LOUISIANA. The name of one of the new states of the United States of America.
2. It covers a part of the territory ceded by France to the United States by the treaty of the 13th April, 1803. It was admitted into the Union by an act of congreas approved on tho 8th April, 1812, with the following limits : beginning at the mouth of the river Sabine, thence by a Hoe to be drawn along the middle of said river, including all islands, to the thirty-second degree of latitude; thence due north to the northernmost part of the thirty-third degree of north latitute; thence along the said parallel of le titude to the river Mississippi; thence down the said river to the river Iberville ; and from thence along the middle of said river to lakes Maurepaa and Pontchartrain, to the Gulf of Mexico; thence, bounded by amid gulf, to the place of be ginning, including all islands within three leagues of the coast. These limits were enlarged by virtue of an act of congress, with the consent of the legis lature of the state, approved on the 14th April, 1812, by adding all that tract of country compre hended within the following bounds, to wit: be ginning with the junction of the Iberville with the river Miseissippi, thence along the middle of the Iberville, the river Amite, end the lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain, to the eastern mouth of the Pearl river ; thence up the eastern branch of Pearl river to the thirty-first degree of north latitude ; thence along the said degree of latitude to the river Miesissippi; thence down the said river to the place of beginning. The territory thus added to the limita of the state had, up to that time, been sub ject to the dominion of Spain, and the parishes into which it has been divided are, for thie reason, still called, in popular language, " the Florida parishes." 3. The first constitution of the state was adopted on the 22d January, 1812, and was aubstantially oopied from tbe constitution of Kentucky. This constitution watt superseded by that of 1845, which was in its turn replaced by that adopted on the 3let July, 1852, now in force.
Every free white male citizen of the United States, who ie twenty-one years old or more, who has been a resident of the state for twelve menthe and of the district in which he offers to vote six months, is a voter, and is privileged front arrest, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace, while going to or returning from the place of election.
The Legielative Power.
This is lodged in a Senate and Rouse of Repre sentatives, together constituting the General As eembly.
The Senate ie oomposed of thirty-two members, elected one from eaoh of the districts into which the state is divided, by the people of the dietriet. for the term of two years. A senator Bina be an elector, and a member of the district for which he is chosen.
The Houee of Repreeentatives is to be oomposed of not more than one hundred nor less than aeventy members choeen by the people for the term of two years, with provision that they ehall be appor tioned aeoording to population, and that a new , apportionment shall be made in 1863.
The Executive Power.
4. The Governor is elected by the people, for four years. If two persons have an equal and the highest number of votes, the selection is to be made between these by a joiut vote of the general assem bly. He must be twenty-eight years old at leaet, and a citizeo and resideot within the state for four years next before the election. He is iueligible for the succeeding term. He is commaader-iu-chief of the army and navy and militia of the state, except when called into the service of the United States ; is to take care that the laws be faithfully executed; must give to tbe general assembly information re specting the situation of the etate, and recommend such measurea as he may deem expedient; has power to grant reprieves for all offences egainet the state ; with the cansent of the senate, has power to grant pardone, aud remit fines and forfeit ures, after conviction', except in cases of impeach ment; io cues of treason, may grant reprieves until tbe end of the next ses,ion of the general assembly. in which the pardoning power le vested; is to nominate, and, by and with the advice amd consent of the eenate, appoint, all officere esta blished by the coostitution, whose mode of appoint meet is not otherwise prescribed hy the con etitutio a, nor by the legislature; has power to fill vacancies during the recess of the eenate, provided he ap point no one whom the senate haa rejected for the same office; may, on extraordinary occasions, con vene the general assembly at the seat of govern raent, or at a different place, if that should have become dangerous from an enemy or from an epi demic, and in ease of disagreenoent between the two houms as to the time of adjournment, may ad jeure them to such time as he may think proper, not exceeding four months. 11e has the veto power, but must return the hill vetoed with his objectiono, and it may still become a law by vote of two-thirds of the members of each lionise. Coast. tit. .