Minnesota. All this region had been ceded by the the Federal government, to be administered in the i the whole people. Articles I, II, III, and VI of section, by which prospective settlers were guaranteed measure of religious and civil liberty, deserve attentiv NORTHWEST ORDINANCE, 1787 An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory o Section 1. Be it ordained by the United States in C sembled, That the said territory, for the purposes of government, be one district, subject, however, to be d two districts, as future circumstances may, in the opini gress, make it expedient. Section 2. Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid estates both of resident and non-resident proprietors i territory, dying intestate, shall descend to, and be distribu their children and the descendants of a deceased child in the descendants of a deceased child or grandchild to tak of their deceased parent in equal parts among them: there shall be no children or descendants, then in equal 1 next of kin, in equal degree; and among collaterals, the a deceased brother or sister of the intestate shall have, in among them, their deceased parent's share; and there case, be a distinction between kindred of the whole and saving in all cases to the widow of the intestate her th 1 Revised Statutes of the United States, pp. 13-16. Second Edition. 1878. proved, and such conveyances be acknowledged, or the ex thereof duly proved, and be recorded within one year after magistrates, courts, and registers shall be appointed for that p and personal property may be transferred by delivery, saving ever, to the French and Canadian inhabitants, and other sett the Kaskaskies, Saint Vincents, and the neighboring villages have heretofore professed themselves citizens of Virginia, thei and customs now in force among them, relative to the descen conveyance of property. Section 3. Be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, That shall be appointed from time to time, by Congress, a governor, v commission shall continue in force for the term of three years, u sooner revoked by Congress; he shall reside in the district and a freehold estate therein in one thousand acres of land, while in exercise of his office. Section 4. There shall be appointed from time to time, by gress, a secretary, whose commission shall continue in force for years, unless sooner revoked; he shall reside in the district have a freehold estate therein in five hundred acres of land, whil the exercise of his office. It shall be his duty to keep and prese the acts and laws passed by the legislature, and the public records the district, and the proceedings of the governor in his execut department, and transmit authentic copies of such acts and p ceedings every six months to the Secretary of Congress. The shall also be appointed a court, to consist of three judges, any t of whom to form a court, who shall have a common-law jurisdictio and reside in the district, and have each therein a freehold esta in five hundred acres of land, while in the exercise of their office and their commissions shall continue in force during good behavio Section 5. The governor and judges, or a majority of them, sha Lates in the in writing, be (being tes may be ned, sealed, the estate Ells be duly fter proper ›, by Conce for four strict and 1, while in 1 preserve records of executive and pro;. There any two isdiction, ld estate r offices; ehavior. em, shall to time, which laws shall be in force in the dis zation of the general assembly therein, unles Congress; but afterwards the legislature sha alter them as they shall think fit. Section 6. The governor, for the time being in-chief of the militia, appoint and commission below the rank of general officers; all general pointed and commissioned by Congress. Section 7. Previous to the organization of the governor shall appoint such magistrates ar in each county or township, as he shall find n ervation of the peace and good order in the san assembly shall be organized, the powers and and other civil officers shall be regulated and assembly; but all magistrates and other civi otherwise directed, shall, during the continuar government, be appointed by the governor. Section 8. For the prevention of crimes a to be adopted or made shall have force in all and for the execution of process, criminal an shall make proper divisions thereof; and he time to time, as circumstances may require, to the district in which the Indian titles shall hay into counties and townships, subject, however as may thereafter be made by the legislature. Section 9. So soon as there shall be five th habitants, of full age, in the district, upon gi the governor, they shall receive authority, w to elect representatives from their counties or sent them in the general assembly: provided hundred free male inhabitants there shall be on so on, progressively, with the number of free m the right of representation increase, until the n tives shall amount to twenty-five; after which portion of representatives shall be regulated provided that no person be eligible or qualifi sentative, unless he shall have been a citizen removal from office, the governor shall issue a writ to the c or township for which he was a member, to elect another i stead to serve for the residue of the term. Section 11. The general assembly, or legislature, shall cons the governor, legislative council, and a house of representa The legislative council shall consist of five members, to contin office five years, unless sooner removed by Congress; any thr whom to be a quorum; and the members of the council sha nominated and appointed in the following manner, to wit: As as representatives shall be elected, the governor shall appoi time and place for them to meet together, and when met they nominate ten persons, residents in the district, and each poss of a freehold in five hundred acres of land, and return their n to Congress, five of whom Congress shall appoint and commi to serve as aforesaid: and whenever a vacancy shall happen in council, by death or removal from office, the house of representa shall nominate two persons, qualified as aforesaid, for each vaca and return their names to Congress, one of whom Congress appoint and commission for the residue of the term; and every years, four months at least before the expiration of the time of ser of the members of [the] council, the said house shall nominate ten sons, qualified as aforesaid, and return their names to Congress, fiv whom Congress shall appoint and commission to serve as mem of the council five years, unless sooner removed. And the gover legislative council, and house of representatives shall have autho to make laws in all cases for the good government of the dist not repugnant to the principles and articles in this ordinance es lished and declared. And all bills, having passed by a majo in the house and by a majority in the council, shall be referred the governor for his assent; but no bill, or legislative act whate ballot, to elect a delegate to Congress, who san пave a seat gress, with a right of debating, but not of voting, during this rary government. Section 13. And for extending the fundamental princip civil and religious liberty, which form the basis whereon th publics, their laws and constitutions, are erected; to fix a tablish those principles as the basis of all laws, constitution governments, which forever hereafter shall be formed in t territory; to provide, also, for the establishment of state permanent government therein, and for their admission to a in the federal councils on an equal footing with the original at as early periods as may be consistent with the general inter Section 14. It is hereby ordained and declared, by the au aforesaid, that the following articles shall be considered as of compact between the original states and the people and in the said territory, and forever remain unalterable, unless b mon consent, to wit: ARTICLE I No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly n shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship, or r sentiments, in the said territories. ARTICLE II The inhabitants of the said territory shall always be enti the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus and of the trial by ju a proportionate representation of the people in the legislatu of judicial proceedings according to the course of common lay persons shall be bailable, unless for capital offenses where the shall be evident or the presumption great. All fines shall be ate; and no cruel or unusual punishments shall be inflicte |