The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1822-04-24
LAWS.
AN ACT iof The osIsoiishmeH, d iarrlts h;


AN AZ LOT the embellishments Of 4 terrIlo.
rial government in Florida.
BE if enacted By iEe Senate Ghd House Of
Rehrssenfatipes Of he United S'd.es Of .ir.er.
ga in Congress ossem6isd, Tha, all that terri.
cory ceded by Spein 10 the United States,
known by tho name Of East and West Flori.
da, shall Constitute territory OF tho United
States, under the nsme Of the territory OF
Florida, the government whereof shsll be or.
esnixed and administered as follows
Sec. 3. dnd Be is further enacted, That
tho executive power shall be vested in a Co.
veruor, who shall reside in the said territory,
and hold hrs Office du ring the term of ,hgee
years, unless sooner removed by tho Presi.
dent OF the United States. He shall be com.
msuder 10 chief Of the militia OF the said ter
ritory, and be, ex-officio, superintendent of
I0diso affairs; and shall nave power to grant
pardoos for offences against the said territory,
asd reprieves for those against the United
Stsies, until the decision Of the President Of
the United States thereon shall be made
known; end 10 appoint add commission all
officers, civil, and Of the militia, whose CD.
poniments are not herein otherwise provid.
ed for, and which shall be es,nblis he'd by law |:
ne shall take caro- that the isvs be faithEully
executed,
Sec. 8. hnd be it Jarkaer ssarted, Ths, a
Sec,e,s'y Of the territory shall slso be sp-
pointed, who shall hold his offico during the
term of fcur years, unless soonsr. removed BY
the rSssi6ont of tho Ueited Sls,cs, whose du.
~ it she'll DO, under the direction OF the Gov
erpor, 10 record and preserve oil the papers
and proceedings Of tho Executive, and ell the
acts Of the Governor and Legislative Council,
spd transmit authentic copies Of the proceed.
ifigs of the Governor, In his Ex ,e De
partment, every six months, 10 ne President
Of the Uojts S'ates.
So 4. find be 1. juyffer enaefed, That,
In case of the death, removal, resignation, or
necessary absence cf the Governor of the ssid
Territory, the Sec .tary thereof shall be, ard
he is hereby authorised and required, to exc.
cute all the powsrs, and perform ell the do.
sies. of the Governor, during the vacancy oc.
essioned BY tho removal, resignation, or ne
ees.afy absence, Of The said Governor.
Sec. s. And be IL further enacted, That
the legislative power shall be vested in the
Governor, and in thirteeo Of the most fit and
discreet persons of the territory, to be called
the Legislative Council who shalt be sp-
ppin,ed annually, by the President of the u.
ni,ed States, by and with tho advice and con-
sent of the Senate, from among the citizens
of the United States residing there. The
Governor, by and with the advice and consent
Of the said Legislative Council, or . msioriiy
~ them, shall have power to alter, modify, or
repeal, the laws which may be in force at the
CONNIE encement OF this act. Their Iegisla.
tive powers shall also extend to all the right
fui subjects Of legislation but no law shall
be valid which 10 inconsistent With the con.
s,iiu,ion and laws OF The United States, CT
which .hall lay any person under restraic,,
burthep, or disability, on account Of bis rclig-
lou. opinions, professions, or worship; in all
which he shall be free to maintain his own,
And no, bur,hened with those Of smother.
The Governor shall publish, throughout the
said territory, ell the Law, which shall be
made, and shall, on or before the irst day Of
December in zach year, report tho same to
the President Of the United Sts,es, to be laid
before Congress, which, If dsapproved by
Congress, shall thencefor,h be of no force.
Tho Governor and Legislative Council shall
have no power over the primary disposal Of
che soil, nor to tax the lands Of the United
States, nor 10 ioie rfere with the claims TO
lands within the said territory: the Legisls.
tive Council shall hold Q session once in each
wear, commencing its first session ou the sec
oud Mopdsy Of June next. at Pensacola, and
continue in session not longer than two
months; aud thereafter on the fcs, Monday
in May IN each and every year, but shall not
continue longer in session than four weeks,
to be held al such place 10 said territory as
the Governor and Council shall direct: Il
shaIl be the duty of the Governor to obtain oil
fhe information 10 his power 10 relation to tho
customs, habits, and dispositions, of the in
hsbitsn,s OF the ss,d territory, end communi-
esss tho same, from tine to time. % tAe
Presidch, Of the Ueitsd SsatsE