Pennsylvania

Government. — The present constitution provides for the election of governor triennially by the people; not to hold office longer than six years in nine: the Senate, consisting of 33 members, one third chosen each year, are elected for three years: the House of Representatives contains 100 members, chosen annually. The judicial officers are appointed by the executive, subject to the approval of the Senate. The secretary of state is exclusively an executive appointment; and the treasurer is chosen annually by the legislature in joint ballot. All white males 21 years of age, tax payers, residents for one year in the state, and for ten days in the district, are qualified voters.

Judiciary. — The judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court, four District Courts, and Courts of Common Pleas for 24 districts, into which the state is divided. The former is composed of a chief and four associate justices, who retain their offices for 15 years. They hold a court in bank once a year in four several districts. The District Courts are invested with the civil jurisdiction of the Common Pleas in their respective districts, in all cases exceeding a certain amount involved: the judges of these courts are appointed for 10 years. Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas hold office for 5 years; and any two of them may hold a Court of Quarter Sessions in any county. Sheriffs, coroners, clerks of courts, registers of wills, and recorders of deeds are elected by the people for 3 years, and justices of the peace for 5 years.

Population. — From the date of the first enumeration of the inhabitants, 150 years ago, when the colony contained but 20,000 souls, the population of Pennsylvania has continued to "increase and multiply," in steady and regular progression. At the present time its population numbers over 2,300,000. It is composed of the best possible materials for the formation and preservation of a free state. Industry, frugality, order, and patriotism are among the distinguishing traits of the people. Their enterprise and foresight have been remarkably exemplified in their magnificent system of public works, in their extensive agricultural and mechanical operations, and in their flourishing literary institutions. The establishment and support of all these important interests have been marked by unsurpassed earnestness and munificence….

Religion. — The Friends or Quakers, successors of the first settlers, are probably more numerous in Pennsylvania than in any other state, having some 150 to 200 congregations. The Presbyterians, however, outnumber all the other denominations ; then follow in order the Methodists, Baptists, German Reformed, and Episcopalians, all of whom are numerous. There is also the usual variety of minor sects.

Education. — Pennsylvania has recently done much for the advancement of free education. There are in the state, independent of the city and county of Philadelphia, about 1500 school districts, and near 10,000 common schools, containing over 400,000 scholars. For the support of these institutions, some -$700,000 to $800,000 are annually raised, partly by taxation in theseveral districts, and partly through state appropriations. There are also a large number of academies, and other literary or scientific institutions of a high grade, together with five or six theological seminaries maintained by various Christian denominations. The Girard College, near the city of Philadelphia, endowed by Stephen Girard with a-fund of $2,000,000, and devoted to the support of destitute orphans, is perhaps the greatest charity of the kind in the country. There are two flourishing universities, — the University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1755 at Philadelphia, and the Western University at Pittsburg, —together with the following colleges, founded between the years 1783 and 1836: Dickinson, Jefferson, Washington, Alleghany, Pennsylvania, Lafayette, and Marshall, besides sundry medical colleges.

Internal Improvements. — The position, extent, and resources of Pennsylvania have naturally stimulated her people to the establishment of all needful facilities for the promotion of her great agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial interests. Accordingly her revenues and credit, and the means of her wealthiest citizens, have been liberally devoted to the construction of various descriptions of public works, some of which are on a scale of great magnitude. Railroads and canals intersect the country in all directions, connecting the tide waters on the eastern boundary with those of the Ohio, and between all the principal points of trade throughout the state….

Manufactures. — The people of Pennsylvania are largely engaged in this department of home industry, the products of which are probably greater in quantity and value than those of any other state in the Union. The most important manufactures are cast and wrought iron in all varieties, cotton and woollen fabrics, paper, furniture, machinery, hats, articles of leather, porcelain, glass, pottery, marble, flour, chandlery, distilled and fermented liquors, &c.