Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-12


LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Passed at the First Session ofhe 7Arty-second Con-
gress Of The United States Of america.
[PUBLIc--No. 30,l
AN ACT to establish Territorial Government of Wash
ington.
Be enacted By the Senate and House Of Representatives
Of the United States Of America Congress assembled That
from and passage Of this act that portion Of
Oregon Territory lying and being south = ths ninth
degree Of north latitude, and north Of midde Of tho
main channel Of the Columba river from i south to-
where the fOrysxth degree Of north latitude crosses
said river Fort Walawalla thence with said forty
sixth degree OF latitude to the summit of the Rocky
Mountains be organized into and constitute temporary
government by the of the Territory Of Washington
Provided That nothing in this act contained shall be
strued to affect the authority of he Government of the
United States make any regulation respecting the In
dians of said Territory their lands property or other
rights by treaty law otherwise, which it would have
been competent to the Government to make II this act
had passed. Provided further, That the title to the
land not exceeding six hundred and forty acres, now
occupied missionary stations among the Indian tribes
in said Territory that may have been occupied MS
missionary stations prior the passage of the act estab
fishing the Territorial Government of Oregon, together
with the improvements thereon be- and hereby con-
frmed and established to the several religious societies
to which said missionary stations respectively belong
Sec. 2. ARd be further enacted, That the executive
power and authority in and said Territory of Wash
ngton shall be vested in governor who shall hold his
Office for four years. and until his successor shall be ap
pointed Quallhed sooner removed
dent the United States The governor shall reside in
said Territory sLa be the commsnderin-chief of the
militia thereof shall perform the duties and receive the
emoluments of superintendent of Indian AFFAIRS he may
grant pardons and remit fines and orfeures for offences
against the laws of said Territory and reptes for often
ces against the laws of the United States until the deci
sion of the President be made known thereon he
shall all officers who shall be appointed to Of
fee under the laws Of the said Territory where by law
such commissions shall be required and shall take
that the laws be faithfully executed
y Jas Thott thnrn hall hn
secretary of said Territory who shall reside therein and
hold his Office for four years. unless removed by the
President of the United States he shall record and
serve all the laws and proceedings of the legislative
semby hereinafter constituted and all the and pro-
ceedngs of the governor his executive department. he
shall transmit copy of the laws and journals Of the e
gsave assembly within thirty days after the end Of each
session, and copy Of the executive proceedings and
official correspondence semi annually the first days Of
January and July in each year. TO the President Of the
United States and two copies Of the laws the President
Of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatyes for the Of Congress. And in OF the
DEATH removal resignation absence of the governor
from the Territory the secretary shall be- and he here
by authorized and required to execute and perform all
the powers and duties of the governor during such va
caucy absence, until another governor shall be duly
appointed and qualified to fill such vacancy
Sec 4 And be Il frthr enacted, That the legislative
power and authority of said Territory shall be vested in
legislative assembly which shall consist of council and
house Of representatives The council shall consist Of
nine members having the qualifications of voters here
matter prescribed whose term Of service shall continue
three years Immediately after they shall be assembled,
in consequence of their first election they shall be dyi
ded as equally may be into three Glasses The seats
of the members Of council of the first class shall be
ted the expiration Of the first year. Of the second class
the expiration Of the second year. and Of the third class
at the expiration of the third year. that onethrd may
be chosen every year. and if vacancies happen by resg
nation otherwise, the shall be filled at the next
ensuing election The house Of representatives sha at
its first session. consist Of eighteen members possessing
the same qualifications prescribed for members Of the
council and whose term of service shall continue one
year The number Of representatives may be increased
by the legislative assembly, from time to tme in proper
ton the increase Of qualified voters ProUdd That the
whole number shall exceed thirty. An apporton-
ment shall be made nearly equal practicable among
the several counties or districts the election Of the
Gil and representatives giving to each section Of the Ter
ritory representation in the ratio Of its qualified voters
as nearly as mny be- And the members Of the council
and Of the house Representatives shall reside in and be
inhabitants of the district county or counties for
which they may be elected respectively Previous to the
first election the governor shall emu
meration of the inhabitants and qualified Of the
several counties and districts Of the Territory 70 be taken
by such persons and in such mode the governor shall
designate and appoints and the persons appointed shall
receive reasonable compensation therefor. And the
first election shall be held at such time and places and
be conducted in such manner both the persons who
shall superinend such election aud the returns thereof
the governor shall appoint and direct and he shall
the time declare the number Of members Of th'
council and house Of representatives which each Of thu
counties districts shall be entitled under this act anc
the governor shall by his proclamation give at least sixty
days previous notice Of such apportionmen ond Of the
time places and manner Of holding such election The
persons having the highest number legal votes in each
of districts for members Of the council shall
be declared by the governor to be duly elected to tho
council and the persons having the highest number q
legal votes for the house of representatives shall be de-
cared by the governor to be duly elected members
said house Proriied That in two persons
voted for shall have equal number Of votes and IN
vacancy shall otherwise in either branch OF
the legislative assembly, he governor shall order new
election and the persons thus elected 70 the legislative
assembly shall meet Mt such place and suchday within
ninety days after such elections the governor shall ap-
point. But thereafter the tme place, and nanner OF
holding and conducting all elections by the pcaoc and
the apporoning the representation in the several coun-
ives according to the number of qualified voters shall
eprescrbed by law well the day the Commence
ent OF the regular session of the legislative assembly
II oetded That no session in any year shall exceed
the term OF sixty days, except the first session, w1ch
shall not exceed one hundred days
&C. o. Ind DC u further enacted. That every white male
inhaptan above the age Of twentyene years. who shall
have Deen OF said Territory at the time of the
passage Of this act and shall possess the
srenafter prescribed shall be entitled to vote az the
fiji st election and shall he eligible to any Office within the
said Territory but the qualifications OF voters and of
ho ding office Mt all subsequent elections shall be such a
shall be prescribed by the Legislative assembly, Propcd
That the right Of suffrage and Of holding Office shall bc
exercised only by citizens Of the United States above the
age Of twentyone years. and those above that age who
shall have declared oath their intention TO become
such and shall have taken oath support the cons
tuition Of the United States and the provisions Of THE act
4nd yrpUded further, That officer soldier seaman ma
rner or other person in the army navy of the United
States or tached to troops in the service Of the United
States shall lie allowed TO in said Territory by rea-
son Of being on service therein unless said Territory