Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/302

 ation of

rights and property, it is understood and declared that no law ought ever to be made, or have force, in said territory, that shall in manner whatever, interfere with or affect private contracts or engagements, bona fide, and without fraud, previously formed.

Art. 3. Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good gov- ernment, and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.

The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians. Their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent, and in their property rights and liberty they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars, authorized by the representatives of the people ; but laws, founded in justice and humanity, shall, from time to time, be made for preventing injustice being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them.

Art. 4. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in said ter- ritory otherwise than for the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

Sec. 2, Art. 1. Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid that the officers elected on the 2d of May, inst., shall continue in office until the 2d Tuesday in May, 1844, and until others are elected and qualified.

Art. 2. Be it further enacted, that an election of civil and military officers shall be held annually on the second Tuesday in May in the several districts at such places as shall be designated by law. -

Art. 3. Each officer heretofore elected, or hereafter to be elected, shall, be- fore entering upon the duties of his office, take an oath or affirmation to sup- port the laws of the territory and faithfully to discharge the duties of his office.

Art. 5. The executive power shall be vested in a committee of three per- sons, elected by the qualified voters at the annual election, who shall have power to grant pardons and reprieves for offences against the laws of the territory, to call out the military force of the territory to repel invasion or suppress insurrec- tion, to take care that the laws are faithfully executed and to recommend such laws as they may consider necessary to the representatives of the people for their action. Two members of the committee shall constitute a quoi'um to transact business.

Art. 6. The legislative power shall be vested in a committee of nine persons, who shall be elected by the qualified electors at the annual election, giving to each district a representation in ratio of its population, excluding Indians; and the said members of the committee shall reside in the district for which they shall be chosen.

Art. 7. The judicial power shall be vested in a supreme court, consisting of a supreme judge and two justices of the peace, a probate court; and in jus- tices of the peace. The jurisdiction of the supreme court shall be both appellate and original. That of the probate court and justices of the peace, as limited by law — provided, that individual justices of the peace shall not have jurisdiction of any matter of controversy when the title or boundary of land may be in dis- pute, or where the sum claimed exceeds fifty dollars.

Art. 12. The laws of Iowa Territory shall be the law of this territory, in civil, military and criminal cases, where not otherwise provided for