ELECTIONS-1832.

Congressional.

South Carolina; the patriotic spirit pervading that able document, and the prompt and decisive manner in which he has rebuked the pernicious doctrines and unjustifiable course, recently adopted by a portion of that state, command our entire approbation, and have crowned with new laurels the defender of his country.

of the constitution, unauthorized by its spirit, inconsistent with every

2d

3d

Edwards 2078

Breeze 1771

Dunn

1020

557

Webb

Archer 2168

Kitchell 1593

Duncan 8093 elected
Pugh 2318

1832-3.-The legislature passed a resolution approving the sentiments expressed by the president of the United States, relative to the future disposition of the public lands; and soliciting such a reduction of the price of public lands to actual settlers, as will meet the views of the presi. dent.

It also passed resolutions, declaring that whereas the president of the United States, in his proclamation of the 10th instant, has exhibited a just view of the origin of our free constitution, and of the powers confided by that sacred instrument, to the states and the general government: And whereas, by the said proclamation, the assumed power of a state to annul a law of congress is conclusively shown to be incompatible with the existence of the Union, contradicted expressly by the letter

most ably and unanswerably re futed, and the dangerous and treasonable doctrine of the right of secession combated by the clearest reasoning, is denounced in a spirit of devoted attachment to the Union: And whereas, also, the executive has expressed a confident reliance on the undivided support of the nation, in his determination to execute the laws, to preserve the Union by all constitutional means, and to arrest, if possible, by moderate but firm measures, the necessity of a

recourse to force:

Therefore resolved, by the people of the State of Illinois represented in the general assembly, That we highly approve the sentiments contained in the said proclamation, and the avowed purpose of repelling the unconstitutional and dangerous designs announced in the disorganizing edict of the South Carolina convention.

Resolved, That whilst we admire the firmness that would resist the

mad project of disunion, we cordially approve the spirit of moderation which deprecates any offensive act on the part of the United States. Resolved, That disunion by armed force is treason, and should be treated as such by the constituted authorities of the nation.

Resolved, That whilst we deplore the spirit of disaffection manifested by our South Carolina brethren, and should hail with unmingled satisfaction their return to the first great principles of our Union, we hold it to be the duty of every citi. zen of the United States, without distinction of sect or party, to rally to the support of the great charter of American freedom.

Resolved, That, should the pacific invitation and solemn warning of our illustrious president fail to recall the disaffected to their duty; should

the anti-republican doctrine of nullification be persisted in, and treason rear its polluted form within the bosom of our prosperous, patriotic, and peaceful republic; we do hereby instruct our senators in congress, and request our representatives, to unite in the most speedy and vigorous measures on the part of the general government for the preservation of the peace, integrity, and honour, of the Union; and we hereby solemnly pledge the faith of our state in support of the administration of the laws and constitution of our beloved country.

Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to the president of the United States, to the heads of the several departments at Washington, and to our senators and representatives in congress.

Jefferson, November 19, 1832, 96 public and 37 private acts were passed.

Amendments were proposed to the constitution for the purpose of changing the tenure of judicial office, and to make the three judges of the supreme court elected by the legislature for six years,-one judge to vacate his office every second year.

The circuit judges and clerks of courts are to be elected by the people, also for six years.

Also, an amendment proposing to extend the boundary of the state with the consent of congress, so as to include all north of the Missouri, and west as far as congress shall consent; also all the lands lying in the fork of the Mississippi and Des Moines rivers.

APPORTIONMENT.-An act ap. portioning the members of the legis. lature among the several counties, and 22 senatorial districts, sending 24 senators.

CIVIL OFFICES.-Clerks of courts shall not keep their offices out of the county, and the minutes of each day shall be read and signed by the judge, at the rise of the court.

Any civil officer addicted to drunkenness, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and removed from office.

CONVEYANCES.-Married women within the state are authorized to convey the real estate belonging to them-the husbands joining in the conveyance, and the wife acknowledging before a proper officer that she executes the deed voluntarily. Similar provisions are made for the conveyance of lands in Missouri, by married women residing out of the state. The deed is to be acknowledged before a court of record.

SLAVES. No keeper of a tavern, dram shop, &c. shall permit any slave to be at his tavern, &c. unless expressly sent by his master, or overseer, under the penalty of not less than $5, nor more than $50. Any slave or person of colour dis. turbing any religious congregation, may be ordered by any sheriff or justice to forthwith disperse; and upon refusing, any justice of the peace, after conviction by a jury, may order him to be whipped not more than 20 lashes.

DEPOSITIONS.-The official character of a magistrate before whom a deposition is taken out of the state, is to be proved by the certificate of a clerk of some court of record in the state where the magistrate resides. DIVORCE.-Extreme cruelty, or conviction of an infamous crime, is declared to be a good cause of

divorce; and when a person shall be thus divorced, it shall be lawful for the other party to marry again after two years. No divorce is to be granted by the legislature, unless two months notice be given to the opposite party, if residing in the state; and five weeks notice in the newspaper, if residing out of the state, and the cause of divorce must have taken place more than two months preceding the meeting of the legislature, and be without relief in the courts.

EVIDENCE.-Printed copies of ordinances, &c. of any town in Missouri, published under authority of the town, or copies certified under the hand and seal of the proper officer, are made evidence in the courts.

Mayors of cities are authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds, &c.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.-The 3 per cent. fund received from the United States, was ordered to be divided rateably among the several counties of the state, to be applied under the direction of the county courts to making and repairing roads and bridges, and making canals, and the courts are to report annually to the legislature the mode in which it has been expended. The courts however are authorized by a subsequent act, to loan the same on bond and security, at 10 per cent. interest, and the interest is to be appropriated to the same purpose.

INTEREST. Where the interest named is not greater than 10 per cent., the interest on judgments is to be the same as that named in the contracts on which they are founded.

IMPRISONMENT.-County courts are authorized to discharge persons imprisoned for non-payment of fines or costs; but their property is to be liable for payment of the same.

MILITIA. The militia are to be

form a tour of duty in turn. When bands of Indians are found roaming or hunting within the state, except where stipulated by treaty, the governor may cause them to be removed.

REDEMPTION.-All land sold for taxes of which the state has become purchaser, may be redeemed before January 1, 1835, upon payment of the taxes with 15 per cent interest, and all expenses.

REVISION OF LAWS.-A person is ordered to be appointed to revise the statute laws passed since 1825. ROADS.-The evidence necessary to sustain an indictment against an overseer of roads, is declared to be, 1. evidence of his appointment, 2. that he was notified, 3. the legal assignment of hands to work upon the road, 4. and that the road under his care, is not kept in repair. Sheriff's are ordered to notify overseers of their appointment; justices of the peace are to make assignment of hands to work upon the roads, and clerks to furnish to grand juries and district attorneys, the names of the overseers, and a transcript of notices and assignment of lands, which are made evidence.

TAXES. The rate of taxes is fixed at 12 cents on $100; a poll tax of 37 cents is laid, and all stock in corporate bodies, except hospitals and literary institutions, is made taxable. Improvements on land not taxable, are to be also exempt from taxation. All taxes improperly paid, are to be refunded by the county clerk. 12 cents on $100 are imposed as a tax on merchandise, except the produce of the state received for sale, and 50 cents fee to the clerk for issuing a license to each vender.

is indicted, the venue may be chan ged to another county by the public attorney: also where the judge is of kin to, or owner of the person indicted, or where the public mind in the county is so prejudiced, that a fair trial cannot be had.

Forty-eight divorces were granted. Two colleges, two literary associations, two steam-mill companies, and three towns were incorporated. Two lotteries were granted.

Acts were passed organizing the counties of Carroll, Clinton, Greene, Lewis, Morgan, Pettis, Pulaski, Ripley and Warren, and several acts defining the boundaries of other counties. The governor was authorized to pay off the state debt. A state penitentiary was ordered to be erected. Twenty-four private acts were passed.

Resolutions were passed, approv ing of the principles and doctrines, laid down in the veto on the bill rechartering the United States Bank— disapproving of Mr. Clay's land bill, and "instructing the senators, and requesting the representatives of the state to use their best exertions to accelerate the extinction of the federal title to the public domain in the western states, by a general pre-emption law, by graduating the price to the quality of the land, by granting donations to the poor and actual settler, and finally by ceding the lands to the states "-also asking of congress aid to remove the sand bar in the Mississippi, in front of St. Louis, and additional protection against the Indians. Also, a resolution authorizing the governor to appoint three persons to form a system of common primary school instruction throughout the state.