Demoine courier., 1854-08-24
THE KANSAS NEBRASKA Law.
AN ACT 10 organize the Terrific
rieS of Nebraska and Kansas.

ries Of Nebraska and Kansas.
/. BE ii enacted by The Senate ned House
of Representatives. of The United States
of america in Congress assembled,
Tha. all tina, par. of The territory OF the
United States included within the FOL
loving limits, excep, such portions there.
Of as are hereinafter expressly exempted
from the operations of Ibis act. to.wi':
beginning at a poin, on the Missouri
river where the forlieih parallel Of north
latitude crosses the same; thence west on
The said parallel to the east boundary Of
the Territory of Utah, OF the summit of
the Rocky Mountains; thence on said
summit norihward TO the forty ninth par
allel of north latitude; thence east on
said parallel to the western boundary of
The Territory Of Minnesota; thence south
ward on said boundary to The Missouri
river; thence down the main channel of
said river to The place of beginning. be,
and the same is hereby, created into a
temporary government by the name of
the Territory Of Nebraska; and when as
a Stale. or States, the said Territory, or
any portion of the same, shall be re-
ceived into the Union, with or without
slavery, as their constitution may pre-
scribe at The time of their admission:
Provided, That nothing in this act u
tanned shall be SO construed 10 inhibiI
The government Of the United States
from dividing said Territory into two or
more Territories, in such manner and a.
such times as Congress shall deem con-
venient or proper, or from attaching any
portion of said Territory to any other
Slate or Territory Of the United States;
ProUided further, That nothing in this
act contained shall be construed to i'm
pair the rights OF person or property
now pertaining 10 The Indians in said
Territory, so long as such rights shall
remain unexlinguished by treaty between
The United States and such Indians, or
to include any Territory which, by treaty
with any Indian tribe, to be Included
within The territorial limits or jurisdiction
of any State or Territory; but all such
territory shall be excepted out of ,he
boundaries, and constitute no pant Of the
Territory of Nebraska, until said tribe
shall signify their assent TO The Presiden.
of the United States to be included with
in the said Territory Of Nebraska; or to
affect The authority of ,he government. OF
the United States to make any regulation
respecting such Indians, their properly,
lands, or other rights, by treaty, law. or
Otherwise, which it would be competent
10 the government 10 make if this &C,
had never passed.
SEC. 2. Ind be IL further enacted,
Tha! the executive power and authority
in and over said Territory of Nebraska
shall be vested in a Governor, who shall
hold his office for four years, and until
his successor shall be appointed and
qualified, unless sooner removed by The
President of the Unipsd States. The
Governor shall reside within said Terri
tory, and shall be commander. in-chief oil
the military thereof. He may grant par
dons and respi.es for offences agains, the
laws of said Territory, and reprieve for
offences against the laws of The United
States, until The decision of the Presi
dent can be made known thereon, he
shall commission all officers who shall
be appointed to Office under the laws of
said Territory. aud shall mke care that
the laws be faithfully executed.
SEC. 3. fad be IL further enasfed,
That there shall be a Secretary of said
Territory, who shall reside therein, and
hold his Office for. five years, unless he
is sooner removed by the President OF
the United States; he shall record and
preserve all the laws and proceedings OF
the legislative assembly hereinafter con.
slitu,ed, and all the acts and proceedings
Of the Governor in his executive depart
ment; he shall transmit. cue copy of the
laws and journals of the legislative as
ssmbly within thirty days after the end
Of the session, and one copy Of The ex
ecutive proceedings and official cores
pondence semi annually. on the first day
Of January and July in each year, TO 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 depos
lied in the libraries Of Congress-; and in
case of The death; removal. resignation
or absence Of the Governor from the
Territory. the Secretary shall be, ane is
hereby authorized and required to exc.
cute and perform all the powers and du-
ties of the g%overno. during such vacancy
or absence, or until another governor
shall be duly appointed and qualified &c
fill such vacancy.
Sec. 4. find be 1t further enacfed
That the legislative power and authority
of said Territory shall be vested in the
governor and legislative assembly. The
legislative assembly shall consist of Z
council and house of representatives.
The council shall consist Of thirteen
members, having the qualifications Of
voters, as hereinafter described, whose
term Of service shall continue 2 years
The House of Representatives shall. a
its first session, consist OF 26 members
possessing the same qualifications u.
prescribed tor members Of the council
and whose term Of service shall con,inu,
for one year. The number of Repre-
~sentaiives may be increased by the leg
i~slative assembly from time to time. il