The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1820-03-29

CpuBLrsHED BY AUTHORITY


AN ACT 20 auhsuze toe pecple OF MssouT'
Teuilory 10 iogn Constitution sod State
Government, and for the admission OF such
S,,e into the Union on an equal footing
win The original states, and 10 prohibit sla.
very 10 cer' ain Territories.
BE nenaeted By the Senate and House
ef ReoreSestafi0eS Of the Onfied States
Of Ame,tca in Congress assembled, That,
the inhabitants OF that portion of the Mis-
souri, Territory included within the boun-
daries hereinafter designated, be. and they
are hereby, authorized TO form tor them
selves Copstnutioa ard state Govern
ment, and to assume such name as they
shall deem proper; and the said state,
when formed. shall be admitted into the
Union, upon an equal footing with the
original states in ali respects whatsoever.
Sec. 2. and be it further enacted,
That the said State shall consist OF ali the
territory included within the following
boundaries, to wit; Beginning in the
middle of the Mississippi river, OH the
parallel Of thirty six degrees of north lati-
tude: thence west, along that parallel OF
latitude. to the St francois river; thence.
up and following the course of that river,
in the middle of the MAIN channel thereof,
to the parallel of latitude of thirty six de-
grees and thirty minutes; thence west,
along the same. to point where the said
parallel is intcrsected by meridian line
passing through the middle of the mouth
oil the Kansas river, where the same emp
ties into the Missouri river; thence, from
the point aforesaid north, along the said
meridian line to the intersection of the
parallel of latitude which passes through
the rapids of the river Des Moines, max
ing the said line to correspond with the
Indian boundary line; thence east, from
the point of intersection last aforesaid,
along the said parallel of latitude, to the
middle of the channel of the main fork of
the said river Des Moines thence down,
and along the middle Of the main chan
nel Jf the said river Dcs Moines, to the
mouth of the same, where it empties in.
to the Mississippi river; thence, due
east, to the middle of the main channel
of the Mississippi river; thence down,
and following the course OF the Missis-
sippi river, in the middle of the main
chnnelthe to the place of beginning:
Provided. the said State shall ratify the
boundaries aforesaid; And provided, also,
thlt the said State shall have concurrent
Jurisdiction on the river Mississippi, aud
every other river bordering on the said
State, so far as the said rivers shall form
a com no,-boundary to the said State;
and an other State or States. now o.
hereafter to he formed and bounded by
the same, such rivers to he common to
b,ih; and thar the river Misssippi, and
the navigabe rivers and waters leading
into the same, shall be common high
ways. and for ever free, as well to the In
ba,itants of the said state as to other CHI
zen, of the United States, without any
tax. dntv, impost, or toll, therefor, in
posed by the said state.
Sec. 3. And be IL further enacted
That all free white male citizens OF tbs
United States, who shall have arrived a
the age If twenty one wears, and have re-
sided in said territory three months pre-
yious to the day of election, and all other
persons qu,li6rd to vote for representa-
tives to the General Assembly of the said
Territory. shall be qlalifi d to he elected,
and they are hereby qualified and author.
ized to vote, and choose representative
10 form convention. who snail bc ap-
port'encd amongst the several counties
As follows:
From the county of Howard, five rep
rcsentstives. From the county OF Coop
er. three representatives. From tn
county Of Montgomery, two representa-
uves. From tho county OF Pike, one