Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-02
. LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES,
PASSED AT THE FIRST SESSION THIRTIETH CONGRESS
Official PUBLICATION.
GPuBLIc-No. 90.

of the United States Of 4aerica Il, Congress assembled
That from and after the passage of this that part th
territory OF the United States which lies west the summit
the Rocky Mountains north of the forty degree
north latitude, known the Territory of Oregon shall bt
ganized into and constitute temporary government by The
OF the Territory OF Oregon Procdd That nothing il
this contained shall be construed impair the rights
person property pertaining the Indians said Ter
rtory long such rights shall remain xtnguished by
treaty between the United States and such Indians to affect
the authority of the Government Of the United States to make
any regulation respecting such Indians their lands properly
other rights, by treaty, law otherwise, which would
have been competent to the Government make if this act
had never passed And prorded, also, That the title to the
land not exceeding SIX hundred and forty acres occupied
missionary stations among the Indian Tribes in said Terri
ty, together with the improvements thereon be confirmed
and established in the several religious societies which said
missionary stations respectively belong And propiod fur
e That nothing IN this act contained shall be
inhb the Government OF the United States from dividing said
Territory into Territories, in such manner and
such times Congress shall deem convenient or proper or
from attaching any portion of said Territory any other
State or Territory of the United States.
Sec. ? and be further enacted, That the executive
power and authority in and said Territory Of Oregon
shall be vested governor, who shall hold his office for four
years. and until his shall be appointed and qualified
ess removed by the President of the United States
The Governor shall reside within said Territory shall be
nauanderln chief of the militia thereof shall perform the
duties and receive the emouments superintendent Of Indian
Hhis he grant paons and respe for offences against
e laws OF said Territory and repreves for offences against
the laws of the United States until the decision Of the Pre
3ft De maue known thereon shall all
cers who shall be appointed Office under the laws of the
SAID Territory where by law such commissions shall be
qn and shall take that the laws be faithfully executed
Sec g. lind be 1t further enacted That there shall be
secretary OF said Territory who shall reside therein and hold
his office for five years unless removed by the Pres
dent the United States he shall record preserve all the
laws and proceedings Of the legislative assembly hereinafter
constituted and all the and proceedings OF the governor
IN his executive department he shall transmit copy
e laws and journals OF The legislative assembly within thirty
days after the end each session. and copy the executive
proceedings and official correspondence annuay on the
first days Of January and July, in each year. the President
oil the United States and two copies of the laws the Pes
dent OF the Senate and TO the Speaker the House of Repre-
staves for the Of Congress. And in of the DEATH
removal, resignation absence Of the governor from the
ory, the secretary shall be and he hereby authorized and
required execute and perform all the powers and duties
the governor during such vacancy ABSENCE until
Their governor shall be duly appointed and qualified to fill such
vacancy. '".
A. And be It further enacted That the legislative
power and authority of said Territory shall be vested in e-
gislsive assembly The legislative assembly shall consist of
council and house of representatives The council shall
consist Of nine members, having the qualifications
hereinafter prescribed whose of service shall continue
three years. Immediately after they shall be assembled
eonseg of the first election, they shall be divided
equally may be into three classes The of the
bers Of council OF the first class shall be vacated the expa-
dnn Of the first year of the second class the expiration
The second year and Of the third class the expiration
the hd year that one-third be chosen every wear
and If vacancies haPpen by resignation otherwise the
personalities SHALL first session, consist Of eighteen
bz possessing the qualifications prescribed for
sers Of the council and whose of service shall continue
gear. The number Of representatives nav increased
by the Legislative assembly, from time time, proportion
u the increase qualified Proried That the whole
ImbeI shall exceed thirty. An apportonment shall be
made a. nearly equal as practicable among the several
hrs Districts for the election OF the council and representa-
t, giving each section the Territory representation in
the its qualified voters nearly NAV be- And III,
members of the council of the house of representative
la he Dba NJ tba ,ls.
Counties for With they be elected respectively. Pre-
the first election the governor shall census o
HdnefatIon Of the inhabitants and qualified Of the
and districts Of the Territory be taken BY
~ persons and in such mode the governor shall designate
and appoint and the persons appointed shall
reasonable compensation therefor and the first election shall
nc hed al such times and places and be conducted such
manner both as 10 the persons who shall superntend such
election ard the thereof the governor shall appoint
an direct and he shall, the time, declare the num-
r Of members Of the council and house of representatives
which each Of the counties districts shall be entitled under
hs act and the SHALL by his proclamation give
least sixty days previous notice OF such apporionment and
Of the time, places and OF holding such election
Toe persons having the highest number Of legal
81 said council districts for members OF the council shall be
declared by the governor be duly elected the council
and the persons having the highest number Of legal for
@ house OF representatives shall be declared by the governor
- be duly elected members Of said house Prorded That
two persons voted for shall have equal mum
tT Of votes and in shall otherwise occur in
either branch Of the legislative assembly, the governor shall
entr election, and the persons thus esced the eg
lshSe assembly shall such place. and such day,
within ninety days after such elections the governor shall
appoint but thereafter, the im place. and of hold
ing and conducting all elections by the people, and the appo
1onng the representation the several districts
the council and house of representatives, according the
Dnubr Of qualified voters shall be prescribed by law, well
the day Of the Of the regular Of
legislative assembly PrOred, That session in any
year shall exceed the of sixty days. except the first
son. which shall not be prolonged beyond hundred day
Sec B. and be srthsr enacted That every white male
inhaan above the age Of twenty years, who shall have
been resident Of said Territory the time Of the passage
this act and shall possess the qualifications hereinafter pre-
scnoed, shall be entitled to the fret election, and shall
oe eligible TO any Office within the said Territory but the
qualifications Of voters and Of holding Office at all subse-
ueut elections shall he such shall be prescribed by the le
sisslve assembly PrOUided That the right Of suffrage and
o. holding Office shall be exercised only by citizens Of the
United States above the Of twenty years. and those
aooVe that age who shall have declared oath, their nen-
on To become such, and shall have taken oath support
The constitution OF the United and the provisions
Tins act And proridsd further, That officer, soldier,
SEAMAN, or Marine other person in the army navy
ae United States attached troops the Of the
United States shall be allowed in the said Territory
ny reason Of being on service therein unless said Territory
and has been Tor The period Of months his permanent do
mel: Frortaed Jathr, That person belonging to ID,
army or navy OF the United STATES shall be elected
bold any civil office OF appointment, in said Territory.
Sec. b. And 6e FURTHER enaced That the Legislative
power Of the Territory shall TO all rghu subjects
Legislation not inconsistent with the constitution and laws