Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/207

 CHAPTER XI AMERICAN TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT Government of the Louisiana Territory — The Territory op Orleans — The District of Louisiana — First Governor — Courts op Common Pleas — Officers at the Various Posts — Causes op Dissatisfaction With the Government of the United States — Me- morial of Grievances — The Territory op Louisiana — Confirmation of Land Grants — Courts — Wilkinson as Governor — Lewis — Clark — The Territory op Missouri — Povr- ERS OP the Governor — Meetings of the Territorial Legislature — Various Laws — Rich- ard S. Thomas — John Scott — Johnson Ranney — General Watkins — Greer W. Davis — Alexander Buckner — Other Prominent Men — The Byrd Family — Circuit Courts — Officers in Ste. Genevieve — Cape Girardeau District and County — New Madrid Dis- trict and County — Creation op New Counties — Lawrence — Wayne — Madison — Jefferson — Washington — Perry — Military History. As soon as it was known that the transfer of Louisiana to the United States had been completed and all formalities complied with, Congress at once passed an act providing for the government of the newly acquired territory. It was arranged tluit the law of Spain and France which had previously been in force in the territory should be superseded by the law of the United States. It divided the en- tire territory acquired into two parts. All that part of Louisiana south of the 33rd parallel of north latitude was made into a territory under the style of the Territory of Orleans. The remainder of the territory was denominated the District of Louisiana, and was attached for the purposes of government to the territory of Indiana. The authority of the governor of the territory of Indiana was caused to extend over the new district. A legislative body was provided for the district of Louisiana which was to consist of the three judges of the territory of Indiana. They were clothed with authority to make all needful laws for the government of the people within the district. They were also empowered to hold two terms of court each year within Louisiana. The governor of Indiana, who was thus made governor of the new district, was Wil- liam Henry Harrison. The three .judges in whose hands was placed the legislative power were Thomas Davis, Henry Vandenburg and John Griffin, who proceeded to make laws for the district. They accepted substantially the division of territory which had been in use by the Spanish. There was a lieutenant gov- ernor at the posts of St. Louis, New IMadrid, St. Charles, Ste. Genevieve, and Cape Girai-- 147