The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-10-23
4olditd,
DUNN'S BILL.
An Act to re, organize the Territory OF Kan
sas, and for other purposes.


Representatives. of the United StGtes Of Ameri. |
ca in Congress assembled, That oil that part
of the territory of the United States which
lies between the parallels Of thirty.six de.
grees and thirty minutes and forty degrees
OF north latitude, and which is east OF the
eastern boundary Of the Territory Of Utah,
to the southeast corner thereof, and east Of
line thence due south to the said parallel
of thirty. six degrees thirty minutes north
latitude, and is bounded on the east by the
western boundary of the State of Missouri,
shall constitute one Territory, and shall be,
and hereby lie, constituted and organized into
q temporary government by the name OF the
Territory Of Kansas: Provided, That moth
ing in this act shall be SO construed as to
impair or in any way interfere with the rights
of persons, property, or the government OF
any Indian or Indian tribes now within said
limits, which have been heretofore secured
to such Indian or tribes by any treaty or law
of Congress, SO long Us sneh rights or gov.
GflHlelIL SIdIi TtibbIH h!iNHtGtth w IhNS VI
Congress, to be passed, or treaties to be
made, after the passago Of this act, Nor
shall anything herein contained impede or
otherwise affect the authority Of the gov
crnment of the United States to make any
regulations respecting such Indians, their
government, property, or other rights. by
law, treaty, or otherwise, hereafter, which
it would have been competent for the gov
ernment of the United States to make il this
act had never passed. And provided fur
Mer, That nothing in this act contained
shall be construed to prohibit the govern
ment oI the United States from hereafter
dividing said Territory of Kansas into two
or more States or Territories, in such man.
ner and ut such time or times as Congress
shall deem convenient and proper, or from
attaching all or any portion thereof to any
other State or Territory OF the United States,
except to sue h as by any law or usage may
at the time tolerate the institution Of sla-
very.
Sec. 9. And be ii further enacted, That
the executive power and authority in and
over said Territory of Kansas shall be vest.
ed in 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 United
States. The governor shall reside within
said Territory, shall be commander. chief
of the militia thereof, hall perform the du-
ties and receive the emoluments of Super
intendent Of Indian Affairs, and shall ap.
prove of oil laws passed by the legsla-
tive assembly before they shall take effect,
unless two.thirds of each branch of the leg
islature shall pass snch law, notwithstand
ing the objection CT such governor, as here
matter provided; he may grant pardon for
offences against the laws Of said Territory,
and reprieves 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 appointed 10 Office under the laws Of
said Territory, and shall take care that the
laws by fully executed.
Sec. 3. And be 1t further enacted, That
there shall be secretary of said Territory,
who shail reside therein, and hold hls Office
for four years, unless sooner removed by the
President OF the United States; he shall re-
cord and preserve all the laws and proceed,
ings OF the legislative assembly hereinafter
constituted, and all the acts and proceedings
Of the governor in his executive department.;
he shall transmit six copies Of the laws and
journals of the legislative assembly within
eixty days after the end Of each session, and
also six copies OF the executive proceedings
on or before the first day of December in
each year, to the President Of the Uutcd
States, for the use Of the President and the
executive departments; and at the same
time, twelve copies of each Of said docu,
ments to the Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives, and the like number to the
President of the Senate, for the use of Con-
gress. And in case of death. removal, res
ignationyor other necessary absence Of the
governor from the Territory, the secretary
shall have, and he is hereby authorized and
required to execute and perform. all the pow
-ers and duties Of the governor during such
vacancy or necessary absence, or until an
other governor shall be duly appointed to
fill such vacancy.
/. Sec. 4. And be it further enacied, That
the legislative power and authority of said
Territory shall be vested in the governor
.and.a legislative assembly. The legislative
assembly shall consist of u council and house
of representatives. The council shall con.
sist of thirteen members, having the quali6.
cations OF voters as hereinafter prescribed,
whose term of service shall continue two
years. The house of representatives shall,
at its first session, consist Of twenty.six
members, possessing the same qualifications
as prescribed for members of the couacil
and whose term OF service shall continue one
year. The number Of representatives may
sbs increased BY the legislative assembly
from time to time, in proportion to the in
crease Of population: PROVIDED, That the
whole number shall never exceed thirty
-. A. .nnor,;ou m ont ehall ha mado nc