United States Statutes at Large/Volume 1/2nd Congress/1st Session/Chapter 42
Chap. XLII.—An Act respecting the government of the territories of the United States northwest and south of the river Ohio.
Laws of northwestern territory how to be published, distributed, &c.
1789, ch. 8.Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the laws of the territory northwest of the river Ohio, that have been or hereafter may be enacted by the governor and judges thereof, shall be printed under the direction of the Secretary of State, and two hundred copies thereof, together with ten sets of the laws of the United States, shall be delivered to the said governor and judges, to be distributed among the inhabitants for their information, and that a like number of the laws of the United States shall be delivered to the governor and judges of the territory southwest of the river Ohio.
Power of Governor and Judges herein.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the governor and judges of the territory northwest of the river Ohio shall be, and hereby are authorized to repeal their laws by them made, whensoever the same may be found to be improper.
Power of the secretaries.Sec. 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.
One supreme judge may hold court.Sec. 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.
Seals by whom provided.Sec. 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.
The limitation act passed by the governor and judges disapproved.
Certain expenses allowed to John C. Symmes, &c.Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the limitation act, passed by the governor and judges of the said territory, the twenty-eighth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, be and hereby is disapproved.
Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That the expenses incurred by John Cleves Symmes and George Turner, two of the judges of the said territory, in sending an express, and in purchasing a boat to go the circuit, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, shall be liquidated by the officers of the treasury, and paid out of the treasury of the United States.
Approved, May 8, 1792.