The North-Carolina standard., 1849-03-21


IPUBLIc-No. It'll
An act to establish the Territorial Government OF
Oregon.
Be tt enacied by the Senate and House OF HepTe-
sentatires of the United States Of AericG an Cons reSS
assembled That from and after the passage OF this
act all that part of the Territory OF the United States
which lies west of the summit OF the Rocky noun
tans north of the forty second degree OF nortn lat-
tude known as the Territory of Oregon, shall be or
panized into and constitute temporary government
by the name of the Territory OF Oregon: PTorided,
That nothing this act contained shall be construed
to impair the rights of person or property now per-
tanp to the Indians in said Territory so long as such
RIGHTS shall remain unexnguished by treaty between
the United States and such Indians, or to affect the
authority of the government of the United States 10
make any regulation respecting such Indians their
lands property, or other rights, by treaty. law, or
otherwise which it would have been competent TO
the government to make if this act had never been
passed find prOrided GEO That the the title to the
land not exceeding six hundred and forty acres, no"
occupied as missionary stations among the Indian
tribes in said Territory, together with the improve
mentS thereon, be confirmed and established In the
several religious societies to which said missionary
stations respectively belong: find Prerided further,
That nothing in this act contained shall be construed
to inhibt the government of the United States from
dividing said Territory into two more Territories
in such manner and at such times as Congress shall
deem convenient and proper, or from attaching any
portion of said Territory to any other State or Ierr-
SEC O. find be 1t further enacted, That the execu-
tive power and authority in and over said Territory
of Oregan shall be vested in governor, who shall
hold his Office for four years, and until his successor
shall be appointed and qualified unless sooner re-
moved by the President of the United States. The
governor shall reside within said Territory, shall be
commanderin-chief of the militia thereof, shall per-
form the duties and receive the emoluments of sup
erntendent of Indian affairs; he may grant pardons
and respites for offences against the laws of said
Territory and repreves for offences against the laws
of the United States, until the decision of the PresI
dent can be made known thereon; he shall commits
sion all officers who shall be appointed to Office un-
der the laws of the said Territory, where, by law,
such commission shall be required, and shall take
care that the laws be faithfully executed. :.
SEC. 3. 4Bd be it further enacted, That there shall
be secretary of said Territory, who shall reside
therein and hold his office for five years. unless soon
er removed by the President of the United States
he shall record and preserve all the laws and pro-
ceedings of the legislative assembly herein constltu-
ted and all the and proceedings of the governor
in his legislative department; he shall transmit one
copy of the laws and journals of the legislative as
sembly within thirty days after the end of each ses-
sion, and one copy of the executive proceedings and
official correspondence, seml-annually, on the hrst
days of January and July in each year, to the Pres
dent of the United States, and two copies of the laws
the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, for the use of Con-
gress. And in of the death, REMOVAL reslgna-
ton or absence of the governor from the Territory,
and required execute and perform all the powers
and duties of the governor during such vacancy or
absence, until another governor shall be duly ap-
pointed and qualified to fill such vacancy.
Sec. 4. find be it further enacted, That the legis
ative power and authority of said Territory shall be
vested in legislative assembly. The Legislative as
sembly shall consist of council and house OF repre-
sentatives. The council shall consist of nine MEN,
bers having the qualifications of voters hereinaft
prescribed, whose term of service shall continue
three years. Immediately after they shall be assem-
bled In consequence ofthe first election they shall
be divided equally may be into three classes.
The seats of the members of the council of the first
class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first
year, OF the second class at the expiration of the
ond year and the third class athe expiration of the
third year, so that third may be chosen every
year; and II vacancies happen by resignation 9TH
erWlse, the same shall be filled at the next ensuing
election. The house of representatives. at its
frst session consist of eighteen members possessing
the same qualifications prescribed for members of
the councli and whose term of service shall continue
one year. The number of representatives may be
increased by the Legislative assembly from time to
time, in proportion to the increase of qualified yoters
PrODided That the whole number shall never exceed
Imrly. An apportlonment shall be made as nearly
equal as practicable, among the several counties or
olscts, Ior the election of the council and represen
iaVes giving to each section of the territory renre
senaon In the ratio of its qualified voters as near
as may De- And the members of the council and
OF the house of representatives. shall reside in ad IL
Inhabitants of the district, or county or counties for
which they may be elected respectively Previous
to the first election, the governor shall eause a
census or enumeration of the inhabitants and nnali
ned voters of the several counties and distr;cts
OF the Territory to be taken by such persons. and in
such mode, as the governor shall designate and an
point and the persons SO appointed shall receive
reasonable compensation therefor; and the first cleo
on shall be held at such time and places and he con-
Quoted in such manner, both as to the person who
shall sqperntend such election, and the returns there
OF as the governor shall appoint and direct; and he
declare he
bers OF the council and house of representatives to
which each of the counties districts shall be ent
tied under this act and the governor SHALL bv his
Pfocamauon give at least sixty days previous notice
manner of holding such election. The persons bav
ing the highest number of legal in each of he
SAID council districts for members of the connciI
shall be declared by the governor to be duly elected