Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 2.djvu/358



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the Untied States be, and he is hereby authorized to establish within the territory of Orleans, a government in all respects similar, (except as is herein otherwise provided,) to that now exercised in the Mississippi territory; and shall, in the recess of the Senate, but to be nominated at their next meeting, for their advice and consent, appoint all the officers necessary therein, in conformity with the, and that from and after the establishment of the said government, the inhabitants of the territory of Orleans shall be entitled to and enjoy all the rights, privileges, and advantages secured by the said ordinance, and now enjoyed by the people of the Mississippi territory.

. And be it further enacted, That so much of the said ordinance of Congress, as related to the organization of a general assembly, and prescribes the powers thereof, shall, from and after the fourth day of July next, be in force in the said territory of Orleans; and in order to carry the same into operation, the governor of the said territory shall cause to be elected twenty-five representatives, for which purpose he shall lay off the said territory into convenient election districts, on or before the first Monday of October next, and give due notice thereof throughout the same; and shall appoint the most convenient time and place within each of the said districts, for holding the elections: and shall nominate a proper officer or officers to preside at and conduct the same, and to return to him the names of the persons who may have been duly elected. All subsequent elections shall be regulated by the legislature; and the number of representatives shall be determined, and the apportionment made in the manner prescribed by the said ordinance.

. And be it further enacted, That the representatives to be chosen as aforesaid shall be convened by the governor, in the city of Orleans, on the first Monday in November next; and the first general assembly shall be convened by the governor as soon as may be convenient, at the city of Orleans, after the members of the legislative council shall be appointed and commissioned: and the general assembly shall meet, at least, once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, annually, unless they shall, by law, appoint a different day. Neither house, during the session, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two branches are sitting.

. And be it further enacted, That the laws in force in the said territory, at the commencement of this act, and not inconsistent with the provisions thereof, shall continue in force, until altered, modified, or repealed by the legislature.

. And be it further enacted, That the second paragraph of the said ordinance, which regulates the descent and distribution of estates; and also the sixth article of compact which is annexed to, and makes part of said ordinance, are hereby declared not to extend to, but are excluded from all operation within the said territory of Orleans.

. And be it further enacted, That the governor, secretary, and judges, to be appointed by virtue of this act, shall be severally allowed the same compensation which is now allowed to the governor, secretary, and judges, of the territory of Orleans. And all the additional officers authorized by this act, shall respectively receive the same compensations for their services, as are by law established for similar offices in the Mississippi territory, to be paid quarter yearly out of the revenues of impost and tonnage, accruing within the said territory of Orleans.