the people, who draws the same pay as a member of the House of Representatives and sits therein. He may (and does on the Public Lands, Mines, and Indian) serve on committees, and can speak, but cannot vote. These Territorial governments, under an act of incorporation, are custodians on behalf of the United States of certain functions of government to be used for the benefit of persons or citizens within certain definite geographical divisions. These governments are or can be altered, abolished, reduced, or the Territory transferred by the United States at the pleasure of Congress. THE TERRITORIES. Existing laws relating to the several Territories of the United States are to be found under Title XXIII, "The Territories," chap. I, secs. 1839 to 1895, Revised Statutes, and Supplements to the Revised Statutes, and in the Statutes at Large since 1878. Chapter II of the above title relates to provisions concerning particular organized Territories; secs. 1896 to 1953, and see Supplements and Statutes at Large since 1878. Chapter III of the above title relates to Alaska; secs. 1954 to 1976, and Statutes at Large since 1878. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. Until 1871 the government of the District of Columbia was of the ordinary municipal character, resting upon charters granted by Congress, from time to time, to the cities of Washington and Georgetown. These charters continued in force until June 1, 1871, when they were repealed by an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide a government for the District of Columbia," approved February 21, 1871. This act created a territorial government for the District, vesting the executive power and authority in a governor and secretary (appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate), and a legislative assembly, consisting of a council and house of delegates; providing for the appointment of a board of public works; and authorizing the election of a Delegate to represent the District in Congress. The Territorial government thus established was in its turn abolished by the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An act for the government of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes," approved June 20, 1874. This act provided for the appointment by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, of a Board of Commissioners, three in number; that such board should "exercise all the power and authority now lawfully vested in the governor and board of public works" of the District of Columbia, with certain unimportant limitations; and limited the representation in Congress to the term of the then incumbent. Since June 20, 1874, the government of the District of Columbia has accordingly been administered by a Board of Commissioners, appointed by the President, in pursuance of the act of Congress of that date. NORTHERN TERRITORY. [Messages and Papers of the Presidents, vol. 10, page 510.] "The portion of the United States known in history as the Northwest Territory comprised all the country lying between the Ohio River, the Mississippi River, and the Great Lakes immediately west of the original States, and now forming the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The original States severally laid claim to this territory by their charters, which granted possession from ocean to ocean. New York ceded her claims to this region to the General Government in 1782, and was followed by Virginia in 1784, Massachusetts in 1785, and Connecticut in 1786. The latter State, however, retained a small tract as the foundation for her school fund. This became known as the Western Reserve. Congress, in July, 1787, passed an ordinance for the government of this territory, and to the wise measures incorporated into that law the States formed from the territory are indebted for much that is wise and judicious in their constitutions. It is claimed by some that the foundations for future national greatness were laid by the manner in which Congress dealt with the question of territorial government at this time. A clause forbidding slavery after 1800 was at first voted down, but afterwards was adopted. The ordinance provided that no land should be taken up until it had been purchased from the Indians and offered for sale by the United States; no property qualification was to be required of electors or elected; a temporary government might be established until the male population of the territory reached 5,000, then a permanent representative government would be permitted, with a Representative in Congress entitled to debate but not to vote. When the inhabitants of any one of the five divisions of the territory reached 60,000 it should be admitted as a State, these States to remain forever a part of the United States, pay their portion of the Federal debt, and in their government uphold republican forms and prohibit slavery; but fugitive slaves were to be surrendered. Arthur St. Clair was governor from 1788 to 1802.” NORTHWESTERN BOUNDARY. [Messages and Papers of the Presidents, vol. 10, page 510.] "The territory bounded on the north by latitude 54° 40', on the east by the Rocky Mountains, on the south by latitude 42°, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean, has been variously claimed by Russia, Spain, Great Britain, and the United States. Russia's claim rested for the most part upon occupation by fur traders, and was settled by a treaty of January 11, 1825, under the terms of which the United States were to make no settlements north of latitude 54° 40′ and Russia none south of that latitude. England made a treaty with Russia on the same terms. By the treaty which ceded Florida in 1819, the Spanish claims. were confined to the south of latitude 42°. This left the territory between 42° and 54° 40′ to the Americans and English. Great Britain had no claim by discovery. The claim of the United States rested upon the voyage of Gray up the Columbia River in 1792 and the explorations of Lewis and Clarke through the Rocky Mountains and the Oregon country in 1805 and 1806 under the orders of Jefferson. By the treaty of October 20, 1818, the entire country west of the Rocky Mountains was to be open to both countries for ten years, and at the end of this period joint occupation for an indefinite time was agreed upon. This arrangement produced much dissatisfaction and was made a political issue in the United States in 1844. After considerable negotiation latitude 49 was agreed upon as the boundary from the Rocky Mountains to the channel between Vancouver Island and the mainland." TIMES AT WHICH THE SEVERAL TERRITORIES WERE ORGANIZED, THE TERRITORIAL DESIGNATION, AND THE LENGTH OF TIME THEIR TERRITORIAL EXISTENCE CONTINUED. Organized by JJuly 13, 1787 .do Date of ad- Nov. 29, 1802 Apr. 8, 1812 Jan. 26, 1837 Mar. 3, 1845 July 16, 1894 July 3, 1890 Length of time of Territorial existence. July 13, 1787, to Nov. 29, 1802. Mar. 26, 1804, to Apr. 8, 1812. Sept. 9, 1850, to July 16, 1894. Mar. 3, 1863, to July 3, 1890. b State of Tennessee c State of Louisiana. d Territory of Missouri. 281 Mississippi Michigan Illinois Missouri. Alabama Arkansas Wisconsin Iowa.. New Mexico Kansas Colorado Nevada.. Dakota Arizona Idaho Montana Wyoming DERIVATION OF NAMES OF THE TERRITORIES. District of Columbia.. Alaska Oklahoma Indian: Great long river. .From Indian: Land of Indians. A collective term for a group of North American Indians. .Indian: Here we rest. Arc, a bow, prefixed to Kansas. After Easter Sunday; Spanish, Pæocua-Florida. Indian: Wild, rushing channel. Franco-Indian: "Drowsy," applied to a tribe of Indians. Indian: Cloudy water. Aztec: "Mexitli," the Aztec god of war. Named after a tribe of Indians. After the first President of the United States. Indian: Water valley. Indian: Smoky water. -Spanish: Red, or colored. Spanish: White with snow. .Indian: Leagued. .Indian: Sand hills. .Indian: Gem of the mountains. Spanish: Mountain. .Indian: The large plains. ..American: Capital of the United States Indian, Alakshak: Great country. 282 Enabling the President of the United States to take possession of.. 16, 17, 26, 28 Revision of the political system adopted for Michigan Territory. Minnesota Territory Mississippi Territory. Missouri Territory. Montana Territory - Names of Territories, derivation of. Nebraska Territory. Nevada Territory. New Mexico Territory. Northwest of the river Ohio.. Ohio River, south of.. 233 256 31 85 12 35 170 281 119 144 93 5, 10, 14, 31, 33, 261, 275, 279 11 208 261 74 16, 17, 26, 28 280 3 102 109 57 180 Oklahoma Territory. Ordinance of 1787-Northwest and Southwestern Territories, history of. Protest of citizens of Louisiana against the system of government provided by 233 New political system for Louisiana; report of Representative John Randolph. |