Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-03-14
.cBy AutIovvty-)
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
AN ACT

Of Orleans to form a constitution and
state government, and for the adj
mission OF such state into the Union.
on an equal footing with the origi-
nal states; and for other purposes.
DE it enacted by the Senate and House of
~ representatives of the Omitted States
OF America, in G ongress assembled, That
the inhabitants of all that part of the
territory or country coded under the
name OF Louisiana, by the treaty made
at Paris on the thirtieth day of April,
one thousand eight hundred and three,
between the United States and France,
contained within the following limits,
that is to say i: beginning at the mouth
OF the river Sabine, thence by line
to be drawn along the middle Of said
river, including all islands to the thir-
ty second degree of latitude; thence
due north, to the northermost part of
the thirty-third degree of north lati.
tide; thence along the said parallel
OF latitude to the river Mississippi !;
thence down the said river to the RI
yer lberville /; and from thence along
the middle of the said river and lakes
Maurepas and Ponchartrain, to the
guiPh of Mexico; thence bounded by
the said gulph to the place of begin
ming: including all islands within
three leagues of the coast, be, and thew
are hereby authorised to form for
themselves constitution and state go.
vernment, and to assume such name
as they may deem proper, under the
provisions and upon the conditions
hereinafter mentioned.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That
all free white male citizens of the u
nited States, who shall have arrived
at the age of twenty one years, and
resided within the said territory, at
least one year previous to The day OF
Election, and shall have paid terri
torial, county, district or parish tax !;
and all persons having in other respects
the legal qualifications to vote for re-
representatives. in the general assem- bly,
of the sid territory, be and they ar.
hereby authorised to choose represen-
tatlves to form convention, who shall
be apportioned amongst the several
counties, districts and parishes, within
the said territory of Orleans, ia such
manner as the legislature of the said
territory shall by law direct. The
number of Representatives shall not
exceed sixty and the elections for
the representatives aforesaid shall take
place on the third Monday in Septem-
Der next, and shall be conducted in the
same manner as is now provided by
the laws of the said territory for elect
ing members OF the House of Repre-
sentatives.
/ Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That
the members OF the convention, when
duly elected, b., and they are hereby
authorised 10 meet at the city of New
Orleans, on the first Monday of No.
Vember next, which convention. when
met, shall first determine, by ma
jority of the whole number elected.
whether it be expedient or not, at tina,
time, to form constitution and state
government, for the people within the
said territory, aud If it be determined
to be expedient, then the convention
81 u In like manner declare, in behalf
~ tbe people of the said territory. that
1t adopts the constitution of the Uni.
ted States; whereupon the said con
ven'ion shall be, and hereby is author.
ised TO form constitution and state
government, for the people of the said
territory: Provided, the constitution
to be formed, in virtue of the author.
lity herein given, shall be republican.
and consistent with the constitution Of
the United States thar it shall contain
the fundamental principles of civil and
religious liberty that it shall secure
TO the citizen the trial by Jury in all
criminal cases, and the privilege OF the
writ OF habeas corpus, conformablv 20
the provisions o. the constitution OF the
United States and that after the adj.
mission OF the said territory of Orleans
as state into the Union, the laws
which such state may pass shall be
promulgated, and its records of exc nv
description shall be preserved, snf It's
Judicial aud legislative written proc ed.
ings conducted, in the LANGUAGE in
which the laws and the judicial and le.
S'siauys written proceedings Of the u