Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-04-26

BUBLlu-N0. AZ.
AN ACT 10 enable the people of Nebraska to form
constitution and State Government. and for
the admission of such State uto the Union on
an equal footing with the original States.
Be enacted By tie Senate and House Of Repre-
seatatiUes Of the United States Of america in Con-
gress assembled, That the inhabitants of that
portion OF the Territory OF Nebraska included in
the boundaries hereinafter designated be and
they are hereby authorized to form for themselves
a constitution and State Government, with the
name aforesaid, which State when so formed,
shall be admitted into the Union hereinafter
provided.
Sec. 2. And be il further enacted, That the said
State of Nebraska shall consist of ali the terrific
ry included within the following boundaries to
wit: Commencing Mt q point formed by the in
tersectlon of the western boundary of the State
of Missouri with the fortieth degree of north lat
itude; extending thence due west along said
fortieth degree of north latitude to point form
ed by its intersection with the twenty-iifth de-
gree Of longitude west from Washington thence
north along said twcnty-ffth degree of longi-
tude to point formed by its intersection with
the forty-frst degree of north latitude thence
west along said forly-frst degree of north lati-
tude to point formed by its intersection with the
twenty seventh degree OF longitude west from
Washington; thence north along said twenty
seventh degree of west lOngitn'r l. tan i.i fW
ed by It's intersection with the lOl, tpic.i... t,
of north latitude thence east along sAia Iorly-
third degree of north latitude 10 the Reya Paha
river; thence down the middle OF the chanuel Of
said river with its meander inga, 10 its junction
with the Nlohrara river; lhenre down the middle
Of the channel Of said Niohrara river, and fol
lowing the meanderings thereof TO its junction
with the Missouri river; thence down lhe middle
of the Ghnnnel of said Missouri river, and follow
ing the meanlerings thereof to The place Of be-
ginning.
Sec. 3. And be il FURTHER endctea, That all per-
sons qualified by law TO vote Tor representatives
to the General Assembly of said Territory shall
be qualified to be elected and they are hereby
authorized to vote for and choose representatives
to form Convention, under such rules aud reg
ulatiOns as the Governor of said Territory may
prescribe, and also to vote upon the acceptance
or rejection of such constitution as may be form
ed by said Convention, under such rules and
regulations as said Convention may prescribe
and if any of said citizens are enlisted in the
army of the United States, and are still within
said Territory, they shall be permitted to vote at
their place Of rendezvous and if any are absent
from said Territory, by reason of their enlist
ment in the army of the United States they shall
be permitted to vote at their place of service,
under the rules and regulations in each case to
be prescribed as aforesaid and the aforesaid
representatives to form the aforesaid Conven-
tiOn shall be apportioned among the several
counties in said Territory in proportion to the
population as near as may be, aud said appor-
tlonment shall be made for said Territory BY the
governor, United States district attorney, and
chief justice thereof, or any two of them And
the governor of said Territory, shall, by procla.
nation, on or before the hrst Monday of May
next, order an election Of the representatives
aforesaid to be held on the first Monday in June
thereafter throughout the Territory and such
election shall be conducted in the same manner
as is prescribed by the laws of said Territory
regulating elections therein for members of the
House of Representatives and the number Of
members to said Convention shall be the same as
now constitute both branches of the Legislature
Of the aforesaid Territory.
Sec. 4. And be il further enacted, That the
members of the Convention thus elected shall
meet at the capital of said Territory on the first
Monday in July next, and after organization
shall declare, on behalf of the people of said
, Territory, that they adopt the Constitution Of
. the United States whereupon the said Conven-
! tion snail be and is hereby authorized to form
I constitution and State Government: Provided,
, That the consultation when formed shall be re-
$ publican, and not repugnant to the Constitution
! of the United States and the principles of the
> Declaration of Independence; And provided,
further, That said constitution shall provide, by
an article forever rreyOcable, without the con-
D sent of the Congress of the United Saes
First. That slavery or involuntary servitude
shall be forever prohibited in said State.
Second. That pefect toleration of religious
sentiment shall be secured, and no inhabitant Of
said State shall ever be mOlested in person or
property OH account of his or her mode of reli-
gous Worship
Third That the people inhabiting said Terri
tory do agree and declare that they forever dis
claim all right and title to the unappropriated
public lands lying within said Territory, aud that
the same shall be and remain at the sole and
entire disposition of the United States, and that
: the lands belonging to citizens of the United
States residing without the said State shall never
be taxed higher than the land belonging to resi-
dents thereof; and that no taxes shall be impos-
ed by said State on lands or property therein
belonging to or which may hereafter be purchRs-
ed by the United States.
Sec 8. And be il further enacted, That in case
q constitution and State Government shall be
formed for the people of said Territory OF Ne
braskR, in compliance with the provisions oil this
act, that said Convention forming the same shall
provide by ordinance for submitting said constl-
tuition to the people OF said State for their ratii
| cation or rejection at an election to be held on
the second Tuesday of October, one thousand
eight hundred and sixty four, at such places and
under such regulations as may be prescribed
therein, at which election the qualified voters, as
hereinbefore provided, shall vote directly for or
Ia against the proposed constitutions and the returns
Of said elections shall be made to the acting gov
a. a. ernor of the Territory, who, together with the
Y United States district attorney and chief justice
of the said Territory or any two of them, shall
canvass the same, and if majority of legal votes
!, shall be cast for said constitution in said pro-
posed State, the said acting governor shall certi-
fy the same to the President Of the United States
|, together with copy of said constitution anc
ordinances whereupOn it shall be the duty of the
President of the United States TO issue his pro-
II clamation declaring the State admitted into the
Union an equal footing with the original
10 States, without any further action whatever OIL
the part of Congress.
Sec g. And be ii further enacted That until the
ie next general census shall be taken said State o.
of Nebraska shall be entitled to one Representative
in the House of Representatives of the Unitet
States, which Representative, together with tn,
- Governor and State aud other officers provided
al for in said constitution, may be elected on th
ir same day vote is taken for or against the pro
- posed constitution and State Government
Sec. 7. And be il further enacted, That section
numbered sixteen and thirty six in every town
ship, and when such sections have been sold o
otherwise disposed of by any act of Congress
other lands equivalent thereto, in legal subdivi
q sions of not less than quarter section, and a
contiguous as may be, shall be and are hereby
' granted to said State for the support of common
.ohools. 49,
lid Sec. g. And be il further enacted That proVile'
re- the State of Sebraska shall be admit%t into th'
I'VE Union in accordance with the foregoing Prov
rk sions of this act, that twenty entire sections
Ids the uuapproprlated public lands within sai
E. State. to be selected and located by direction q
the Legislature thereof, on or before the first da
- of January, ammo Domini eighteen hundred an
o;vty.ai0bt shall be and they are hereby gram