NATIONAL REGISTER

FOR

1858:

CONTAINING

AUTHENTIC POLITICAL AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION

RELATING TO THE

UNITED STATES,

NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA, ETC.

THE velocity of a sailing-ship is from 8 to 16 miles an hour; of a steamship, from 12 to 20 miles; of a race-horse, 28 to 32 miles; of a locomotive, with safety, from 40 to 50 miles; of a bird, 50 to 60 miles; of the clouds, in a violent hurricane, 80 to 100 miles; of sound, 820 miles; of a cannon-ball (as found by experiment), from 800 to 1,000 miles; of the Earth round the Sun, 68,000 miles-about 100 times faster than a cannon-ball; of Mercury, 100,000 miles; of light, about 8,000,000 miles, passing from the Sun to the Earth in about 8 minutes, or about a million times swifter than a cannon-ball. Electricity, in its use the greatest achievement of man, is propelled at the rate of 288,000 miles per second, or greater than that of light through the celestial space.

STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, with its TERRITORIES, extends from the Atlantic, west to the Pacific Ocean, occupying the middle division of North America; being bounded on the north by the British Possessions, and on the south by the Gulf of Mexico and the Republic of Mexico. It lies between 25° and 49° of North latitude, and between 66° 59' and 125° West longitude from Greenwich; or, between 10° 01' East and 48° West longitude from Washington City. Its greatest length from east to west is estimated at 3,000 miles, and its greatest breadth from north to south 1,700 miles; containing an estimated area of 3,200,000 square miles It has a frontier line of about 10,000 miles, of which 3,500 miles is along the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico, and 1.620 miles on the Pacific Ocean and Straits of Juan de Fuca. Its surface embraces about one third of North America, including the West India Islands, being about one twentieth of the land of the whole earth. It was first discovered to the inhabitants of the Old World by John Cabot, A.D. 1497, being five years after the landing of Columbus at St. Salvador.

The first permanent settlement in the United States was at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607,* which continued an English colony till the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. After a war of seven years' duration, peace was made, and Independence acknowledged by Treaty with England in 1783.

The articles of Confederation were entered into in 1777. The present United States Constitution, framed in 1787, went into operation March 1st, 1789, after being approved of by the thirteen original States of the Union. Louisiana, comprising the States and Territories now belonging to the United States west of the Mississippi, was purchased of France in 1803, and Florida of Spain in 1819. Texas was admitted into the Union by "Joint Resolutions" of Congress, passed March 1, 1845. New Mexico and Upper California, including Utah, were acquired by treaty with Mexico, ratified in 1848. Arizona was acquired by treaty with Mexico, ratified in June, 1854.

The present number of organized States is thirty-one. In the District of Columbia, originally formed by cessions from Maryland and Virginia,† is situated WASHINGTON CITY, the United States seat of government, being first occupied in 1800. The District and Capital are exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government. Congress meets on the first Monday in December in every year, unless otherwise directed by law.

The population of the United States at the time of taking the first census in 1790, was 3,929,328; in 1800, 5,309,758; in 1810, 7,239,903; in 1820, 9,638,166; in 1830, 12,866,020; in 1840, 17,068,666; in 1850, 23,191,876, of the latter number 434,495 were free colored persons, and 3,204,318 slaves. Maine, Vermont, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and thirteen Territorial Governments have been organized and converted into States since the Revolution, while three others are applying for admission. The States and Territories west of the Mississippi River are about twice as great in extent as the twenty-six States east of it. Estimated population (1858), 30,000,000, being an increase of about 3 per cent. per annum for the last fifty years. At the same ratio of increase, the population will amount in 1900 to 98,957,865.

*St. Augustine, Florida, was settled in 1665, by the Spaniards.

The Virginia part, constituting the County of Alexandria, has recently been re-annexed to the above State.

STATES AND TERRITORIES

The STATE GOVERNMENTS are very similar to that of the Federal Government in their organization, being each composed of an executive, legislative, and judicial department.

Maine. Settled in 1630, by English; belonged to Massachusetts till 1820, when it was admitted into the Union as a State; capital, AUGUSTA. The elective franchise rests on a residence in the State of three months next preceding any election, for any citizen of the United States, except paupers and persons under guardianship. Area, 35,000 square miles. Population in 1840, 501,793; in 1850, 583,169.

New Hampshire.-Settled in 1623, by English; acceded to the Union June, 1788, being one of the original thirteen States; capital, CONCORD. Every male citizen of 21 years of age, except paupers, has the right to vote. Area, 8,030 square miles. Pop. in 1840, 284,574; in 1850, 317,976. Massachusetts.-Settled in 1620, by English Puritans, who landed at Plymouth; acceded to the Union in February, 1788; capital, BOSTON. One year's residence in the State, and payment of a State or county tax, gives the right to vote to every male citizen of 21 years and upward, excepting paupers and persons under guardianship. Area, 7,250 square miles. Population in 1840, 737,698; in 1850, 994,514.

Rhode Island.-Settled in 1631, by English from Massachusetts; acceded to the Union in May, 1790; capitals, PROVIDENCE and NEWPORT. By the constitution recently adopted, the qualifications for voting may be stated, omitting details, to be a freehold possession worth $13; or, if in reversion, renting for $7, together with a year's residence in the State and six months in the town; or, if no freehold, then two years' residence in the State and six months in the town, and payment of a dollar of tax, or militia service instead. Area, 1,200 square miles. Pop. in 1840, 108,830; in 1850, 147,545.

Connecticut. Settled in 1633, by English from Massachusetts; acceded to the Union in January, 1788; capitals, NEW HAVEN and HARTFORD. Residence for six months, or militia duty for a year, or payment of State tax, or a freehold of the yearly value of $7, gives the right to vote. Area, 4,750 square miles. Population in 1840, 300,015; in 1850, 370,792.

Vermont.-Settled in 1763, by English chiefly from Connecticut, under grants from New Hampshire; admitted into the Union in 1791; capital, MONTPELIER. One year's residence gives the right to vote to any citizen of the United States who will take an oath of allegiance. Area, 8,000 square miles. Population in 1840, 291,948; in 1850, 314,120.

New York.-Settled in 1613, by Dutch; submitted to the English in 1664; retaken by the Dutch in 1673; restored to the English in 1674, acceded to the Union in July, 1788; capital, ALBANY. One year's residence in the State and six months in the county gives the right to vote; but every man of color must have a residence of three years, and have owned and paid taxes on a freehold assessed at $250 for a year. Area, 46,000 square miles. Population in 1840, 2,428,921; in 1850, 3,097,394; in 1855, 3,466,212.

New Jersey. Settled in 1627, by Swedes; conquered by the Dutch in 1655; submitted to the English in 1664; acceded to the Union in December, 1787; capital, TRENTON. One year's residence in the State gives the right to vote, except to paupers, etc. Area, 6,851 square miles. Population in 1840, 373,306; in 1850, 489,555; in 1855, 569,494.

Pennsylvania.—Settled in 1682, by English; acceded to the Union in December, 1787; capital, HARRISBURG. One year's residence in the State and ten days in the election district, and payment of a State or county tax

assessed ten days prior to an election, gives the right to vote, except that citizens between 21 and 22 years of age need not have paid a tax. Area, 47,000 square miles. Population in 1840, 1,724,033; in 1850, 2,311,786.

Delaware.-Settled in 1627, by Swedes; granted to William Penn in 1682; separated in 1703; acceded to the Union in December, 1787; capital, DOVER. Qualification of voters same as in Pennsylvania. Area, 2,120 square miles. Population in 1840, 78,085; in 1850, 91,532, of whom 2,290 were slaves.

Maryland.-Settled in 1634, by English; acceded to the Union in April, 1788; capital, ANNAPOLIS. One year's residence in the State and six months in the county gives the right to vote to every white male citizen. Area, 11,000 square miles. Population in 1840, 469,232; in 1850, 583,034, of whom 90,368 were slaves.

Virginia.-Settled in 1607, by English; acceded to the Union in June, 1788; capital, RICHMOND. A freehold in possession, or in the occupancy of only a tenant-at-will or sufferance, worth $25; or the reversion of a freehold, to vest on the termination of a life-estate, and worth $50; or a leasehold of the yearly value of $20, for a term of not less than five years; or the payment of a State tax within the year by a housekeeper who is the head of a family, and has a year's residence, gives the right of voting to every citizen, except paupers, felons, and persons in the army and navy not having commissions. Area, 61,352 square miles. Population in 1840, 1,239,797; in 1850, 1,421,661, of whom 472,528 were slaves.

North Carolina.-Settled in 1650, by English; acceded to the Union, November 21, 1789; capital, RALEIGH. Every freeman of the age of 21 years and upward, who has resided one year in any county within the State, may vote for a member of the House of Commons, but must own fifty acres of land to vote for a Senator. Area, 45,500 square miles. Population in 1840, 753,449; in 1850, 869,039, of whom 288,548 were slaves.

South Carolina.-Settled in 1689, by English; acceded to the Union, May 23, 1788; capital, COLUMBIA. Voters, residents of the State two years, who have a freehold of fifty acres of land, or have paid a State tax, and resided six months in the district where voting. Area, 28,000 square miles. Pop. in 1840, 594,398; in 1850, 668,507, of whom 384,984 were slaves. Georgia.-Settled in 1733, by English; acceded to the Union, January 2, 1788; capital, MILLEDGEVILLE. Voters, citizens of the State and six months resident of the county where voting, and have paid taxes the year preceding the election. Area, 58,000 square miles. Population in 1840, 691,392; in 1850, 906,185; in 1855, 935,090, of whom 389,237 were slaves. Florida (East and West).-Settled early by the Spaniards, being more than 200 years under Spain; was ceded to the United States in 1819; it was admitted into the Union, March 3, 1845; capital, TALLAHASSEE. Area, 59,268 square miles. Population in 1840, 54,477; in 1850, 87,445, of whom 39,310 were slaves.

Alabama.-Settled in 1713, by French; admitted into the Union in 1819; capital, MONTGOMERY. Voters, white male citizens of the United States, one year resident in the State, and three months in the county where he shall offer to vote. Area, 50,722 square miles. Population in 1840, 590,756; in 1850, 771,623, of whom 342,844 were slaves.

Mississippi.-Settled in 1716, by French; admitted into the Union in 1817. Voters, citizens of the United States, one year resident in the State, and in the county four months, and have done military duty, or paid taxes; capital, JACKSON. Area, 47,151 square miles. Population in 1840, 475,651; in 1850, 606,526, of whom 309,878 were slaves.