Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-22
(BY AUrHOalrY.)
Law OF the United States.
AN ACT


BE IL enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives Of the United States
Of .dmcricd, in Congress assembled, That
the territory heretofore called Louisiana
shall hereafter be called Missouri, and that
the temporary government Of the territory
of Missouri shall DE organized and admini-
stored iii the manner hereinafter prescribed.
Sec. 2. .Hnd be il further enacted, That
the Executive power Shall be vested in
governor, who shall reside in the said ter
ritory he shall hold his Office during the
term of three years, unless sooner removed
by the President of the United States; shall
be commander in chief of the militia Of the
said territory; shall have power to appoint
and commission all officers civil and of the
militia, whose appointments are not herein
otherwise provided for, which shall be esta-
blshed by law; shall take care that the
laws be faithfully executed; shall have
power 10 grant pardons for offences against
the said territory, and reprievcs for those
against the United States, until the decision
of the President of the United States there
OH shall be made known; shall have power
on extraordinary occasions TO convene the
general assembly, and he shall eX-ofiicio be
superintendent of Indian affairs.
Sec. 3. Ind be ii. further enacted, That
there shall be a secretary whose commissi-
OIL shall continue in force for four years. UNI
less sooner revoked by the President Of the
United States The shall reside in the said
territory it shall be his duty, under the di-
recton of the governor. to record & preserve
all the proceedings and papers of the execu-
tive, and all the acts ofthe general assembly,
and to transmit authentic copies of the same
every six months to the President of the u
nited States. In case of a vacancy of the
= Al. Il
said territory shall be executed by the Sc
cs'etarv.
Sec. 4. ind be IL further enacted, That
the legislative power shall be vested in a
general assembly, which shall consist of the
governor, a legislative council and an house
or representatives. The general assembly
shall have power to make laws in all cases,
Doth civil and criminal, for the good govern
meDt OF the people of the said territory, not
rePugnant to or inconsistent with the consti-
futon and laws of the United States; and
Shall have power to establish intei ior courts
and to prescribe their jurisdiction and du-
ties to define the powers and duties of ius-
tees of the peace and other civil officers in
said territory, and to regulate and fix the
tees - office, and to ascertain and provide
Tor payment of the same, and for all other
services rendered to the said territory, un-
der the authority thereof. All bills having
passed by majority in the house of repre-
seata5iNes, and by a majority in the iegisla-
tive C, uncil, shall be referred TO the COVER
nor Tor his assent, but no bill or legislative
act Whatever shall be of any force without
his appropriations.
Sec. ). Ind BE- ii further enacted, That
the legislative council shall CONSIST of nine
members to continue iii office FIVE years, I'M
less sooner removed by the President of the
Uni edStates, and five of them shall be a quo
rum. The members ofthe legislative council
shall ne nominated and appointedin the man
nCrtollOwing: as soon as representatives. shall
he e,cCted, they shall be Convened bv the 90
Vernon as hereafter prescribed, and when
met, shall nominate eighteen persons, resi-
dents IN the SAID territory one year preced-
ing their nomination., holding no Office of
profit under the territory of the United
States, the uffice ofjustce of the peace ex-
cep. ed, and each possessing in his own right
two hundred acres of land therein, and re-
turn the names to the President of the Unit
ed osJes, nine of whom the President, by
and with the advice and Con ,ent Of the Sc
nate, shall appoint and commission to serve
as aforesaid ; and when vacancy shall hap
pen in the legislative council, by death or
renpyal from Office, the house of represen-
tat YES shall nominate two persons qualified
as aforesaid for each vacancy and return
thew names to the President of the United
Sta.e, one of whom ne, by and with the adj
vice nd consent Of the Senate, shallappoint
and caaulission for the residue of the term
and every FIVE years, four months at least
beicre'he expiration of the time IF service
OF the 'nembers of the legislative council,
the hHuse Of representatives shall nominate
eighteen persons, qualified as azores id, and
return their names to- the President of the
Un.tcd states, nine Of whom shall be APP
poDie3 and commissioned as aforesaid, to
ser' 2 - members of the legislative Council
for ave years, if NOT sooner removed No
perscr hail DC member of the legislative
Council who hath not attained to the age of
twenty five years.
Sec. 8. Ind be il further enacted. That
the house OF representatives shall be c, IN
posed ot members elected every second year
by the people of the said territory. to ser e
for two years. For every FIVE hundred free
white male inhabitants there shall be one re-
preventative, and 50 on progressively with
the number Of free white male inhabitants
shall the ght of representation increase un
til the number Of the representatives shall
amount 20 twenty-five, after which the num-
Der and proportion of representatives snail
be regulated BY the general assembly. Nc
person shall be eligible or qualified TO be a
Teprcsentatl'e who shall not have attained
70 the age # twenty years, and who
Shall not have resided in the territory one
year neZt preceding the day of election, and
who shall not be a freenolder within the
county in which NJ may be elected; and no
person holding an Office under the United
States, or Az flee q! profit under the terri
tory shall be representative. Tn case Of va
cancy by death, resignation, removal or o.
therwise of representative, the governor
shall issue a writ 20 the county, wherever a
vacancy NAV be as aforesaid, to elect ano-