Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-01-20
THE OREGON TERRITORY.

The Oregon Bill reported 10 the House
on the 23d embraces for new territorial
government ''all the territory lying west Of
ing Missouri river, south Of the 49,h degree
OF north latitude, and east Of the Rocky
Mountains, rnd north Of The boundary lire
between the United States and the Repub-
lie Of Texas, not included within the limits
OF any State Of The United States; and al
SO the territory comprising The Rocky
Mountains, and the country between them
and the Pacific ocean south Of fifly-four
degrees and foriy-nine minutes of north
ial1ude' and north OF the foriy-second de-
gree Of north latitude"
The Bill makes provision, also, for a.
Governor, 10 continue in office for fivs
years, and 10 reside west Of the Rocky
Mountains. Also for Secretary OF state.
20 keep the laws Of tho territory, and FOR,
Court with one judge, who shall have.
common law and chancery jurisdic,,on.-
The Governor and Judge are to adont ar
the outset any Of the laws of Tie United
States or territories they may shink. proper.
he Governor is TO be commanders of tho
militia, and TO grant all commissions. and
all legislative powers are TO te exercised bv
him and the Judge until there shall. he n
population sufficient for a legislative. as.
sembly. When there are five tbousnnd,
Tree white male Inhabitants over 81 veor..
oil age, general assembly shall be chosen,
and every five hundred citizens shall choose.
an additional member.
The following section relates to the right
Of franchise
"No person shall be entitled TO vote for
keprese nalivc or be eligible or quail
fled TO act as such, unless he shall have
been citizen of one of the United States,
or unless he be resident of said territory.
who shall acknowledge the jurisdiction Of
the United States over said Territory, and
Tree white male over the aye Of twenty
one years: Provided, however, the Judges
OF elections shall huve power, and il in
hereby made their duty, 10 in,erroga,e UNI
der oath, any and all persons who NAV be
suspected Of wan, Of friendship 10 tho
| jurisdiction Of the United States over said
Territory and to reject the vote or votes Of
any person or persons who may DO found
wanting in such friendship"
The following provisions are also impor-
tant:
The President shall erect, at suitable
places, line Of siockade forts and block
houses, not exceeding five in number, from
some point on the Missouri river, on the
most practicable route to the south pass in
the Rocky Mountains.
The President is also required to cause
Notifications 10 be erected al or near ,he
mouth of the Columbia river.
Provision hereafter is 10 be made by law
10 secure and grant six hundred and forty
acres of land TO every white male inhabi.
lanis of the Territory Of Oregon, of tho
age of eighteen years and upwards, who
shall cultivate and use the same for five
consecutive years, or to his heirs in case Of
his decease.
lie every such inhubitan,. being a mar
rled man, there shall be granted, in add
ton, one hundred and sixty acres TO- his
vile, and the like quantity of one hundred
and sixty acres TO the father for each child
under the age Of eighteen years he may
have, or which may DO born within ,ha
FIVE years aforesaid.
No sale or contract, Of any kind, Of
such lands will be vnIid before patent is
sues therefore,; nor shall the same be ia
ken in execution, or bound by any juag,
men,, mortgage. or lien Of any kind, be-
fore the patent is issued.