Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

to harass the frontiers; and the proprietors, discouraged, sold the country to the crown in 1729, for the sum of 17,500 pounds sterling, after which it was erected into a separate province. The colony soon afterwards received an increase of population, by the arrival of Moravians, who settled between the rivers Yadkin and Dan, and of Irish and Scotch Presbyterians, who established themselves in the north-western parts; but its progress was again retarded, by an insurrection in 1765 of royalists, or tories, under the name of regulators, who, demanding "justice for poor Carolina,' bound themselves by oath to resist with arms the proposed stamp on paper and vellum, and new duties on imported articles. Defeated by governor Tryon, with the loss of 800 men, they sued for pardon. The unpopular laws were afterwards repealed, various improvements were introduced, and the province, fertile in resources, continued to prosper, until the commencement of the revolutionary war, of which it was for some time the theatre. Brunswick, on Cape Fear river, the first settled town in the province, was destroyed during the war, and has never been rebuilt. The Carolina militia were beaten at Moore's creek bridge, in 1776, but they were victorious at the Briar creek, in 1779, at Waxhaws, in 1780, and at the court-house at Guilford, in 1781.

Civil or Administrative Division of the State of North Carolina, with the Population of each County and Chief Town in 1810, the year of the late Enumeration.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Constitution. The plan of government was formed in 1776 (18th December) by a provincial congress as

sembled at Halifax. The Senate is composed of representatives, one for each county, annually chosen by ballot. The House of Commons consists of two representatives for each county, and one for each of six towns, chosen in the same manner. A member of the Senate must have resided a year immediately preceding the election in the county in which he is chosen, and must possess 300 acres of land in fee. A member of the House of Commons must have resided a year in the county in which he is chosen, where he must also be proprietor of 100 acres of land in fee, or for the term of his own life. The electors of the senators must be freemen of twenty-one years of age, who have resided in the state twelve months preceding the election, and possess a freehold within the county of fifty acres of land. The electors of the members of the House of Commons must also be freemen, twenty-one years of age, who have paid public taxes, and been inhabitants of the state twelve months immediately preceding the election. The representatives of the towns are chosen by freeholders who have paid public taxes, and been inhabitants therein during twelve months. The executive power is vested in a governor and council of state, chosen by ballot by the assembly. The governor is elected for one year, and is ineligible to office for more than three of six successive years. He must be thirty years of age, a resident of the state for more than five years, and a freeholder of lands and tenements above the value of L. 1000. He is authorized to draw for, and to apply such monies as are voted by the general assembly for the contingencies of the government, for which he is

accountable. With the advice of the council, he may lay an embargo, not exceeding thirty days in succession; he may grant pardons and reprieves in the recess of the general assembly, except when the prosecution is instituted by this body. The council consists of seven members, four of whom is a quorum, and their advice and proceedings are entered in a journal, which is authenticated by their signature, and, when called for, laid before the general assembly. The governor is captain-general and commander-in-chief of the militia. In case of death or absence, his place is filled by the speaker of the House of Commons, until his return, or a new nomination of this body. Each house chooses its speaker and other officers, passes judgment concerning the qualifications and election of its members, sits by its own adjournments, and adjourns jointly with the other by ballot. Neither house can proceed to business unless there be present a majority of the members. The following persons are excluded from a seat in the legislature; receivers of public money not accounted for, treasurers, regular officers in the army and navy, contractors or their agents, judges of the supreme court of law or equity, and of the admiralty, the secretary of state, clergymen and preachers of the gospel, infidels, and persons who deny the being of a God, the Divine authority of the Old and New Testament, the truth of the Protestant religion, or who hold principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the state. Foreigners, who settle in the state, and take the oath of allegiance, may hold real estate, and, after a year's residence, are considered as free citizens. Delegates to congress are annually cho

« PreviousContinue »