The Governor shall convene and prorogue the Legislative Council, whenever he may deem it expedient. It shall be his duty to obtain all the information in his power, in relation to the customs, habits, and dispositions of the inhabitants of the said territory, and communicate the same, from time to time, to the President of the United States.

SECT. 5. The judicial power shall be vested in a Superior Court, and in such Inferior Courts, and Justices of the Peace, as the Legislature of the territory may, from time to time, establish. The Judges of the Superior Court, and the Justices of the Peace, shall hold their offices for the term of four years. The Superior Court shall consist of three Judges, any one of whom shall constitute a Court; they shall have jurisdiction in all criminal cases, and exclusive jurisdiction in all those which are capital; and original and appellate jurisdiction in all civil cases of the value of one hundred dollars. Its sessions shall commence on the first Monday of every month, and continue till all the business depending before them shall be disposed of. They shall appoint their own Clerk. In all criminal prosecutions which are capital, the trial shall be by a jury of 12 good and lawful men of the vicinage; and in all cases, criminal and civil, in the Superior Court, the trial shall be by a jury, if either of the parties require it. The inhabitants of the said territory shall be entitled to the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus, they shall be bailable, unless for capital offences, where the proof shall be evident, or the presumption great; and no cruel and unusual punishments shall be inflicted.

SECT. 6. The Governor, Secretary, Judges, district Attorney, Marshal, and all general officers of the mili tia, shall be appointed by the President of the United States, in the recess of the Senate, but shall be nominat • ed at their next meeting for their advice and consent.The Governor, Secretary, Judges, members of the Legislative Council, Justices of the Peace, all other officers, civil, and of the militia, before they enter upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take an oath or af

fir

firmation to the support of the Constitution of the United States, and for the faithful discharge of the duties of their office; the Governor, before the President of the United States, or before a judge of the Supreme or district Court of the United States, or before such other person as the President of the United States shall authorize to administer the same; the Secretary, Judg es, and members of the Legislative Council, before the Governor; and all other officers, before such persons as the Governor shall direct. The Governor shall receive an annual salary of 5000 dollars; the Secretary, of 2000 dollars; and the Judges, of 2000 dollars each; to be paid quarter-yearly out of the revenues of impost and tonnage, accruing within the said territory. The members of the Legislative Council shall receive four dollars each per day, during their attendance in Coun

cil.

SECT. 7. And be it further enacted, That the following Acts, that is to say:

An Act for the punishment of certain crimes against

the United States.

An Act, in addition to an act, for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States.

An Act to prevent citizens of the United States from privateering against nations in amity with, or against citizens of the United States.

An Act for the punishment of certain crimes therein specified.

An Act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their masters.

An Act to prohibit carrying on the slave trade from the United States to any foreign place or country.

An Act to prevent the importation of certain persons into certain States, where by the laws thereof, their admission is prohibited.

An Act to establish the Post-Office of the United States.

An Act further to alter and establish certain post roads, and for the more secure carriage of the mail of the United States

An

An Act for the more general promulgation of the laws of the United States.

An Act, in addition to an Act, entitled, an Act for the more general promulgation of the laws of the Unit.ed States.

An Act to promote the progress of useful Arts, and to repeal the Act heretofore made for that purpose.

An Act to extend the privilege of obtaining patents for useful discoveries and inventions to certain persons therein mentioned, and to enlarge and define the penalties for violating the rights of patentees.

An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the time therein mentioned.

An Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled, an Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints.

An Act providing for salvage in cases of recapture. An Act respecting alien enemies.

An Act to prescribe the mode in which the public Act, Records, and judicial proceedings in each State shall be authenticated, so as to take effect in every other State.

An Act for establishing trading houses with the Indian tribes.

An Act for continuing in force a law, entitled, an Act for establishing trading houses with the Indian tribes.And,

An Act making provision relative to rations for Indians, and to their visits to the seat of government-shall extend to, and have full force and effect in the above mentioned territories.

SECT. 8. There shall be established in the said territory a District Court, to consist of one Judge, who shall reside therein, and be called the District Judge, and who

Q 2

shall

shall hold in the city of Orleans, four sessions annually; the first to commence on the 3d Monday in October next, and the three other sessions, progressively, on the 3d Monday of every 3d calender month thereafter. He shall in all things have and exercise the same jurisdiction and powers, which are by law given to, or may be exercised by the Judge of Kentucky district; and shall be allowed an annual compensation of 2000 dollars, to be paid quarter-yearly out of the revenues of impost and tonnage accruing within the said territory. He shall appoint a Clerk for the said district, who shall reside, and keep the records of the Court, in the City of Orleans, and shall receive for the services performed by him, the same fees to which the Clerk of Kentucky district is entitled for similar services.

There shall be appointed in the said district, a person learned in the law, to act as Attorney for the United States, who shall, in addition to his stated fees, be paid 600 dollars, annually, as a full compensation for all extra services. There shall also be appointed a Marshal for the said district, who shall perform the same duties, be subject to the same regulations and penalties, and be entitled to the same fees to which Marshals in other districts are entitled for similar services; and shall moreover be paid 200 dollars, annually, as a compensation for all extra services.

SECT. 9. All free male white persons, who are housekeepers, and who shall have resided one year, at least, in the said territory, shall be qualified to serve as grand or petit jurors in the Courts of the said territory; and they shall, until the Legislature thereof shall otherwise direct, be selected in such manner as the judges of the said Courts, respectively shall prescribe, so as to be most conducive to an impartial trial, and to be least burthensome to the inhabitants of the said territory.

SECT. 10. It shall not be lawful for any person or persons to import or bring into the said territory, from any port or place without the limits of the United States, or cause or procure to be so imported or brought, or knowingly to aid or assist in so importing or bringing

any

any slave or slaves. And every person so offending, and being thereof convicted before any Court within said territory, having competent jurisdiction, shall forfeit and pay for each and every slave so imported or brought, the sum of 300 dollars; one moiety for the use of the United States, and the other moiety for the use of the person or persons who shall sue for the same; and every slave so imported or brought, shall thereupon become entitled to, and receive his or her freedom.

It shall not be lawful for any person or persons to import or bring into the said territory, from any port or place within the limits of the United States, or to cause or procure to be so imported or brought, or knowingly to aid or assist in so importing or bringing any slave or slaves, which shall have been imported since the first day of May, 1798, into any port or place within the limits of the United States; or which may hereafter be so imported, from any port or place without the limits of the United States; and every person so offending, and being thereof convicted before any Court within said territory, having competent jurisdiction, shall forfeit and pay for each and every slave so imported or brought, the sum of 300 dollars, one moiety for the use of the United States, and the other moiety for the use of the person or persons who shall sue for the same; and no slave or slaves shall directly or indirectly be introduced into said territory, except by a citizen of the United States, removing into said territory for actual settlement, and being at the time of such removal bona fide owner of such slave or slaves; and every slave imported or brought into the said territory, contrary to the provisions of this Act, shall thereupon entitled to, and receive his or her freedom.

SECT. 11. 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.

SECT. 12. The residue of the Province of Louisiana, ceded to the United States, shall be called The District of Louisiana, the government whereof shall be organized and administered as follows: