Chapter XLI. *to divide the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio, into two separate governments.*(*a*)(*a*) Act of May 1, 1802, chap. 44; act of April 30, 1802. chap. 40
825 words·~4 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-2/chapter-xli-252261·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Chap. XLI.— An Act *to divide the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio, into two separate governments.*(*a*)(*a*) Act of May 1, 1802, chap. 44; act of April 30, 1802. chap. 40.May 7, 1800. Section 1. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* Act of Feb. 27, 1809, ch. 19.Boundary and name of the new territory.That from and after the fourth day of July next, all that part of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river, which lies to the westward of a line beginning at the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of Kentucky river, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and Canada, 59 SIXTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 41. 1800. shall, for the purposes of temporary government, constitute a separate territory, and be called the Indiana Territory. Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That there shall be establishedForm of government and privileges of the inhabitants. within 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 the inhabitants thereof shall be entitled to, and enjoy all and singularVol. i. 51. the rights, privileges and advantages granted and secured to the people by the said ordinance.
Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted,* That the officers for the said territory,Powers, duties, and compensation of the officers. 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, have been provided and established for similar officers in the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio.
And the duties and emoluments of superintendent of Indian affairs shall be united with those of governor: *Provided,* that the President of the United States shall have full power,Commissions may be issued in the recess. in the recess of Congress, to appoint and commission all officers herein authorized; and their commissions shall continue in force until the end of the next session of Congress. Sec. 4. *And be it further enacted,* That so much of the ordinanceOrganization of a general assembly. for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river, as relates to the organization of a genera! assembly therein, and prescribes the powers thereof, shall be in force and operate in the Indiana territory, whenever satisfactory evidence shall be 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 shah be five thousand free male inhabitants of twenty-one years and upwards in said territory, the whole number of representatives to the general assembly shall not be less than seven, nor more than nine, to be apportioned by the governor to the several counties in the said territory, agreeably to the number of free males of the age of twenty-one years and upwards which they may respectively contain.
Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted,* That nothing in this act containedConstruction of this act with respect to the government of the new territory. shall be construed so as in any manner to affect the government now in force in the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river, further than to prohibit the exercise thereof within the Indiana territory, from and after the aforesaid fourth day of July next: *Provided,* that whenever that part of the territory of the United States which lies to theEventual change of the boundary. eastward of a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami river, and running thence due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada, shall be erected into an independent state, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original states, thenceforth said line shall become and remain permanently the boundary line between such state and the Indiana territory; any thing in this act contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
Sec. 6. *And be it further enacted,* That until it shall be otherwiseSeats of the two governments. ordered by the legislatures of the said territories respectively, Chilicothe, on Scioto river, shall be the seat of the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio river; and that Saint Vincennes, on the Wabash river, shall be the seat of the government for the Indiana territory. Approved, May 7, 1800.