Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/672

 654 MISSISSIPPI and Brunswick, from Eufaula, Ala., to Me- ridian (225 m.). There are no national banks in Mississippi. In 1874 there were six savings banks, with an aggregate capital of about $300,000, and five banks of deposit, incorpo- rated under state law, with an aggregate capi- tal of about $550,000. One of each class also does an insurance business. At the close of 1873, 21 insurance companies of other states and countries were doing business in the state. The government is administered under the constitution of 1869, which declares that all citizens of the United States resident in the state are citizens thereof ; that no property or religious qualification for office, nor any prop- erty or educational qualification for voting, shall ever be required ; that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except in punishment of crime, shall exist ; that no law in deroga- tion of the paramount allegiance of citizens to the United States shall be passed, and that the right of secession shall never be assumed ; that no public money shall be appropriated for any charitable or other public institution making any distinction among citizens of the state; and that any person engaging in or abetting a duel shall be disfranchised and disqualified from holding office. The executive power is vested in a governor, lieutenant governor, sec- retary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, and superintendent of public educa- tion, elected by the people for a term of four years, and a commissioner of immigration and agriculture, chosen by joint ballot of the two houses of the legislature for the same term. The governor's veto may be overcome by a two- thirds vote of both houses of the legislature. Senators are elected by senatorial districts for four years, one half retiring biennially; their number (at present 37) cannot be less than one fourth nor more than one third of that of the representatives. The representatives are elect- ed for two years ; their number cannot be less than 100 nor greater than 120 (at present 115). The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, circuit courts, chancery courts, and jus- tices of the peace. The supreme court has appellate jurisdiction only, and consists of three judges (one from each of the three dis- tricts into which the state is divided), appoint- ed by the governor with the consent of the senate for nine years, one retiring every three years. A session is held twice a year at the capital. There is a circuit court for each of the 15 judicial districts, presided over by a single judge appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate for six years. These courts have original jurisdiction in criminal matters and in civil cases at law when the amount in dispute exceeds $150, and are held at least twice a year in each county. The chancery courts have jurisdiction of equity and probate matters, and are held at least four times a year in each county. A chancellor is appoint- ed by the governor with the consent of the senate for four years for each of the 20 chan- cery districts. Justices of the peace are elected for two years, and have jurisdiction of civil cases at law when the amount in dispute does not exceed $150. The ^ght of suffrage is con- ferred upon all male citizens of the United States (except convicts and persons of unsound mind) 21 years old and upward, who have re- sided in the state six months and in the county one month, and have been registered. Elec- tions are by ballot, and occur biennially (odd years) on the Tuesday next after the first Mon- day ;n November. The political year com- mences on the first Monday of January, and the legislature meets annually on the following Tuesday. No one who denies the existence of a Supreme Being, or who is not a qualified elector, can hold office. The militia consists of all able-bodied male citizens between the ages of 18 and 45. It is provided that the state shall not become a stockholder in any corporation or association, nor pledge or lend its credit in aid of any person, corporation, or association; that no bank of issue shall be created or renewed, and that the legislature shall by law prohibit individuals or corpora- tions from issuing bills as money. Amend- ments to the constitution must be proposed by a two-thirds vote of each house of the legisla- ture, published for at least three months pre- ceding the next general election, and ratified by the people. Treason, murder, and arson committed in the night upon a dwelling are punished with death. Other punishments are fines and imprisonment. The chief grounds of divorce are adultery, sentence to the peni- tentiary, impotence, desertion for two years, habitual drunkenness, cruel treatment, and pregnancy at the time of marriage by another unknown to the husband. A married woman may convey and devise property belonging to her at the time of marriage or afterward ac- quired as if single, and the same is not liable for the debts of her husband, and she may do business as a feme sole. The rate of interest is 6 per cent., but 10 per cent, may be stipu- lated for by special contract. Mississippi is entitled to two senators and six representa- tives in congress, and has therefore eight votes in the electoral college. The valuation of prop- erty according to the United States censuses has been as follows : YEARS. ASSESSED VALUE. True value of real and per- lonal. Real etale. PerBonal eitate. Total. 1?50... $228,951,180 607,824.911 209,197,345 1860... 1870... $157,836,787 118,278,460 $851,636,175 69,000,430 $509,472,912 177,278,890 The diminution in the value of personal prop- erty is chiefly due to the emancipation of the slaves. The total taxation not national in 1870 was $3,736,432, of which $1,309,655 was state, $2,299,699 county, and $127,078 town, city, &c. ; total debt, $2,594,415, of which $1,796,- 230, including $1,138,494 due to the educa-