The executive power, Article IV., is to be vested in a Governor and a Lieutenant-Governor, both of whom shall be chosen for two years.  The Governor must be a citizen of the United States, must be thirty years of age, and have lived for the last four years in the State.  He is to be commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the State, as is the President of those of the Union.  I see that this is also the case in inland States, which one would say can have no navies.  And with reference to some States it is enacted that the Governor is commander-in-chief of the army, navy, and militia, showing that some army over and beyond the militia may be kept by the State.  In Tennessee, which is an inland State, it is enacted that the Governor shall be “commander-in-chief of the army and navy of this State, and of the militia, except when they shall be called into the service of the United States.”  In Ohio the same is the case, except that there is no mention of militia.  In New York there is no proviso with reference to the service of the United States.  I mention this as it bears with some strength on the question of the right of secession, and indicates the jealousy of the individual States with reference to the Federal government.  The Governor can convene extra sessions of one House or of both.  He makes a message to the legislature when it meets—­a sort of Queen’s speech; and he receives for his services a compensation to be established by law.  In New York this amounts to 800l. a year.  In some States this is as low as 200l. and 300l.  In Virginia it is 1000l.  In California, 1200l.

The Governor can pardon, except in cases of treason.  He has also a veto upon all bills sent up by the legislature.  If he exercise this veto he returns the bill to the legislature with his reasons for so doing.  If the bill on reconsideration by the Houses be again passed by a majority of two-thirds in each house, it becomes law in spite of the Governor’s veto.  The veto of the President at Washington is of the same nature.  Such are the powers of the Governor.  But though they are very full, the Governor of each State does not practically exercise any great political power, nor is he, even politically, a great man.  You might live in a State during the whole term of his government and hardly hear of him.  There is vested in him by the language of the constitution a much wider power than that intrusted to the governor of our colonies.  But in our colonies everybody talks, and thinks, and knows about the governor.  As far as the limits of the colony the governor is a great man.  But this is not the case with reference to the governors in the different States.