Territory to remain for ARTICLE 4. The said territory, and the states which may be formed therein, ever part of shall forever remain a part of this confederacy of the United States of confedera cy. Federal debts. Taxes. America, subject to the articles of confederation, and to such alterations therein as shall be constitutionally made, and to all the acts and ordinances of the United States in congress assembled conformable thereto. The inhabitants and settlers in the said territory, shall be subject to pay a part of the federal debts, contracted, or to be contracted, and a proportional part of the expenses of government, to be apportioned on them by congress, according to the same common rule and measure by which apportionments thereof shall be made on the other states; and the taxes for paying their proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the district or districts, or new states, as in the original states, within the time agreed upon by the United States in congress assembled. Primary dis. The legislatures of those districts, or new states, shall never interfere posal of soil with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States in congress assembled, nor with any regulations congress may find necessary for securing the title in such soil to the bona fide purchasers. No tax shall be imposed on lands, the property of the United States; and in no case shall non-resident proprietors be taxed higher than residents. The navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same, shall be common highways, and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said territory as to the citizens of the United States, and those of any other states that may be admitted into the confederacy, without any tax, impost, or duty therefor. to be by congress U. S. lands not to be taxed. Navigable waters. States, how to be formed tory. western state. ARTICLE 5. There shall be formed in the said territory not less than three, nor in the terri- more than five states, and the boundaries of the states, as soon as Virginia shall alter her act of cession and consent to the same, shall Boundary of become fixed and established, as follows, to wit: The western state in the said territory shall be bounded by the Mississippi, the Ohio, and Wabash rivers; a direct line drawn from the Wabash and Post Vincents, due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada, and by the said territorial line to the Lake of the Middle state. Woods and Mississippi. The middle state shall be bounded by the said direct line, the Wabash, from Post Vincents to the Ohio, by the Ohio by a direct line due north from the mouth of the Great Miami to the said territorial line. The eastern state shall be bounded by the last mentioned direct line, the Ohio, Pennsylvania and the said territorial line. Provided, however, and it is further understood and declared, that the boundaries of these three states shall be subject so far to be altered, that if congress shall hereafter find it expedient, they shall have authority to form one or two states in that part of the said territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through States when the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan. And whenever ted into the any of the said states shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, such state shall be admitted by its delegates, into the congress of the United States on an equal footing with the original states in all respects whatever, and shall be at liberty to form a permanent Eastern state. to be admit Union. constitution and state government. Provided, The constitution and Proviso. government so to be formed shall be republican, and in conformity to the principles contained in these articles, and so far as it can be con. sistent with the general interest of the confederacy, such admission shall be allowed at an earlier period, and when there may be a less number of free inhabitants in the state than sixty thousand. ARTICLE 6. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the Slavery prosaid territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof hibited. the party shall have been duly convicted. Provided always, That Proviso. any person escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original states, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid. Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That the resolutions Resolutions of the twenty-third of April, one thousand seven hundred and eighty- repealed. four, relative to the subject of this ordinance, be and the same are hereby repealed, and declared null and void. Done by the United States, in congress assembled, the thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of their sovereignty and independence the twelfth. WILLIAM GRAYSON, Chairman. CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary. AN ACT to provide for the Government of the Territory northwest of the river Ohio. Approved Aug. 17, 1789. Whereas, In order that the ordinance of the United States in con- Preamble. gress assembled, for the government of the territory northwest of the river Ohio may continue to have full effect, it is requisite that certain provisions should be made so as to adapt the same to the present constitution of the United States: make com of U. S. $1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives Governor to of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That munication in all cases in which by the said ordinance any information is to be to president given, or communication made by the governor of the said territory to the United States in congress assembled, or to any of their officers, it shall be the duty of the said governor to give such information, and to make such communication to the president of the United States; and the president shall nominate and by and with the ad- President vice and consent of the senate shall appoint all officers which by the and sente said ordinance were to have been appointed by the United States in officers. congress assembled, and all officers so appointed shall be commission- President to ed by him, and in all cases where the United States in congress as- commission sembled, might by the said ordinance revoke any commission or remove from any office, the president is hereby declared to have the same power of revocation and removal. to appoint and remove. $2. And be it further enacted, That in case of the death, remo- In cases of val, resignation, or necessary absence of the governor of the said ter- death, &c. ritory, the secretary thereof shall be and he is hereby authorized and exercisecer secretary to of governor. Lain powers required to execute all the powers and perform all the duties of the governor during the vacancy occasioned by the removal, resignation or necessary absence of the said governor. Governor and judges AN ACT respecting the government of the Territories of the United States northwest and south of the river Ohio. Approved May 8, 1792. (Section 1st omitted.) $2. And be it further enacted, That the governor and judges of may repeal the territory northwest of the river Ohio shall be and hereby are authorized to repeal their laws by them made, whenever the same may be found to be improper. their own acts. Duties of secretaries subject to territorial laws. One judge may hold court. Seals for public offi. ces. Government of Indiana. $3. And be it further enacted, That the official duties of the secretaries of the said territories shall be under the control of such laws as are or may be in force in the said territories. $4. And be it further enacted, That any one of the supreme or superior judges of the said territories, in the absence of the other judges, shall be and hereby is authorized to hold a court. $5. And be it further enacted, That the secretary of state provide proper seals for the several and respective public offices in the said territories. AN ACT to divide the Territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio into two separate governments. Approved May 7, 1800. [S 1. The Indian territory constituted, and its boundaries defined, and includes therein the Michigan territory.] $2. And be it further enacted, That there shall be established within the said territory a government in all respects similar to that provided by the ordinance of congress, passed on the 13th day of July one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio; Rights of the and the inhabitants thereof shall be entitled to, and enjoy all and singular the rights, privileges and advantages granted and secured to the people by the said ordinance. people. Ordinances and laws of U. 8. to ap ply to terri torial officers. $3. And be it further enacted, That the officers for the said territory, who by virtue of this act shall be appointed by the president of the United States by and with the advice and consent of the senate, shall respectively exercise the same powers, perform the same duties and receive for their services the same compensations, as by the ordinance aforesaid, and the laws of the United States northwest of the river Ohio; and the duties and emoluments of superintendent made Indian of Indian affairs shall be united with those of governor. Provided, In recess of that the president of the United States shall have full power in the president to recess of congress to appoint and commission all officers herein auappoint offi- thorized, and their commissions shall continue in force until the end cers. of the next session of congress. Governor agent. congress General as. sembly as by ordi. cept, &c. 4. And be it further enacted, That so much of the ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of nance, ex- the Ohio river as relates to the organization of a general assembly therein, and prescribes the powers thereof, shall be in force and operate in the Indiana territory whenever satisfactory evidence shall be of nine and given to the governor thereof that such is the wish of a majority of the freeholders, notwithstanding there may not be therein five thousand free male inhabitants of the age of twenty-one years and upwards: Provided, That until there shall be five thousand free male May consist inhabitants of the age of twenty-one years and upwards in said terri- not less than tory, the whole number of representatives to the general assembly seven. shall not be less than seven nor more than nine, to be apportioned by the governor to the several counties in said territory agreeably to the number of free males of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, which they may respectively contain. An ACT to divide the Indiana Territory into two separate governments. Approved January 11, 1805. $1. Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives Michigan, its of the United States in Congress assembled, That from and after boundaries. the thirtieth day of June next, all that part of the Indiana territory which lies north of a line drawn east of a southerly bend or extreme of lake Michigan, until it shall intersect lake Erie, and east of a line drawn from the said southerly bend through the middle of said lake to its northern extremity, and thence due north to the northern boundary of the United States, shall for the purposes of temporary government constitute a separate territory, and be called Michigan. ment. $2. And be it further enacted, That there shall be established Its governwithin the said territory a government in all respects similar to that provided by the ordinance of congress, passed on the thirteenth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, for the government of the territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio; and by an act passed on the seventh day of August, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine, entitled "An act to provide for the government of the territory northwest of the river Ohio;" and the inhabitants thereof shall be entitled to, and enjoy all and singular, Rights of the the rights, privileges and advantages granted and secured to the people of the territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio, by the said ordinance. people. and laws of dians, how to apply. $3. And be it further enacted, That the officers for the said ter- Ordinances ritory, who, by virtue of this act shall be appointed by the president U S. for Inof the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, shall respectively exercise the same powers, and perform the same duties, and receive for their services the same compensations, as by the ordinance aforesaid, and the laws of the United States, have been provided and established for similar officers in the Indiana territory, and the duties and emoluments of superintendent of Indian affairs Gover Indinn agent. shall be united with those of governor. of Indiana ercised. $4. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act contained Government shall be construed so as in any manner to affect the government not to be exnow in force in the Indiana territory, further than to prohibit the exercise thereof within the said territory of Michigan, from and after the aforesaid thirtieth day of June next. ing, June 30, $5. And be it further enacted, That all suits, process, and proceed- Suits pend ings, which on the thirtieth day of June next, shall be pending in 1805, how the court of any county which shall be included in the said territory disposed of. Detroit, the seat of go. vernment. Boundaries of Michigan, and also, all suits, process and proceedings, which, on the said thirtieth day of June next, shall be pending in the general court of the Indiana territory, in consequence of any writ of removal, or order for trial at bar, and which had been removed from any of the counties included within the limits of the territory of Michigan aforesaid, shall, in all things concerning the same, be proceeded on, and judgments and decrees rendered thereon in the same manner as if the said Indiana territory had remained undivided. $6. And be it further enacted, That Detroit shall be the seat of government of the said territory until congress shall otherwise direct. AN ACT to enable the people of the Illinois territory to form a Constitution and State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union, on an equal footing with the original States. Approved April 18, 1818. (Section 1st omitted.) $2. And be it further enacted, That the said state shall consist of Illinois. of all the territory included within the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the mouth of the Wabash river, thence up the same, and with the line of Indiana, to the northwest corner of said state; thence east, with the line of the same state to the middle of lake Michigan; thence north along the middle of said lake to north latitude forty-two degrees and thirty minutes; thence west to the middle of the Mississippi river, and thence down along the middle of that river, to its confluence with the Ohio river, and thence up the latter river along its north western shore, to the beginning. Territory in Indiana (Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6, omitted.) $7. And be it further enacted, That all that part of the territory not included of the United States lying north of the state of Indiana, and which and Illinois, was included in the former Indiana territory, together with that part Mich of the Illinois territory, which is situated north of, and not included Michigan. What country shall constitute within the boundaries prescribed by this act, to the state thereby AN ACT establishing the Territorial Government of $1. Be it enacted, by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled, That the Wiscon from and after the third day of July next, the country included sin territory within the following boundaries shall constitute a separate territory, for the purpose of temporary government, by the name of Wisconsin; that is to say: Bounded on the east, by a line drawn from the northeast corner of the state of Illinois, through the middle of Lake |