Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/303

, and where

uo statute of Iowa Territory applies, tlie priueiples of comiiion law and equity shall govern.

Art. 17. All male persons of the age of sixteen years and upwards, and all females of the age of fourteen and upwards, shall have the right of engaging iu marriage — provided that where either of the parties shall be under the age of twenty-one, the eonseut of the parents or guardians of such minors shall be necessary to the validity of such matrimonial engagement. Every ordained minis- ter of the gospel of any religious denomination, the supreme judge, and all jus- tices of the peace, are hereby authorized to solemnize marriages, according to law, to have the same recorded, and pay the recorder's fee. All marriages shall be recorded by the territorial recorder within one month from the time of such marriage taking place and being made known to him officially. The legal fee for marriage shall be one dollar and for recording the same fifty cents.

Art. 19. Resolved. That a committee of three be appointed to draw up a digest of the doings of the people of this territory, with regard to an organiza- tion, and transmit the same to the United States government, for their informa- tion.

THE MILITIA

Art. 1. Any person now holding, or hereafter wishing to establish a claim consisting of three or more companies of mounted riflemen.

THE LAW OP LAND CLAIMS

Art. 1. Any person now holding, or hereafter wishing to establish a claim to land in this territory, shall designate the extent of his claim by natural boundaries, or by marks at the corners, and on the lines of such claim, and have the extent and boundaries of said claim recorded in the office of the territorial recorder, in a book to be kept by him for that purpose, within twenty days from the time of making said claim — provided, that those who shall already be in pos- session of land shall be allowed one year from the passage of this act to file a de- scription of his claim in the recorder's office.

Art. 3. No individual shall be allowed to hold a claim of more than one square mile or six hundred and forty acres in a square or oblong form, accord- ing to the natural situation of the premises ; nor shall any individual be allowed to hold more than one claim at the same time. Any person complying w-ith the provisions of these ordinances shall be entitled to the same recourse against trespass as in other cases by law provided.

Art. 4. No person shall be entitled to hold such a claim upon city or town sites, extensive water privileges, or other situations necessary for the transaction of mercantile or manufacturing operations, and to the detriment of the commun- ity — provided, that nothing in these laws shall be so constructed as to affect any claim of any mission of a religious character made previous to this time of an extent not more than six miles square.

Approved by the people, July 5, 1843.

The legislative committee met again at AVillamette Falls, June 18, 1844, and daily transacted legislative business until June 27, when it adjourned to meet again on the thii-d Monday of December. 1844. The enacting clause of ev