Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-22

;es may require, To lay aft the parts o.
the said territory TO which the Indian
title hath been eXtinguished, into conve-
nient counties on or befor the first Mon
day in October next, and 3 i've notice there
ct throughout the same, and shall appoint
the most convenient time ard place within
each of the said counties Tor holding the
elections, and shall nominate. proper Off
Ger or officers to preside at and conduct the
same, and to return to him the names of the
persons who shall have been elected. All
subsequent elections shall be regulated BY
the General Assembly, and the number OF
representatives shall be determined and the
apportionment made in the manner herein
before prescribed.
Sec. 8, lind be ii further enacted, That
representatives elected as aforesaid, shall
be convened by the governor in the town OF
st. Louis on the first Monday in Decembe,
next and the first General Assembly shall
be convened by the Governor, as soon as
may be convenient, at St. Louis, after the
members of the legislative council shall be
appointed and commissioned. The General
Assembly shall meet once In each year, at
St. Louis, and such meeting shall be on the
FIRST Monday in December annually, unless
they shall by law appoint different day.
he legislative council and house of repre-
sentatives, when assembled, shall each
choose a speaker and its other officers, and
determine the rules ofits proceedings. Each
house shall sit on its own adjournments from
day to day. Neither house shall, during the
session, without consent ofthe other, adjourn
Tor more than two days, nor to any other
place than that where the two houses shall
be sitting. The members of the general as
SPfniNiv IN, oil
felony, or breach of the peace, be privileg-
ed from arrest during their attendance at
their respective houses, and in going to and
returning from the same and for any speech
or debate in either house, they shall not be
questioncd.in any other place.
Sec. 9. Ind be il further enacted, That
all and every free white male person who,
on the twentieth day of December, in the
year one thousand eight hundred and three,
was an inhabitant of the territory of Loui-
sana, and all free white male citizens of the:
United States who, since the said twentieth
day OF December, in the year one thousand
eight hundred and three, cmigrated, or who
hereafter may emigrate TO the said terrific
ry, being otherwise qualified according to
the provisions of this act, shall be capable
to hold any Office Of honor, trust or profit, in
the said territory, under the United States,
or under the said territory, and to vote for
members of the general assembly and de-
iegate TO Congress during the temporary go
vernment provided for by this act.
Sec. 10. ind be il further enacted, That
the judicial power shall be vested in a SUI
perior court, and in inferior Courts and JUS
tees of the peace. The judges of the supe-
rior court aud justices of the peace shall
hold their Offices for the term of four years,
unless sooner removed; the superior court
shall consist OF three judges, who shall re-
side ir-the said territory, any two of whom
shall constitute court; the superior court
shall have jurisdiction i'll all criminal cases,
and exclusive jurisdiction III all those that
are capital,an original and appellate juris-
diction in all civil cases of the value of une
hundred dollars; the said judges shall hold
their courts at such times and places as shall
be prescribed by the.general assembly. The
cessions of the superior and interior courts
shall continue until all the business depend
ing shall be disposed of, or for such time as
SHALL be prescribed by the general assembly.
The superior and interior courts shall res
pectively appoint their clerks, who shall be
commissioned by the governor, and shall
hold their Offices during the temporary go
vernment of the said territory, unless sooner
removed by the Court.
Sec. II. Ind be il further enacted, That
all free male white persons of the age of
twenty-one years, who shall have resided
one year in the said territory, and are not
disqualified by any legal proceeding, shall be
qualified TO serve as grand or petit jurors in
the courts OF the said territory and they
shall, until the general assembly thereofshail
otherwise direct, be selected IN such manner
as the said courts shall respectively pre-
scribe, so as TO be most conducive to an inn
partial trial, and least burthensome to the
Inhabitants of the said territory.
Sec. ~. ind be IL further enacted, That
the governor, secretary and judges for the
territory0of Missouri, authorisedby this Act,
and ali general officers Of the militia, during
the temporary government thereof, shsll be
appointed and commissioned by the President
of the United States, by and with TIE adj
vice aud consent of the Senate; and the 60
vernon, secretary and judges shall respect
lively reCeivefor their services the Compen-
sations established by law, to be paid quar-
ter yeaiiy out of the treasury Of the United
states the governor, secretary, Judges
members ofthe legislative Council, members
of he house Of representatives, Justices OF
the peace, and all other officers, civil and
military, before they enter on the duties OF
their respective Offices, shall take an oath or
affirmation to support the Constitution oft the
United States, and for the faithful discharge
of The duties & their Office; the governor,
before judge 6t the supreme or a district
court-of the Unted States, or Judge Of the
said territory the secretary and judges, be-
fore the governor the members of the le-
gislative council and house of representa-
tives before judge Of the said territory
and the justices Of tue peace and all other
officers, before such person as the governor
shall appoint AID direct.
Sec. 19. Aad be IL further enacted, That
the citizens Of the said territory entitled r.
vote for representatives to the general as
sembly thereof, shall, ut the time Of electine
then, relresentatlves 20 the said general -