Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 3.djvu/508



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the judicial power of the judges of the Alabama territory, appointed, or hereafter to be appointed, under the authority of the government of the United States, shall extend as well to any other county or counties which have been or may be, found [formed] within the limits of said territory, as to those which are specially mentioned and named in the act, entitled “,” approved March the third, one thousand eight hundred and seventeen. And that in such county or counties, superior courts shall be holden by said judged in the like manner and with the like powers and jurisdiction, as the superior courts are now directed by law to be holden in the counties specially mentioned, as aforesaid, in the act aforesaid. And the powers of the general court of the said territory shall extend to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction: And their judgments or decrees in such cases shall be subject to appeals to the supreme court of the United States, in like manner, and upon the like terms, as appeals in similar cases are allowed and prosecuted from the judgments or decrees of the circuit courts of the United States.

. And be it further enacted, That the legislature of the said territory shall have power to appoint, change, and regulate, the times and places of holding the superior courts in each of the counties of said territory, and also to prescribe the number of terms to be holden in each county: Provided, They do not exceed two annually.

. And be it further enacted, That so much of the said, as provides “that no judge shall sit more than twice in succession in the same court,” be and the same is hereby, repealed.

. And be it further enacted, That the secretary of the said territory, judges, members of the legislative council, members of the House of Representatives, justices of the peace, and all other officers, civil and military, who may not have taken an oath of office, shall, before they enter on the duties of their respective offices, take an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States, and for the faithful discharge of the duties of their office; which oath or affirmation shall be taken before the governor of the said territory, or such person as he shall appoint and direct.

April 20, 1818.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the trustees of the town of Vincennes shall have power and they are hereby authorized to examine and adjust all claims to lots in the town of Vincennes; and if, upon an accurate survey, it shall be found that there are lots within the precincts of the town to which no individual claims can be substantiated, the same are hereby granted to the inhabitants thereof, to be sold by the trustees, and the money arising from the same to be applied to such public