Laws of 1795. June 17-A law to license and regulate taverns (Pennsylvania). Effective August 15. June 18-Establishing the recorder's office (Pennsylvania). Effective August 1. June 19-Raising county rates and levies (Pennsylvania). Effective October I. June 19-For the relief of the poor (Pennsylvania). Effective October I. June 19-Concrening the probate of wills (Pennsylvania). Effective October I. June 25-Regulating enclosures (Pennsylvania). Effective October 1: June 26-As to the order of paying the debts of persons deceased (Pennsylvania). Effective one year from date. June 26—Concerning trespassing animals (Pennsylvania). Effective in one year. June 26-Directing how husband and wife may convey their estates (Pennsylvania). Effective August 15. July 14-For the speedy assignment of dower (Massachusetts). Effective in one year. July 14-Giving remedies in equity (Massachusetts). Effective Octo ber I. July 14-Against forcible entry and detainer (Massachusetts). Effective September 1. July 14-Annulling the distinction between petit treason and murder (Massachusetts). Effective in one year. July 14-Declaring what laws shall be in force (Virginia). Effective October I. "Common law of England, acts of Parliament prior to the fourth year of King James I," not local in character, etc. (This led to endless confusion in the territory, from the fact that no one had the English acts, and all were at sea as to the real nature of the laws put in force by this enactment.) July 14-To prevent trespass in the cutting of timber (Pennsylvania). Effective August 15. July 14-An act of general repeal of earlier territorial laws. Effective August 14. This law repeals so much of the militia law as required the assembling on Sunday with arms, at the usual place of worship; the law respecting clerk of probate; fixing terms of the General Court; for the trial of larceny under a dollar and a half; appointing coroners; limiting the times of commencing civil actions; the 'acts of 1790 at Vincennes; to alter the terms of the General Court; to augment the terms of the county Courts. of Common Pleas, relating to the appointment of township clerks; creating Laws of 1795. the office of clerk of the legislature; abolishing the distinction between the crimes of murder and petit treason; enclosures of grounds; granting licenses to merchants, etc.; creating the office of treasurer general; directing the manner of raising money to defray the charges in the counties; so much of the act regulating and opening highways as relates to bridges; for the disposition of strays; amending the clerk of the legislature act; to regulate the admission of attorneys; empowering the judges of probate to appoint guardians for minors; prescribing the forms of writs and the mode of proceedure in civil cases, and the act establishing the fees of the several officers and persons named therein. July 15-A law respecting divorce (Massachusetts). Effective October I. July 17-A law for the partition of lands (New York). Effective October I. July 15-A law allowing foreign attachments (New Jersey). Effective October I. July 16-Concerning the duties and powers of coroners (Massachusetts). Effective August 15. July 18-For continuing suits if judge is unable to attend, in the General and Circuit Courts (Virginia). Effective October 1. July 16-A law to suppress gambling (Virginia). Effective October I. July 17-As to proceedings in ejectment, etc. (Pennsylvania). ffective October I. August 15-Limiting imprisonment for debt, etc. (Pennsylvania). Effective October 1. RESOLUTIONS BY THE GOVERNOR AND JUDGES. August 7-Ordering certain printing. August 13-Authorizing the Governor to establish ferries, in the Territory, at his discretion. August 18-Declaring that commissions issued by the Governor to Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, are subject to revocation at his pleasure. August 20-Directing the Governor to dissolve the District of Prairie du Rocher, and divide the said district between the district of Kahokia and the district of Kaskaskia. THE FOURTH LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (1797.) . N December, 1796, Judge Putnam, who had been appointed a brigadier general by President Washington in May, 1792, while a member of the territorial court, was again honored by the President and nominated for surveyor general of the United States. This appointment led to the resignation of Judge Putnam, who was succeeded on the benci by Joseph Gilman, of Point Harmar. This council has left no record of new legislation in this year. J UDGE TURNER, who had served the territory with distinguished zeal since his appointment (September 8, 1797) to succeed to the chair made vacant by the death of Chief Justice Parsons, resigned in the winter of 1797-8 and was succeeded by Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr., of Marietta. The council, as thus formed, met in Cincinnati, April 23, 1798, and on the first day of May published the following new laws for the territory: May 1-A law concerning corporations of bodies politic (Pennsylvania). May 1-A law for the punishment of maiming or disfiguring (Kentucky). May 1-Vesting certain powers in justices of the peace, in criminal cases (Massachusetts). May 1-For the equal division and distribution of insolvent estates (Connecticut). May 1-To provide for the improvement of the breed of horses (Kentucky). May 1-Directing the mode of proceeding in civil cases (Massachusetts). May 1-An addition to the law ascertaining the fees of certain officers. May 1-Method of taxing all unsettled and unimproved parcels of land (Kentucky). May 1-Rendering the acknowledgment of deeds more easy (Connecticut). May 1-Establishing a land office (Kentucky). May 1-Repealing the 28th section of the law regulating fees; and so much of the law raising county rates and levies as relates to the duties of justices as to wild animals killed. These laws are severally signed by Winthrop Sargent, acting Governor, John Cleves Symmes, Joseph Gilman, Return Jonathan Meigs, Junior, and their correctness attested by Winthrop Sargent, Secretary. This was the last legislative act of the Territorial Council. THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FIRST TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE. N the year 1798, Governor St. Clair, having by personal visits to the several settlements become satisfied of the presence of the necessary five thousand white male inhabitants in the territory, issued his proclamation to the people calling for the election of representatives to a general assembly to be convened at Cincinnati on the fourth day of February, 1799. This general assembly, under the ordinance of 1787, must consist of a House of Representatives, together with a Legislative Council of five members to be appointed by the President of the United States, from a list of ten names to be submitted to him by the House of Representatives when so elected. The representatives were chosen in accordance with the proclamation of the Governor, and on assembling at Cincinnati on the day named in the proclamation, February 4, nominated the members of council and adjourned to meet in Cincinnati on the sixteenth of the following September, in order that the President would have an opportunity to act. Of the ten names submitted for his inspection and approval, the President nominated to the United States Senate as members of the Territorial Council (or upper house) Jacob Burnet and James Findlay of Cincinnati; Henry Vanderburgh of Vincennes; Robert Oliver of Marietta, and David Vance of Vanceville. These nominations were promptly confirmed by the Senate and transImitted to Cincinnati, where they were announced to the people by proclamation of the Governor. On the sixteenth day of September, 1799, the First Territorial Legislature met in Cincinnati, the two houses being composed of the following gentlemen: IN THE COUNCIL (APPOINTED). Jacob Burnett, of Cincinnati. James Findlay, of Cincinnati. Henry Vanderburgh, of Vincennes. Robert Oliver, of Marietta. David Vance, of Vanceville. Mr. Vanderburgh was elected President of the Council. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (ELECTED). Benham, Robert, of Hamilton County (Cincinnati). Chobert de Joncaire, Charles F., of Wayne County (Detroit). 10-B. A. |