THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS. Sess. H. Ch. 90. 1853. 173 the name of the Territory of Washingtmi : Provided, That nothingin this P*9"i¤° M *° act contained shall be construed to afect the authority of the government ?g;h§’QgS?fUm` of the United States to make any regulation respecting the Indians of said Territory, their lands, property, or other rights, by treaty, law, or otherwise, which it; would have been competent to the government to make if this act had never been passed: Provided further, That the title to the land, not ex- , Y'°Vi*° 9* *·° ceeding six hundred and forty acres, now occupied as missionary stations m°® mr among the Indian tribes in said Territory, or that may have been so occupied as missionary stations prior to the passage of the act establishing the Territorial government of Oregon, together with the improvements thereon, be, and is hereby, confirmed and established to the several religious societies to which said missionary stations respectively belong. Sec. 2. And be itfurtfuar enacted, That the executive power and au- Executive thority in and over said Territory of Washington shall be vested in a. @;‘£‘:‘f‘?: :0 O3? governor, who shall hold his office for four years, and until his successor mm-. g shall be appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States. The governor shall reside in said Territory, shall His P°W°¤*· be the commander-in-chief of the militia thereof, shall perform the duties and receive the emoluments of Superintendent of Indian afairs; he may grant pardons and remit fines and forfeitures for offences against the laws of said Territory, and respites for oiicnces against the laws of the United States until the decision of the President can be made known thereon; he shall commissiomall officers who shall be appointed to office under the laws of the said Territory, where, by law, such commissions shall be required, and shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. S20. 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall be a. Secretary of S°‘2*`°&’5`Y *°b° said Territory, who shall reside therein, and hold his office for four °’pP°m ' years, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States ; he shall record and preserve all the laws and proceedings of the Legislative His duties. Assembly hereinafter constituted, and all the acts and proceedings of the Governor in his Executive department; he shall transmit one copy of the laws and journals of the Legislative Assembly within thirty days after the end of each session, and one copy of the executive proceedings and official correspondence semi-annually, on the first days of January and July in each year, to the President of the United States, and two copies of the laws to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, for the use of Coniress. And in case of In certain cuss the death, removal, resignation, or absence of the Governor from the fZ”_i"°" ‘“ $°“" Territory, the Secretary shall be, and he is hereby, authorized and required to execute and perform all the powers and duties of the Governor during such vacancy or absence, or until another Governor shall be duly appointed and qualified to fill such vacancy. _ _ Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the Legislative power and mI;§fl”*"° A°· authority of said Territory shall be vested in a. Legislative Assembly, y' which shall consist of a. Council and House of Representatives. The Council. Council shall consist of nine members, having the qualifications of voters, as hereinafter prescribed, whose term of service shall continue three years. Immediately after they shall be assembled, in consequence of their nrst election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the members of Council of the first class, shall be vacated at the expiration of the first year, of the second class at the expiration of the second year, and of the third class at the expiration of the third year, so that one third may be chosen every year; and if vacancies happen, by resignation or otherwise, the same shall be Blled at the next ensuing election. The House of Representatives shall, at its first ses- Representatives. sion, consist of eighteen members, possessing the same qualifications as prescribed for members of the Council, and whose term of service shall continue one year. The number of representatives may be increased by the Legislative Assembly, from time to time, in proportion to the increase
