Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-11-10
BY AUTHORITY.
Acts and Resolutions passed at the First
Session of the Thirticth Congress.

[PuBLrc-No. SO. IAN Act to estaoIISh 'ne
Territorial Government OF oregon =
Re II enacted by tire Senate and House o.
ReDreseutnt;res ofHe United States Of diner
:ca in Congress assembled, That from and al
ter tie passage of this act, all that part OF the
Territory of the United States which lies west
of the summit of the Rocky mountains, north
of the forty second degree Of north latitude,
known as the Territory of Oregon, shall be
organized into and constitute temporary 60
vernment by the name of the Territory of Ore,
gon: Provided, That nothing in this act con-
tanned shall be construed 10 impair the rights
OF person or property now pertaining to the
Indians in said Territory. so long as such
rights shall remain unextinguished by treaty
between the United States and such Indians,
or to affect the authority of the government OF
the United States % make any regulation re-
speeding such Indians, their lands, property,
or other rights. by treaty, law, nr otherwise,
which it would have been competent TO the
government to make if this ACT had never
passed: And proUided, also, That the title TO
the land. not exceeding six hundred and forty
acres, now occupied as missionary stations a.
mong the Indian tribes in said Territory, TO-
gelher with the improvements thereon, be con-
frmed and established in the several religious
societies to which said missionary stations re-
speclively belong: Ind prOU'ded further, That
nothing in this act contained shall be construed
10 inhibit the government Of the U. States from
dividing said Territory into two or more Ter
IltOres, in such manner and at such times as
Congress shall deem convenient and proper,
or from attaching any portion Of said Terrific
Ty to any other State or Territory Of the Uni
ted States.
Sec. .. And be 1t further enacted, That the
executive power and authority in and over
said Territory of Oregon shall be vested in a
governor, who shall hold his Office for four
years, and until his successor shall be appon-
ted and qualified, unless sooner removed by
bv the President of the United States The
governor shall reside within said Territory,
shall be commander in chief of the militia
thereof, shall perform the duties and receive
the emoluments of superintendent OF Indian
affairs he may grant pardons and resptes tor
offences against the laws OF said Territory, and
repIieves for offences against the laws OF the
United States, until the decision of the Pres-
dent can he made known thereon; he shall
commission all officers who shall be appointed
TO office under the laws of the said Territory
where, by law, such commissions shall be re
qured, and shall take care that the laws be
faithfully executed.
SEC 3. And belt further enacted, That there
shall be a secretary of said Territory, who
Shall IcSue tHcIell duu iluIu HIS OLlNC lNl u ~
years, unless sooner removed by the President
of the United States he shall record and pre-
serve all the laws and proceedings of the lie
gisave assembly hereinafter constituted, and
all the acts and proceedings of the governor
in his executive department he shall transmit
one copy of the laws and journals of the le'
gislative assembly within thirty days after the
end of each session, and one copy of the eX-
ecutive proceedings and official correspondence
sem-annually, and the first days of January
and July in each year, 10 the President of the
United States, and two copies of the laws &c
the President of the Senate and to the Speak
er of the House of Representatives, for the
use of Congress. And in case OF the death
removal, resignation or absence of the COVER
nor from the Territory, the secretary shall be,
and he is hereby, authorized and required to
execute and perform all the powers and duties
of the governor during such vacancy or alb
eence, or until another governor shall be duly
appointed and qualified TO fill such vacancy.
SEC. 4. And be ii further enacted, That the
legislative power and authority of said Terri.
tory shall be vested in legislative assembly
The legislative assembly shall consist of a
council and house OF representatives. The
council shall consist of nine members, having
the qualifications of voters as hereinafter pre-
scrlbed, whose term of service shall contnne
three years. Immediately after they shall be
assembled, in consequence of the first election
they shall be divided as equally as may be in
to three classes. The seats of the members OIL
council of the first class shall be vacated a
the expiration Of the first year; OF the secOnC
class at the expiration of the second year
and of the third class at the expiration of the
third year, so that one third may be chosen
every year and if vacancies happen by resg
nation otherwise tho shall hp fIIpI
at the next ensuing election. The house o
representatives shall at its first session, con
sist of eighteen members, possessing the same
qualifications prescribed for members Of The
council and whose term of servise shall con
tinue one year. The number of representa-
tives may be increased by the legislative as
sembly from time to time, in proportion TO tn
increase of qualified voters: Provided, Tha
the whole number shall never exceed thirty
An appointment shall be made, as nearly equa
as practicable, among the several counties o
districts, for the election of the council an
representatives, giving 10 each section of TIT
Territory representation in the ratio Of IT.
qualified voters, as nearly as may be. AM
the members of the council and of the hOus
of representatives shall reside in and he in
hahiiants of the district, or county, or COun
ties, for which they may be elected respective
nor shall cause a census or enumeration of tn
inhabitants and qualified voters of the sex era
counties and districts of the Territory 10 he ia
ken by such persons, and in such mole, a
the governor shall designate and appoint: an
the persons so appointed shall receive rea
sonable compensation therefor; AMI the frs
election shall he held at such time and places
and be conducted in such manner. both as l.
the persons who shall superintend such cleo
ton, and the returns thereof, as the governc
shall appoint and direct; and he shall, al III
same time, declare the number OF members
the council AMI house of representatives
which each of the counties or districts shall /
entitled under This acl and the governor shall
by his proclamation, give at least sixty la,
previous notice of sucn appointment. ami
the time, places, and manner of holding sue
election. The persons having the highe
number OF legal votes in each of said counc
districts for members of the council shall |
declared by the governor TO be duly elected
the council ami the persons having the higl
est number of legal voters for he house
representatives. shall be declared by the COVE