The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-10-07
KANsAsMATrERs IN CONGRESS
Mr.. DU.N.y,S hill
passed by the House of Representatives Aug 1856

.Nr. ID U.v.v"S BILL
passed by the House of Representatives Aug 1856
Be IL enacted by the Senate and House Of
Of United of America in Congress assembled
That all that part of the Territory Of the United
States which lies between the parallels Of thirty
sir degrees and thirty minutes and forty degrees of
north lntitde and which is east Of the eastern boun
dary ofthe territory Of Utah, TO the southeast
ner thereof and east ofa line thence due south to
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 territory, and shall be, and hereby is
constituted an organized into temporary govern
ment by the name of the Territory of Kansas. Pro-
pidd That nothing in this act shall be construed
TO impair in any way interfere with the right,
of person, property the government ofany Indian
or Indian tribes within said limits, which have
been heretofore secured to such Indian tribes by
any treaty law of Congress, so long such rights
or government shall remain unaffected by laws Of
Congress 10 be passed. or treaties to be made alter
the passage Of this act. Nor shall anything herein
contained impede otherwise affect the authority of
the government Of the United States TO make any
regulations respecting such Indians, their government
property, Other rights by law, treaty, other
wise, hereafter, which it would havo been CON Pc
tent for the government OF the United States TO
make il this act had psssed: and provided fur
r, That nothing in this act contained shall be con-
srued to prohibit the government ofhe United State
from hereafte dividing said Territory of Kansas into
two or more States or Territories, in such manner.
and at such time times as Congress shall deem
NeneHl ana proper, OF from all OF any por-
to1 thereof to any other State Territory of the
United States except TO such by any law usage
may at the time tolerate the institution Of slavery.
Sec. g. And be it further enacted, That the execu
tive power and authority in and said Territory
of Kansas shall be vested in a Governor who shall
hold his Office for four years. and until his successor
shall be appointed and qualified. unless re-
moved by the President OF the United States. The
Governor shall reside within said Territory shall be
commando chef of the militia thereof shall per-
form the duties nnd receive the emoluments ofsuper
intendent Of Indian affairs. and shall approve OF all
laws passed by the Legislative assembly before they
shall take effect unless twothirds of each branch of
TIC Legislature shall pass such law, notwithstanding
the objection ofsuch Governor "a her einafter pro-
vided he may grant pardons for offences against the
laws of said erritory, and rcprieves for offences
against the laws of the United States, until the de.
csion of the President can be made known thereon;
ho shall commission ali officers who shall be appointed
TO office under the laws of the said Territory, and
shah take that tho laws be faithfully executed
See. 3. And be further enacted, That there shall
he secretary Of said Territory, who shall reside
therein, and hold his Office for four years unless
sooner removed by the President oftho United States
he shall record and preserve all the laws and proceed
ings Of the Legislative Assembly hereinafter consti
tuted, and all the acts and proceedings of the Cover
ncr in his executive department. he shall transmit
six copies of the Law and journals of the Legislative
Assembly with in sixty days after the end of each
session. and also six copies of the executive pro-
ceedings, on or before the lst day Of December in
each year 10 the President of the United States
for the President and the executive departments;
and at the same time, twelve copies Of each of said
documents to the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentativcs and the like number to the President of
the Senate, for the of Congress- and in case of
the death, removal resignation or other necessary
ah'ence of the Governor from the Territory, the
secretary shall have, and he is hereby authorized
and required 10 execute and perform nl the powers
and duties of the Govcrnor during such vacancy or
necessary absence or until another Governor shall
be duly appointed to IN such vacnncy
Sec dnd be u further esd-ys7 That the lersla-
tive power and authority of said Territory shall bo
vested IN the Governor and Legislative Assemble.
The Legislative Assembly shall consist of a Council
and House of Representatives. The Council shall
consist of thirteen members having the qualifications
oi voters as hereinafter prescribed, whose term of
service shall continue two years The House Of
Representatives shall nj its first session consist of
twenty-six members possessing the same qualifcs-
tons as prescribed for members of the Council and
whose term of sc rvice shall continue one year The
number of representatives may be increased by the
legislative Assembly from time 10 time. in proper
non TO the increase of population: Prorjded That
The whole number shall never exceed thirty nine =
An npportionment stnl be made, ms nearly equal as
practical. among the several counties or districts
Tor the election of tho Council and Representatives
givlI to each section OF the Territory representa-
ton IN the ratio Of its population, Indians not cti-
zcns of the United States xrepted ns nenrv M NAV
be. And the members Of the Council and Of the
House OF Representatives. nj and for two months be.
fore the time ofther election and during their term
OF service shall reside n and be inhabitants Of the
district tor which they may he elected, respcc vely
aud shall have been actual residents Of said Terri.
tory Tor one year next be fore such election and shall
he citizens of the United States and ofihe age of
twenty-five years The first election under this net
shall bs held on Tuesday after The Crst Monday in
November next. and on the first Monday in Au
gust annually, thereafter nt such places and he
conducted IN such manner the Government shall
appoint and direct until further provision by law;
allu ne shall Mt the same time declare the number
OF the Council and House Of Representatives TO
winch each of the counties districts shall be enti
ued under this act. The number Of persons author
having her of Lee al
votes IN each of sid council districts for members of
the Council, shall be declared by the Governor to
be duly elected to the Council; and the person or
persons authorized TO be elected having the greatest
number of legal votes for the House OF Representa-
tNes, equal TO the number 10 which each county
district shall be entitled shall he declared by the
Governor to be duly elected members Of the House
OF Representatives: Prorided That in case of tie
between two or more persons voted for, the Govern
orshnll order new election to supply the vacancy
IN either branch Of the Legislative Assembly shall
otherwise occur, until otherwise provided by law,
the Governor shall order election TO ill such
vacancy, to be conducted hereinbefore directed.
And the persons thus elected TO the Legislative AS
sembly shall meet at such place, and such day,
as the Governor shall appoint but. thereafter, the
time, place, and manner of holding and conducting
all elections by the people. and the apportoning the
representation in the several counties districts to
the Council and House Of Representatives, accord
ing 10 the population shall be prescribed by law.
wellas the day Of the of the egul nr
ssOns Of the Legislative Assembly: Prorided That
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Sec. 5. dRo be hfurthsr enacted That every white
male inhabitant being citizen Of the United States
above the age of twent y-one years who shall have
been resident nf said Territory at the time Of the
pas sage of this act shall be entitled TO vote at the
first election. but thereafter person shall be
titled to vote at any election who shall not have
been an actual resident Of said Territory for twelve
months prior TO such election.
Sec. 6 dndbe 10 further enacted, That the legsla
tive power Of the Territory shall extend all rghtfu
subjects Of legislation consistent with the Constitu-
ton of the United States and the provisions Of this
act; but no law shall be passed interfering with
the primary disposal Of the soil no tax shall be i'm
posed upon the property Of the United States. nor
shall the lands other property Of non-rcsidens be
taxed higher than thelands other property OF resi-
dents. All the laws passed by the Legislative As
sembly and Governor shoIl be submitted 90 the Com
gress of the United States, and il disapproved shall
be void aud Of effect. But IL shall not be compe-
tent for said Legislative Assembly TO pass any post
aeo law, law mpairing the validity Of contracts
any law in abrdpement Of the freedom Of speech
or Of the press or 10 deprive any Of the right Of
trial by jury of the writ Of habeds corpus; any
law requiring property qualification, or religious test
for the right TO vote hold office practice law,