INDIANA. The name of one of the new states of the United States.
2. This state was admitted into the Union by virtue of a resolution of congress, approved Dec. 11, 1816.
The boundaries of the state are defined, and the state has concurrent jurisdiction with the state of Kentucky on the Ohio river, and with the state of Illinois on the Wabash. As to the soil, the south ern boundary of Indiana is low-water mark on the Ohio river.
The first constitution of the state was adopted in the year 1816, ani has since been snperseded by the present constittion, which was adopted in the year 1851. This contains a bill of rights, which provides, amongst other things, that no law shall, in any case whatever, control the free exercise and enjoyment of religious opinions, or interfere with the rights of conscience; that no preference shall be given by law to any creed, religious society, or mode of worship, and that no man shall be cora 1 polled to attend, erect, or support any place of war ' ship, or to maintain any ministry, against his con sent ; that no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any offioe of trust or profit ; that no money shall be drawn from the treasury for the benefit of any religious or theological institution; 1 that no person shall be rendered incompetent as a witness in consequence of his opinions on matters of religion.
The Legislative Power.
3. This is vested in a general assembly, consist ing of a senate and house of representatives. The Senate is composed of fifty members, elected by the people for the term of four years. A sena tor must be at least twenty-five years of age, a citizen of the United States, for two years next preceding his election an inhabitant of the state, and for one year next preceding his election an in habitant of the county or district whence he may be chosen.
The House of Representatives consists of one hun dred members, elected by the people for the term of two years. To be eligible as a member of this body, the citizen must be at least twenty-one years of age, and possess the same qualifications as a senator in other respects.
The sessions of the general assembly are to be held biennially, at the capital of the state, com mencing on the Thursday next after the first Mon day of January of every odd year, unless a differ ent day or place is appointed by law. But if in the opinion of the governor the public welfare shall require it, he may at any time, by proclama tion, call a special session.
The general assembly may modify the grand jury system, 12 Ind. 641; have power to adopt a re vised system of pleading and practiec,—which has been done, 2 Rev. Stat. 1852; are to provide for a uniform rate of taxation of all property, with spe cial exemptions by law; may pass a general bank ing law, but may not incorporate for banking pur poses. 10 Ind. 137; 11 id. 139, 424, 449.
The Executive Power.
4. The governor is elected quadrennially, at the annual election in October, to servo for the term of four years. He is not eligible to re-election. He must be at least thirty years of age, have been a citizen of the United States for five years, have resided in the state five years next preceding his election, and must not hold any office under the United States or this state. He must take care that the laws be faithfully executed; and he exer cises the pardoning power at his discretion. The shall be chosen at every election for a governor, in the same manner, con tinue in office for the same time, and possess the same qualifications. In voting for governor and lieutenant-governor, the electors shall distinguish for whom they vote as governor and for whom as lieutenant-governor. He shall, by virtue of his office, be president of the senate; have a right, when in committee of the whole, to debate and vote on all subjects, and, when the senate are equally divided, to give the casting vote. In case of the removal of the governor from office, death, resignation, or inability to discharge the duties of the office, the lieutenant-governor shall exercise all the powers and authority appertaining to the office of governor. Whenever the government shall be administered by the lieutenant-governor, or he shall be unable to attend as president of the senate, the senate shall elect one of their own members as president for that occasion. And the general as sembly shall, by law, provide for the ease of re moval from offi,m, death, resignation, or inability, both of the governor and lieutenant-governor, de claring what officer shall then act as governor; and such officer shall act actordingly, until the disability be removed or a governor be elected. The lieutenant-governor, while he acts as presi dent of the senate, shall receive for his services the same oompensation as the speaker of the house of representatives. The lieuteaant-gavernor shall not be eligible to any other office during the term for which he shall have been elected.