Parties and Their Principles

1803. Territorial Government organized by an act approved May 27, 1854.

TERRITORY OF KANSAS; formed from a part of the territory formerly known as Nebraska, and was organized at the same time. The bill establishing a government for Kansas and Nebraska provided for the repeal of the Missouri restriction, declaring it to be inconsistent with the acts of 1850, known as the Compromise Measures; the appointment of the Governor and Judges of each Territory by the President and Senate ; and that the old French laws regarding slavery, were not revived. This bill passed the Senate March, 1854—37 to 14. A similar bill passed the House May 23, 1854–113 to 100. The House bill passed the Senate on the 27th, and was immediately approved by the President.

A State Constitution, formed by a Convention at Topeka, was adopted by the people and submitted to Congress-passed the House, but was rejected in the Senate. A Constitution formed at Lecompton, by a Convention called by the Territorial Legislature, was submitted to the people to vote on "the Constitution with Slavery," or "the Constitution without Slavery," when the affirmative prevailed-Free State men not voting—by over five thousand majority. At a subsequent election, held under the auspices of the Free State men, the Constitution was rejected by over ten thousand votes. This Constitution was submitted to Congress; passed the Senate. In its place the House substituted the "English Bill" with which the Senate concurred. Approved May 4, 1858. The bill submitted the Lecompton Constitution to a vote of the electors of Kansas; if approved the act of admission was complete. The bill was rejected. Another constitutional Convention, called by authority of the Territorial Legislature, convened at Wyandotte July 5, 1859.

TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON; formed from that portion of Oregon Territory south of 49° N. and north of the middle of the main channel of the Columbia River from its mouth to where the parallel of 46° N. latitude crosses said river, near Fort Wallawalla, thence with said parallel of 46° N. to the

TERRITORIES ORGANIZED.

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summit of the Rocky Mountains. The act organizing the territory was approved March 2, 1853. Its area has since been increased by the addition of about 76,263 square miles, taken from Oregon on its organization as a State.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA; established under the 17th clause, 8th section, 1st article of the Constitution of the United States. Cessions of territory were made by Maryland Dec. 23, 1788, and Virginia Dec. 3, 1789. These cessions were accepted by Congress, and a permanent seat of Government established by the "Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States," approved July 16, 1790; and the act to amend the same, approved March 3, 1791. Congress has complete jurisdiction over the said district.

The proposed Territory of Dacotah lies west of Minnesota and Iowa, being that portion of Minnesota not included within the State limits. It has an area of about 81,960 square miles, and an estimated population (rapidly increasing) of from 6,000 to 8,000 inhabitants.

The proposed Territory of Arizona is bounded west by the Rio Colorado; south by Sonora and Chihuahua, on a boundary line between the United States and Mexico, and from the Rio Grande on the 32d parallel of latitude in Texas to the 104° of longitude; east by a line on the 104° of longitude to the 34th parallel of latitude, thence north on the 34th parallel to the Colorado River. It has an area of about 100,000 square miles. The population is from 8,000 to 10,000. Nine-tenths are Mexicans, chiefly located in the valley of the Rio Grande.