Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-04-23
JAMES MADISON.
AN ACT

AN ACT y
For the admission ofthe STATE of louisiana in
to the Union, and TO extend the Ldlps of tke
United States to the said State.
WHEREAS the Representatives of the People
of all that part of the territory country ceded,
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 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 thirty-second de-
gree of latitude ; thence, due north, to the
northernmost part of the thirty -third degree of
north latitude thence, along the said parallel
of latitude, to the river Mississippi; thence,
down the said river, to the river Iberville ; and
from thence, along the middle of the said river,
and lakes Maurepas and Ponchartrain, to the
gulph of Mexico thence, bounded by the said
gulph, to the place of beginning, including all
islands within three leagues of the coast did,
on the twenty second day ofJanuary, one thou
sand, eight hundred and twelve, form for
themselves a constitution and state government,
and give to the said state the name of the state
of Louisiana, in pursuance of an act of Con-
gress, entitled An act to enable the people
of the territory of Orleans to form constitu-
ton and state government, and for the admis-
sion Of the said state into the Union, on
quail footing with the original states, and for
other purposes % And the said constitution
having been transmitted to Congress, and by
them being hereby approved; therefore,
Be it enasted by the Senate and House ofReb-
resen.dti0es ofae United States of america in
Congress asse1 tbieI, That the said state shall
be one, and 1T is hereby declared to be one of
the United States of America, and admitted in
TO the Union on an equal footing with the ORR
! ginal states, in all respects whatever, by the
name and title of the state of Louisiana Pro-
ViGed.. That it shall be taken condition up
on which the said state is Incorporated in the
Union, that the river Mississippi, and the navi-
| gable rivers and waters leading into the same,
and into the gulph of Mexico, shall be common
| highways, and forever free, as well to the inha-
| btants of the said state, as to the inhabitants
| of other states and the territories of the
! United States, without any tax, duty, impost or
| toll therefor, imposed by the said state and
that the above condition, and also all other the
| conditions and terms contained in the third
section of the act, the title whereof is herein
| before recited, shall be considered, deemed and
taken, fundamental conditions and terms, upon
| which the said state is incorporated in the Uni
| on.
Sec. 3. AHdbe h further enacted, That until
| the next general census and apportionment of
Representatives the said state shall be entitled
| TO one Representative in the House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States; and that all
the laws Of the United States, not locally map.
| plicablc, shall be extended to the said state,
| and shall have the same force and effect within
| the same, as elsewhere within the United
| States
Sec. 3. And6 It further enacted, That the
| said state, together with the residue Of that
| portion of country which was comprehended
| within the territory of Orleans, as constituted
| by the act, entitled " An act erecting Louisiana
into two territories, and providing FOR the tenn
! porary government thereof" shall be one dis
| trict, aud be called the Louisiana district and
there shall be established in the said district,
| District Court, TO consist Of one Judge, who
shall reside therein, and be called the District
Judge; and there shall be, annually, four sta
ted sessions Of the said court held at the city of
| Orleans the first to commence on the third
| Monday in July next, and the three other ses-
sions progressively, on the third Monday Of
every third calendar month thereafter. The
said judge shall, in all things, have and exer-
else the same Jurisdiction and powers which by
the act, the title whereof is in this section re-
cited, were given 10 the District Judge OF the
territory Of Orleans; and he shall be allowed an
annual compensation Of three thousand dollars,
to be paid quarter yearly at the Treasury of the
United States. The said Judge shall appoint a
| clerk OF the said court, who shall reside, and
keep the records Of the court, in the city Of Or
leans, and shall receive, for the services per-
formed BY him, the same fees heretofore allow
ed TO the clerk Of the Orleans territory.
Sec. 4. And be h(iyther enacted, That there
shall be appointed IN the said district, person
learned in the law, to act as attorney for the L.
nted States, who shall, in addition to his sta
teCkfees, be paid elk hundred dollars, annually