Districts. Judges. 6. John J. Burke, 8. Martin G. Penn, 9. Fred. H. Farrar, 10. Louis Selby, 11. E. Barry, Attorneys. Districts. Judges. Attorneys. John S. Gilbert. Education. The constitution provides that "there shall be a superintendent of public education, to hold office for two years. Free public schools shall be established throughout the State; the proceeds of lands granted for the purpose, and of lands escheated to the State, shall be held as a permanent fund, on which six per cent. interest shall be paid by the State for the support of these schools." The yearly sum of $250,000 is appropriated for the support of the free schools of the State, and is derived from the levy of a tax of one mill on the dollar, and from the imposition of a poll tax of $1 on each white male inhabitant of the State. There are in the State 53,316 children of both sexes between the ages of 6 and 16, of which number 24,736 were attendant at the public schools for an average period of 6 months and 13 days. The State is divided into 521 districts, in which 701 schools have been kept up for that period of time. The schools have been organized for two years under the new constitution of the State. FINANCES. The constitution provides that the credit of the State shall not be lent to any person or corporation whatsoever; but new bonds may be issued to replace outstanding ones. No State debt shall be contracted for more than $100,000, except in case of war, invasion, or insurrection, unless authorized by law for some distinctly specified object or work; which law shall impose taxes to pay the current interest during the whole term of the debt, and also to pay the debt itself at maturity; and this law shall be irrepealable till the debt and interest are fully discharged, and shall not go into force till again enacted by the next Legislature after its first passage. The State shall not subscribe to the stock of any company or corporation: No corporate company shall be hereafter created, renewed, or extended, with banking or discounting privileges. After 1890 the charters of all corporations may be revoked; and no charter shall now be granted, except for municipal or political purposes, for more than twenty-five years. John D. Pitts, of San Marcos, Term ends. Salary. $1,000 1852, 1,500 Adjutant-General, 1850, George W. Smyth, of Jasper County, Commissioner of the Abner H. Cook, Land Office, Superintendent of Penitentiary, 1,000 The sessions of the Legislature are biennial, and are held at Austin, beginning on the first Monday in November. Members receive $3 a day, and $3 for every twenty-five miles' travel. The third biennial session met at Austin, in November, 1849. JUDICIARY. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and two associates, who are chosen for six years. Sessions are held once a year, at Austin, commencing on the second Monday of December. The court has appellate jurisdiction coextensive with the limits of the State; but in criminal cases, and appeals from interlocutory judgments, it is under legislative regulations. Judges are nominated by the Governor, and confirmed by two thirds of the Senate; they may be removed by address of two thirds of both houses. The judges of the District Court are chosen for six years, and hold a court twice a year in each county. The District Courts have original jurisdiction in all criminal cases, and in all suits in which more than $100 is at stake. In criminal cases, if the punishment be not specifically determined by law, the jury shall determine it. In equity causes, either party may demand a jury. John Hemphill, Supreme Court. of Austin, Chief Justice, Abner S. Lipscomb, of Independence, Associate Justice, Royall T. Wheeler, of San Augustine, 66 9. B. H. Martin, 10. Fielding Jones, 11. Spruce M. Baird, Santa Fé, 1,750 FINANCES. Public Debt.-By the act of the Leglsiature of the 20th March, 1848, all holders of the liabilities of the late Republic of Texas are required to present them to the Auditor and Comptroller of Public Accounts "on or before the second Monday in November, 1849; and all claims that shall not be presented on or before that time shall be postponed." The claims presented to and acted upon by the Auditor and Comptroller, under the provisions of this law, were to be reported to the Legislature at its next session, "for final adjustment." Those that are not presented and acted upon by the accounting officers before the said second Monday in November, 1849, cannot be brought in without further legislative action. The Auditor and Comptroller, December 27, 1849, made a report to the Legislature upon the debt of Texas, from which is derived the following information. Classification of the Public Debt. CHARACTER OF LIABILITIES RECEIPTED for. First Class, consisting of audited or ascertained claims. 10 per cent. consolidated fund created by act of June 7, 1837, 10 per cent. consolidated fund created by act of June 10 per cent. stock created by act of Feb. 5, 1840, 10 per cent. Treasury notes, 1st issue, June 9, 1837, Bonds issued by Messrs. Bond & Archer, Commis- Bonds issued by commissioners under the several Total ostensible and par principal, Total ostensible and par interest, Total ostensible par principal and interest, Second Class, consisting of claims sufficiently au thenticated to admit them to audit under the laws of the late Republic. Amount filed and receipted for, Estimated amount on file not acted on. Amount audited by special acts of the last Legislature, The resources of the State of Texas, as appears by the Assessment Rolls of 1847, are:Real and personal property assessed of the value of $45,939,997; tax thereon, $91,879.99; and poll-taxes, one dollar each, to the amount of $18,504. Total tax, $110,383.99. It is also estimated that there are 184,386,920 acres of vacant and unappropriated lands within the limits of the State. The cash receipts and expenditures for the year ending Oct. 31, 1848, were as follows:Receipts. Expenditures. $24,790.41 48,356.88 25,962.53 17,051.79 Total expenditures, 116,161.61 51,238.05 148,449.10 1848, Balance in Treasury, October 31, 32,287.49 $ 17,071.86 100,000.00 Governor (term of office Salary. Use of a house and $1,800 Sec. of State, Perquisites and 600 expires November, 1852), David B. Greer, of Little Rock, Christopher C. Danby, Samuel Adams, of Pulaski Co., The Secretary of State, Auditor, and Treasurer are elected by a joint vote of both houses of the General Assembly. The Legislature meets biennially at Little Rock. Number of Senators, 25; of Representatives, 75. Their compensation is $3 a day during the session, and $3 for every 20 miles' travel in coming to and returning from the seat of government. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction only, except in particular cases pointed out by the constitution. It holds annually two terms at Little Rock, in April and October. The judges are elected by the General Assembly, by a joint vote of both houses, for eight years. The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over all criminal cases not expressly provided for otherwise by law; and exclusive original jurisdiction of all crimes amounting to felony at common law; and original jurisdiction of all civil cases which are not cognizable before justices of the peace; and * Elected March 14, 1849, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Governor Drew. in all matters of contract, where the sum in controversy is over $100. It holds annually two terms in each circuit. The judges and prosecuting attorneys are elected by the people, the former for four, and the latter for 1,250 69,333.46 31,552.20 37,781.26 107,069.47 144,850.73 115,018.25 29,832.48 Treasury warrants issued from 30th Sept., 1844, to 30th Sept., 1846, The annual accruing interest is $153,670.00. This debt was incurred by issuing State bonds on account of two banks, the Real Estate Bank and the State Bank. To meet these liabilities, there are in the Real Estate Bank 187,180.98 acres of land mortgaged by subscribers for stock, the depreciated valuation of which is $ 2,012,560.38; and in the State Bank, productive assets to the amount of $1,083,026.58; in all amounting to $3,095,586.96. Internal Improvements. - There are none in the State. 500,000 acres of land, given for purposes of internal improvement, were, by the Legislature of 1849, distributed among the counties. Colleges and Common Schools.-There are no colleges in the State. Seventy-two sections of land, given by Congress to the State, for the purpose of establishing a seminary of learning, have been, by act of the Legislature of 1849, in utter defiance of the intention of Congress, distributed among the counties. There are but few common schools in the State. In each township (of 36 sections of land) there is one section (the 16th) given by Congress to the townships for the use of schools. The law authorizes these to be sold. By act of January 7, 1845, $ 1,515.84 was appropriated out of the State Treasury to buy books for common schools, to be distributed by the auditor to the Boards of School Commissioners of the counties. $1,000 more was appropriated by act of 9th January, 1845, for the same purpose. The revenue arising from leases of salt springs, and from estrays sold, forms part of the common school fund. There are academies and high schools, for one or the other sex, in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Washington, Camden, and some other places; but we have no means of ascertaining the number of scholars. The State Penitentiary at Little Rock was consumed by fire, March 28th, 1850. |