NORTH CAROLINA. The name of one of the original states of the United States of America.
2. The territory which now forms this state was included in the grant made in 1663 by Charles II., to Lord Clarendon and others, of a much more ex tensive oountry. The boundaries were enlarged by a new charter granted hy the same prince to the same proprietaries in the year 1665. By this charter the proprietaries were authorized to make laws, with the assent of the freemen of the province or their delegates, and they were invested with various , other powers. Being dissatisfied witb the form of government, the proprietaries procured the cele brated John Locke to draw up a plan of government for the colony, which was adopted, and proved tn be impracticable: it was highly exoeptionabli on acoount of its disregard of the principles of reli.
gious toleration and national liberty, which arc now universally admitted. After a few years of unsuc cessful operation, it was abandoned. The colony had been settled at two points, one called the North ern and the other the Southern settlement, which were governed by separate legislatures. Ia 1729 the proprietaries surrendered their charter, when it became a royal province, and was goveroed by a commission and a form of government in substance similar to that established in other royal provinces. In 1732 the territory was divided, and the divisions assumed the names of North Carolina and South Carolina.
3. The oonstitution of North Carolina was adopted December 18, 1776. To this constitution amendments were made in convention June 4, 1835, which were ratified by the people on tho 9th day of November of the same year, and took effect on the lst day of January, 1836.
Every free white man of the age of tweoty-one years, being a native or naturalized citizen of the United States, and who has been an inhabitant of the state for twelve months immediately preceding the day of any election, and has jutid public taxes, is entitled to vote. See Acts 1856, c. 12, 13.
The Legislative Power.
The Senate consists of fifty members, chosen bien nially, for the term of two years, by the qualified voters of the district. A senator must poseess the qualifications of a voter, and, in addition, it is pro vided that no person who denies the beiog of God, the truth of the Christian religion, or the divine authority of the Old or New Testament, or who holds religious prinoiples incompatible with the freedom or safety of the state, ca.0 hold aoy office of trust or profit in the civil department within the state.
The Houseof COMM011.9 is oomposed of oue hundred and twenty representatives, apportioned among the counties in the ratio of the population as enume rated for the purposes of federal representation. They are elected biennially, fnr the term of two years. The qualifications required are the same as those of senators.
The Executive Power.
4. The Governor ie elected biennially, by the quali fied voters of the state, for the term of two years from the first day of January next following his election. He is not eligible more than four years in any term of six years. He must be thirty,years of age, have resided five years in the state, and own in the state a freehold ia lands and tenements to the value of one thoueand pounds. The candidate having the largest number of votes is elected; and in case of no election or a contested election, the matter is to be decided by the joint action of the two houses.
The Council of the state consists of seven mem bers, elected biennially by a joint vote of the senate and house of commons. Four of these form a quo rum, and their duty is to advise the governor in the execution of his offioe, particularly in filling vaoan oies occurring during the recess of the general assembly in offices in which the right of ap pointment is by the constitution vested in that body. The appointees in soch oases are to have a temporary commission, which expires with the end uf the next session of the genoral assembly.