OREGON. One of the new states of tho United States.
2. In July, 1845, a territorial government was established by the people of Oregon territory, to last till such time as the United States should ex tend its jurisdiction over the territory. This was done in 1848 by act of congress approved Aug. 14, A convention assembled at Salem, Sept. 18, 1857, and framed a constitution, which was submitted to the people and by them adopted, as announced by the proclamation of the governor, dated Deo. 14, • 1857. By act of congress, approved Feb. 14, 1859, Oregon was admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the other states, with the follow ing boundaries: beginning one marine league at sea due west from the point where the forty-second parallel of north latitude intersects the same; thence northerly, at the same distance from the line of the coast lying west and opposite the state, in cluding all islands within the jurisdiction of the United States, to a point due west and opposite the middle of the north ship-channel of the Columbia river ; thence essteily to and up the middle channel of said river, and, where it is divided by islands, up the middle of the widest channel thereof, to a point near fort Walla-Walla, where the forty-sixth parallel of north latitude crosses said river; thence east on said parallel to the middle of the main shannel of the Shoshones or Snake river • thence up the middle of the main channel of .said river to the mouth of the OwYhee river; thence due south o the parallel of latitude forty-two degrees north ; thence west along said parallel to the place of begin nitrg ; including jurisdiction in civil and criminal oases upon the Columbia river and Snake river, concurrently with states and territories of which those rivers form a boundary in common with this state. The residue of the territory which had be fore constituted the territory of Oregon was inoor pore ted into and made part of the territory of Wash ington. See WASHINGTON.
The Legislative Department.
3. The legislative authority is vested in a legisla tive assembly, consisting of a Senate acd House of Representatives.
The Senate is to oonsist of aixteeu members, which number may be increased to thirty, elected for the term of four years by the electors of the districts into which the state is divided for the purpose. The senate is divided into two classes: so that one half the number may be changed every two years. The House of Representatives ie to consist of thirty-four members, which number may be in creased to sixty, chosen ,by the electors from the respective districts into which the state is divided for the purpose, for the term of two years.
Senators and representatives must be twenty one years old, citizens of the United States and for a year at least preceding the election inh'abitants of the county or district from which they were chosen. Sessions of the assembly are holden every second year.
The Executive Department.
4. The Governor is elected for the term of four years, hy the qnalified .eleotora, at the time and places of choosing members of the assembly. He is Commander-in-chief of the military and naval forees of the state; must take care that the laws are faithfully executed; may convene the legislative assembly on extraordinary occasions; nilay grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, after convio tion, for all offences hut treason, subject to regula tions prescribed. by the assembly. Ha has therveto power. He must be thirty years old, a oitizen of the United States, and must have been frit. three years 'preceding his election a resident in the state. In ease of removal, death, resignation, or inability of the governor, the duties of his office devolve upon the seoretary of state, and in ease of his re moval, death, resignation, or disability, upon the president of the senate, .till a governor is elected. A Secretary of State is elected, by the qualified eleetora, for the term of four years.