Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-03
TPupL1c-No. 23.l

CChyTGSS ~ UlS CHitcU I0tuteS 81 hDleTlCu. .
[PuBLIc-No. %.
AN ACT to organize the Territories Of Nebraska an
-. ., Kansas.
Be enacted By the Senate and House Of Representative
Of the United States Of 4nerica Congress assembled Tha
all that part of the territory Of the United States include
within the following limits except such portions thereo
hereinafter expressly exempted from the operation
of this act to wit: Beginning point in the Missouri
river where the orteth parallel of north latitude
the same thence west on said parallel to the boun
dairy Of the Territory Of Utah. the summit of the Rock
Mountains; thence said summit norhward to the for
tynt tn parallel of north latitude thence east on sal,
parallel to the western boundary of the Territory of Min
nesota thence southwark on said boundary the Mis-
souri, river thence down the main channel Of said rive
to the place Of beginning be and the is hereby
atea into temporary government, by the Of thu
Territory OF Nebraska and when admitted State
STATES the SAID Territory any portion of the same
Shall be received into the Union with without slavery
as their constitution may prescribe at the time Of their
admission: Prorided That nothing in this act contained
shall be construed to nhibt the Government Of the Uni
ted States from dividing said Territory into two
Ierrltorles IN such and 1t such times Con-
gross shall deem convenient and proper from attach
ing any portion Of said Territory to any other State
Territory Of the United States Provided further, That
nothing in this contained shall be construed impair
the rights of person property pertaining to the
Indians in said Territory so long such rights shall
main rnextnguished by treaty between the United States
and such Indians to include any territory which, by
of said tribe to be included within the territorial limits
or jurisdiction Of any State Territory but all such
territory shall be excepted out of the boundaries and
constitute no part Of the Territory Of Nebraska, until
said tribe shall signify their the President of the
United States to be included within the said Territory of
Nebraska or to affect the authority Of the Government of
the United States to make any regulation respecting such
Indians their lands property other rights by treaty
law, or otherwise, which il would have been competent
to the Government make if this act bad never passed
Sec. 2. And be further enacted That the executive
power and authority in and said Territory of Ne
braska shall be vested in Governor Who shall hold his
ofce for four years. and until his shall be APP
pointed and qualified unless sooner removed by the Pre-
sident OF the United States The Governor shall reside
within said Territory and shall be commander Of
the militia thereof lie may grant parions and respies
for offences against the laws of said Territory and re-
peycs for offences against the laws of the United States
until the decision Of the President can be made known
thereon; he shall commission all officers who shall be APP
pointed to office under the laws Of the said Territory and
shall taae care that the laws be faithfully executed
Sec 3. And further enacted That there shall be
Secretary OF said Territory, who shall reside therein and
hold his Office for five years, unless sooner removed By
the President OF the United States he shall record and
preserve all the laws and proceedings of the Legislative
Assembly hereinafter constituted and all the acts and
proceedings OF the Governor in his executive department.
he shall transmit one copy Of heaws and journals of the
Legislative Assembly within thirty days after the end of
each session. and one copy of the executive proceedings
and Official correspondence mi-annually on the first
days Of January and July in each year. the President
Of the United States and two copies of the laws to the
President OF the Senate and to the Speaker of the House
OF representatives to be deposited in the libraries of
Congress- and In of the death removal resignation
or absence OF the Governor from the Territory the Sc
cretay shall be and he is hereby authorized and reaur
90 10 execute and perform all the powers and duties of
the Governor during such vacancy absence, until
another Governor shall be duly appointed and qualified
to fill such vacancy.
Sec. A. .aad be further enacted That the legislative
power and authority of said Territory shall be vested in
uflvn a WhaT p1a
tive Assembly shall consist Of Council and House of
Representatives. The Council shall consist of thirteen
members having the qualifications of voters as herein
after prescribed whose term of service shall continue
two years. The House of Representatives SHALL at its
first session. consist of twenysix members possessing
the same qualifications prescribed for members of the
Council and whose term of service shall continue one
year The number of representatives NAV be increased
by the Legislative Assembly from time to time in pro-
portion to the increase Of qualified voters Provided
That the whole number shall never exceed thrtynine
An apporonment shall be made nearly equal as prac
tcabe, among the several counties or districts for the
election Of the Council and representatives giving to
each section Of the Territory representation in the ratio
OF its qualified voters nearly as may be-. And the
members OF the Council and Of the House of Represen
tatives shall reside in and be inhabitants Of the district
or county, or counties, for which they may be elected
respectively Previous to the first election the Governor
shall cause census enumeration Of the inhabitants
and qualified voters of the several counties and districts
of the Territory be taken by such persons and in such
mode as the Governor shall designate and appoint and
the persons appointed shall receive reasonable COM
pensa'ion therefor. And the first election shall be held
at such time and places and be conducted in such man
ner both as to the persons who shall superntend such
election and the returns thereof the Governor shall
appoint and direct and he shall the same time de-
clare the number Of members Of the Council and House
OF Representatives TO which each Of the counties or dis
trcts shall be entitled under this act The persons hav
ing the highest number of legal votes in each of said
Council districts for members of the Council shall be de-
cared by the Governor to be duly elected the Counc
and the persons having the highest number Of legal
for the House of Representatives shall be declared by the
Governor to be duly elected members of said House:
ProrGed, That in case two persons voted for
shall have equal number of votes and in case
cancy shall otherwise in either branch of the Lee
gislatiye Assembly the Governor shall order new cleo
ton and the persons thus elected the Legislative As
semby shall meet at such place and such day the
Governor shall appoint; but thereafter the time place.
and manner of holding and conducting all elections by
the people, and the apportionng the representation in
the several counties districts the Council and House
Of Representatives according to the number of qualified
voters shall be prescribed by law well the day of
the commencement Of the regular sessions Of the Legs
lative Assembly, Provided That no session in any one
year shall exceed the term of forty days. except the first
session, which may continue sixty days
Sec D. And be further enacted That every free white
male nhabtant above the age of twentyone years who
shall be an actual resident Of said Territory and shall
possess the qualifications hereinafter prescribed shall be
entitled TO vote at the first election and shall be epbe
to any Office within the said Territory but the ouaIca
tons of voters and Of holding office all subsequent
tons shalt be such shall be prescribed BY the Lepsla
tive Assembly, Pordd That the right CT suffrage and Of
holding office shall be exercised only by citizens Of the
United States and those who shall have declared on oath
their intention become SUCH and shall have taken an
oath to support the Constitution the United States and
the provisions of this act And prorided further That no
officer soldier seaman, marine or other person in the