Bills of exchange payable at Mobile and New Orleans, 686,927 09 The Bank of the United States has an Office of Discount and Deposit at Mobile.

**

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

By an act of Congress of March 2, 1819, it was provided that 5 per cent. of the net proceeds of all the sales of public lands in this state, made subsequently to September 1, 1819, should be reserved for making public roads and canals, and improving the navigation of rivers. Three fifths of the amount were directed to be applied to these objects within the state, and two fifths to the making of a road or of roads leading to the state, under the direction of Congress. This act gave rise to what is commonly called the "Three per cent. Fund," which has been vested in the Bank of the State of Alabama; and it amounted, according to the report of the State Treasurer, on the 26th of November, 1829, to $96,355 77. A Board of Internal Improvement, to consist of six commissioners, was established by the General Assembly in January, 1830, under whose superintendence the income of this fund is to be appropriated to objects of public utility, as roads, canals, &c.

On the 23d of May, 1828, Congress made a grant to this state of 400,000 acres of relinquished and unappropriated lands for improving the navigation of the Muscle Shoals and Colbert's Shoals in the Tennessee; and likewise for improving the navigation of the Coosa, Cahawba, and BlackWarrior rivers.

EDUCATION.

An institution styled the University of the State of Alabama, was estab`lished by an act of the General Assembly of December 18, 1819, and incorporated by a supplementary act passed December 18, 1820. By an act of Congress of March 2, 1819, one section of land (640 acres) was granted to the inhabitants of each township for the use of schools, and 72 sections, or two townships, for the support of a seminary of learning. The funds of the University consist of the proceeds of these lands. According to a report of the President of the Board of Trustees, dated January 14, 1830, 21,845 75 acres had been sold for the sum of $304,651 06, of which $111,712 594 had been invested in 6 per cent. stock; and 24,234.25 acres remained unsold. The sum of $31,664 79 had been expended upon the

college buildings, which are situated a mile from the town of Tuscaloosa, but are not yet finished.

La Grange College, in Franklin county, was incorporated in January, 1830; but it has not received any public endowment. Twenty-four academies have been incorporated in the state.

XVII. MISSISSIPPI.

THIS state was included within the country which was discovered and possessed by the French, who formed a settlement at Natchez about the year 1716; but in 1763, it was ceded to the English, with the rest of the French possessions to the east of the Mississippi.

There were but few inhabitants within the present limits of this state before the end of the last century. In 1798, the country was erected into a territorial government; and in 1817, into an independent state.

GOVERNORS

Under the Territorial Government.

Winthrop Sargent, appointed 1798 | Robert Williams, appointed 1805 Wm. C. C. Claiborne, do. 1802 David Holmes,

do.

1809

OUTLINES OF THE CONSTITUTION.

The Constitution of this state was formed at the town of Washington, in August, 1817.

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

The representatives are elected annually on the first Monday in August, in the ratio of one to every 3,000 white inhabitants. Each county, however, is entitled to one; and the present whole number is 33. According to the Constitution, when the number of white inhabitants exceeds 80,000, the number of representatives cannot be less than 36, nor more than 100.

The members of the Senate are elected for three years, one third being chosen annually. Their number cannot be less than one fourth, nor more than one third of the whole number of representatives.

The executive power is vested in a Governor, who is elected by the people, for two years, on the first Monday in August. At every election of Governor, a Lieutenant Governor is also chosen, who is President of the Senate, and on whom the executive duties devolve in case of the death, resignation, or absence of the governor.

The General Assembly meets (at Jackson) annually on the first Monday in November.

The right of suffrage is granted to every free, white, male citizen of the United States, of the age of 21 years or upwards, who has resided within this state one year next preceding an election, and the last six months within the county, city, or town in which he offers to vote, and is enrolled in the militia thereof, unless exempted by law from military service; or having the aforesaid qualifications of citizenship and residence, has paid a state or county tax.

The judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court, and such superior and inferior courts of law and equity, as the legislature may, from time to time, establish. The judges of the several courts are elected by the General Assembly, and hold their offices during good behavior, till the age of 65 years.

GOVERNMENT.

Salary.

Gerard C. Brandon, Governor; (last elected on the first Mon-
day in August, 1829; installed January 9, 1830)
Abraham M. Scott, Lieutenant Governor;-Pay $6 a day
during the session of the Legislature.

} $2,500

Auditor of Public Accounts,
Attorney General,

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, except in the County of Adams, which has a court exclusively of criminal jurisdiction, of which the present judge is John M. Maury: salary $800.

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. The County Court is composed of three judges, of which the Probate Judge is the presiding justice. This court has jurisdiction over all offences 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.

BANK.

The Bank of Mississippi, at Natchez, capital $1,000,000. This bank, the only one in the state, has three branches in different places. The dividends for the last six years have been, on an average, more than 11 per cent. per annum.

EDUCATION.

Jefferson College, at Washington, was established in 1802, and has re`ceived liberal endowments in public lands from the federal government. It is pleasantly situated; the buildings are large and commodious; the course of study is similar to that of West Point; and the number of cadets or students in 1830, was 98.

There are other seminaries in different parts; and although an interest in education is manifested in the different counties, yet no system of primary schools has been adopted. The state has a Literary Fund amounting, at present, to $27,800, derived from the donation of the general government, rents of lands, three per cent. on all sales of public lands, fines, forfeitures, &c. But no portion of it is available till it shall amount to $50,000.

INDIANS.

The whole number of acres of land within this state is computed at 30,206,800, of which 15,700,000 acres are still claimed by the Indians; 11,643,275 were, in 1824, at the disposal of the national government; the remainder being 2,863,525. The tribes of Indians within the chartered limits of the state are the Choctaws, estimated at from 20,000 to 26,000; and the Chickasaws, computed at about 4,000.

XVIII. LOUISIANA.

THE state of Louisiana comprises the southern part of an extensive country, which was purchased by the United States of France, in 1803, for the sum of $15,000,000.

The river Mississippi was discovered in 1673, by Marquette and Joliette, two French missionaries; in 1682, the country was explored by La Salle, and named Louisiana, in honor of Louis XIV; in 1699, a French settlement was begun at Iberville; and in 1717, New Orleans was founded.

The country now forming the state of Louisiana, was separated from the rest in 1804, and called the Territory of Orleans; and in 1812, it was admitted into the Union as an independent state, by the name of Louisiana.

Wm. C. C. Claiborne, elected 1812 | Peter Derbigny, elected 1828

OUTLINES OF THE CONSTITUTION.

The Constitution of this state was formed in 1812.

The legislative power is vested in a Senate and House of Representatives, both together styled The General Assembly of the State of Louisiana.

The representatives are elected for two years on the first Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in July. Their number cannot be less than 25, nor more than 50; and they are apportioned according to the number of electors, as ascertained by enumeration every four years.

The members of the Senate are elected for four years; one half being chosen every two years, at the time of the election of the representatives. The state is divided into 16 senatorial districts, in each of which one senator is chosen.

The executive power is vested in a Governor, who is elected for the term of four years. The people give their votes for a governor at the time and place of voting for representatives and senators; and on the second day of the succeeding session of the General Assembly, the two Houses, by a joint ballot, elect for Governor, one of the two candidates who have the greatest number of votes. The Governor's term of office commences on the fourth Monday succeeding his election.