, white, male persons between the ages of 18 and 45 are enrolled in the militia, except various United States and State judicial and civil officers; also ministers of religion, teachers in universities, academies, and schools, mail-stage drivers, ferrymen, &c. But no enrolled militiaman under the age of 21 is required to parade or train. The militia are required to be paraded and trained once annually by companies on the 1st Monday in May; and on one day annually by battalions or regiments, beginning on the 2d Monday in May, and continuing every day in the week, Sundays excepted, till all the battalions of the brigade have paraded. No equipments are required of the militia. Fines for non-appearance, of every field officer $5; of every staff officer and captain, $3; of every subaltern officer, $2; of every noncommissioned officer and private, $1. OUTLINES OF THE AMENDED CONSTITUTION. The Amended Constitution was signed at Philadelphia by the officers and members of the convention by whom it was amended, on the 22d of February, 1838. The legislative power is vested in a General Assembly, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. The representatives are chosen annually on the 2d Tuesday of Octo ber, by the citizens of Philadelphia and of each county respectively, apportioned according to the number of taxable inhabitants. The number cannot be less than 60 nor more than 100. The senators are chosen for 3 years, one third being elected annually, at the time of the election of representatives. Their number cannot be less than one fourth, nor greater than one third of the number of representatives. The General Assembly meets annually on the 1st Tuesday of January, unless sooner convened by the governor. The supreme executive power is vested in a Governor, who is chosen on the 2d Tuesday of October, and who holds his office during 3 years from the 3d Tuesday of January next ensuing his election; and he cannot hold it longer than 6 years in any term of 9 years. In elections by the citizens, every white freeman of the age of 21 years, having resided in the State one year, and, in the election district where he offers his vote, 10 days immediately preceding such election, and within two years, paid a State or county tax, which shall have been assessed at least 10 days before the election, enjoys the rights of an elector. The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, in courts of oyer and terminer, and general jail delivery, in a court of common pleas, orphans' court, register's court, and a court of quarter sessions of the peace for each county, in justices of the peace, and in such other courts as the legislature may from time to time establish. The judges of the supreme court, courts of common pleas, and other courts of record, are appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate; the judges of the supreme court for the term of 15 years, the president judges for the courts of common pleas, and other courts of record, for 10 years, and the associate judges of the courts of common pleas for 5 years. "The legislature shall, as soon as conveniently may be, provide, by law, for the establishment of schools throughout the State in such manner that the poor may be taught gratis.". X. DELAWARE. GOVERNMENT. CORNELIUS P. COMEGYS, of Kent Co., Governor, (term of office expires on the 3d Tuesday in January, 1841,) of Kent Co., Secretary of State, Charles Marion, Salary. $1,333 400 500 500 William D. Waples, of Millsborough, Speaker of the House of Repre sentatives. Pay of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, $ 3,00 a day. Kensey Johns, Jun., of New Castle, Chancellor, James Rogers, 1,100 Attorney-General, $350 & fees. do. MILITIA. The latest return of the militia of this State, according to the statement of George Bomford, Colonel of Ordnance, dated Nov. 20, 1837, is for the year 1827, when the number was 9,229. A correspondent states; There is no militia law enforced in this State." 66 THOMAS W. VEAZEY, of Cecil Co., Governor; (term of office expires on the 1st Monday in January, 1839.) [The Salary of the Governor heretofore $2,6663; in future $4,200.] $4,200 |