The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-05-31
AN ACT

no. CHAS. n. SMITH,, secretary.
AN ACT
TO establish the Territorial Govern
Kent Of Minnesota. 7te'
SEC. l. Be 1T enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives. Of the Unated
States Of .4merica I'm Congress assembled,
That, from and after the passage OF this act,
all that part of the territory OF the United
States which lies within the following limits,
to wit: Beginning in the Mississippi river,
at the point where the line Of torty-three
degrees and thirty minutes of north latitude
crosses the same, thence running due west
on said line, which is the northern boundary
of the State OF Iowa, to tine northwest corr
ner of the SAID State of Iowa, thence south
erly along the western boundary Of said
State to the point where said boundary
strikes the Missouri river, theuce up the
middle of the main channel of the Missouri
river to the mouth Of the w hite-earth river,
thence up the middle: of the main channel of
the White-earth river to the boundary line
between the pOssessi ons of the United States
and Great Britain; thence east and south oi
east along the boundary line between the
possessions OF the United States and Grea,
Britain to Lake Superior thence in a
straight line to the northernmost point
Of the State of Wisconsin in lake Superior:
thence along the western boundary line OF
said State OF Wisconsin to the Mississippi
river; thence down the main channel Of said
river to the place of beginning, be, and the
same is hereby, erected into temporary
government by the name of the Territory Of
Minnesota: Provided, That nothing in this
act contained shall be construed to- inhI0l
she Government Of the United States from
dividing said Territory into two or more
territories, in such manner and at such times
as Congress shall deem convenient ant
proper, or from attaching any portion Of
said Territory TO any other State or ferri
tory of the United States. "'
SEC. Q. lind be 1T further enacted, Tha
the executive power and authority In ano
over said Territory of Minnesota shalt be
vested in a governor who shall hold his of,
fics for four years, and until his successor
shall be appointed and qualified, unles.
sooner removed by the PRESIDENT Of thu
United States. The governor shall reside
within said Territory, shall he commando
in chief of the militia thereof, shall perform
the duties and receive the e,noumentS o
Superintendent Of Indian affairs; he may
grant pardons for offences against the law.
Of said Territory, and reprieves for offence:
sgainst the laws Of the United States unit
the decision OF the President can be made
known thereon; he shall commission all OF
iicers who shall be appointed to office unde
the laws of the said Territory, and shall
take care that the laws be Faithfully exc
cuted.
SEC. s. find be 1t further enacted, Tha
there shall be a secretary of said Territory
who shalt reside therein, and hold his office
for four years, unless sooner removed by tn,
President of the United States; he shall re
cord and preserve all the laws and proceed
ings Of the legislative assembly hereinaite
constituted, and all the acts aud proceeding
Of the governor in his executive department
he shall transmit one copy Of the laws an1
one copy of the executive proceedings, OF
or before the first day of December in eacI
year, to the President of the United States
and, at the same time, two copies of tn
laws to the Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatiyes, and the President of the Sen
ate, for the use of Congress. And in cas-
of the death, removal, resignation, or neces
sary absence of the governor from the Ter
ritory, the secretary shall be, and he is here
by, authorized aud required to execute an,
perform all the powers and duties of tn
governor during such vacancy or necessar,
absence, or until another governor shall b
duly appointed to fill such vacancy.
SEc.4. .6nd be at further enqcted, Tha
the Legislative power and authority Of sai'
Territory shall be vested in the governo
and legislative assembly. The legislativ
, assembly shall consist Of council an,
house Of Representatives. The council shal
consist of nine members, having the qualifi
catisps Of voters as hereinafter prescribed
whose term of service shall continue tw,
years. The house Of representatives shall
at its first session, consist of eighteen mem
bers, possessing the same qualifications a
prescribed for members Of the council, an,
,ahose term of service shall continue on
year. The number Of councillors and rep
lresentaiiyes may be increased by the legisla
tive assembly, from time to tine, in proper
ton to the increase Of population: Prori
ded, That the whole number shall neve
exceed fifteen councillors and lhirty-nin,
representatives. An apportionments shall b
made, as nearly equal as practicable, anon.
the several counties or districts, for the cleo
tion OF the council aud representatives, Civ
ing to each, section of the Territory repre-
5 eentatien. ID the ratio of its population, Ia
Jiansexccpted, as nearly as may be. Ant