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Government.

The government of this state is founded on the provisions of the Charter granted to the colony by Charles II., in 1663; and this is the only state in the Union which is without a written Constitution.

The legislative power is vested in a General Assembly, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives consists of 72 members, 6 from Newport, 4 from each of the towns of Providence, Portsmouth, and Warwick, and two from each of the other towns in the State; and they are elected semiannually in April and August.

The Senate consists of 10 members, who are elected annually in April. The executive power is vested in a Governor, who is elected annually in April. A Lieutenant Governor is also elected, on whom the executive duties devolve in case of the office of governor being vacated.

The General Assembly meets four times a year; at Newport on the first Wednesday in May (the commencement of the political year), and by adjournment, at the same place, in June. It meets on the last Wednesday in October, alternately at Providence and South Kingston; and by adjournment, in January, at East Greenwich, Bristol, or Providence.

The judges are appointed annually by the General Assembly.

Government for the Year ending on the first Tuesday in May, 1831.

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Each of the senators and representatives receives $1,50 a day during the

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There are Courts of Common Pleas established in the several counties. The judges of these courts have no salary, but are paid by entries.

BANKS.

Returns of the Banks made to the General Assembly, Oct. 1829.

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Total

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6,098,307 675,305 50 342,165 74

The Bank of the United States has an Office of Discount and Deposit

50,000

12,584 00

2,552 42

42,000 18,400 00

3,913 97

25,000

10,344 00

4,603 95

51,269

8,649 00

2,541 11

75,000 1,431 00

225 00

at Providence.

EDUCATION.'

Brown University is situated at Providence; at the same place there is a seminary styled the Friends' Boarding School; and there are 8 or 10 academies in the state. Increasing attention has of late been paid to education, and the state now pays annually, for the support of free schools, the sum of $10,000, which is divided among the several towns according to population.

VI. CONNECTICUT.

THE territory of Connecticut originally comprised two colonies, the Colony of Connecticut, and the Colony of New Haven.

The settlement of Hartford, in the colony of Connecticut, was commenced by emigrants from Massachusetts, in 1635; and that of New Haven, in 1638, by emigrants from England.

In 1662, a Charter was granted by Charles II., with ample privileges, uniting the colonies of Connecticut and New Haven under one government; but the colony of New Haven refused, for some time, to accept the Charter, and the union did not take place till 1665.

The Charter was suspended, in 1687, by Sir Edmund Andros; but it was restored again after the Revolution of 1688 in England; and it formed the basis of the government till 1818.

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The Charter granted in 1662 by Charles II., formed the basis of the government of Connecticut till 1818, when the present Constitution was framed.

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

The members of the House of Representatives are chosen by the different towns in the state: the more ancient towns, the majority of the whole number, send each two representatives; the rest only one each. The present number is 208.

The Senate must consist of not less than 18, nor more than 24 members, who are chosen by districts. The present number is 21.

The executive power is vested in a Governor. A Licutenant Governor is also chosen, who is President of the Senate, and on whom the duties of the governor devolve in case of his death, resignation, or absence.

The representatives, senators, governor, and lieutenant governor are all elected annually by the people on the first Monday in April.

The General Assembly has one stated session every year, on the first Wednesday in May, alternately at Hartford (1831) and at New Haven (1832.)

Every white male citizen of the United States, who shall have gained a settlement in this state, attained the age of 21 years, and resided in the town in which he may offer himself to be admitted to the privilege of an elector, at least six months preceding, and have a freehold estate of the yearly value of seven dollars, in this state; or having been enrolled in the militia, shall have performed military duty therein for the term of one year next preceding the time he shall offer himself for admission, or being liable thereto, shall have been, by authority of law, excused therefrom; or shall

have paid a state tax within the year next preceding the time he shall present himself for such admission, and shall sustain a good moral character, shall, on his taking such an oath as may be prescribed by law, be an elector."

The judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court of Errors, a Superior Court, and such inferior courts as the General Assembly may, from time to time, establish. The judges are appointed by the General Assembly; and those of the Supreme and Superior Courts hold their offices during good behavior; but not beyond the age of 70 years.

No person is compelled to join, or support, or to be classed with, or associated to any congregation, church, or religious association. But every person may be compelled to pay his proportion of the expenses of the society to which he may belong: he may, however, separate himself from the society by leaving a written notice of his wish with the clerk of such society.

Government for the Year ending on the first Tuesday in May, 1831.

Gideon Tomlinson,

John S. Peters,

Isaac Spencer,

Thomas Day,

Elisha Phipps,

Seth P. Beers,

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Commissioner of the School Fund, 1,250

The pay of the senators is $2 a day each, during the session of the legislature, and of the representatives $1,50 a day; and both receive 9 cents a mile for travel. The Speaker of the House of Representatives receives $2,50 a day.

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The Supreme Court of Errors is composed of the five judges, and is held in each of the eight counties.

The Superior Court is a court held in each of the counties by one of the judges of the Supreme Court.

There is also a County Court in each county, composed of a chief judge and two associate judges, who are appointed annually by the legislature. The chief judges of these courts receive $3,50 a day, and the associate judges $3 a day, during the session of the court, and 9 cents a mile for travel.

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