WASHINGTON. One of the territories of the United States of America.
2. This territory, lying between the Columbia river and the 46th parallel of latitude on the south and the 49th parallel on the north, the Rooky Mountains on the east, and the Pacific ocean on the west, and formerly constituting a part of Oregon, was established by an act of con gress of March 2, 1853, which act is the funda mental law of the territory. 10 Stat. at Large. The limits upon the north were settled by treaty of the United States with Great Britain signed June 15, 1846. Proclamation thereof was made by the president, Ang. 5, 1846. The organic act erect ing the territory was approved March 2, 1853. The territory inoludee that part of the territory of Oregon lying north of the Columbia river to the point where said river crosses the 46th parallel of north latitude, thence on said parallel to the sum n.it of the Rooky Mountains. The provisions of the organio act are the same, with the exceptions here given, as those of the act erecting the territory of New Mexico. See NEW MEXICO.
The present qualifieations of voters, subject to change by legislation, are as follows :—all free white male inhabitants who have lived in the territory throe months, and in the county in which they offer to vote fifteen days, before election, pro vided they arc citizene of the United States, nr have declared their intention to become suoh. This is not to prevent half-breed Indians whom the judges think to have adopted the habits of civilized life, from voting. But no person under guardianship, non compos mantis, or convicted of treason, felony, or bribery, can vote, unless restored to civil rights.
3. The Legislative Power and authority of said territory is vested in a legislative assembly, consist ing of a council and house of representatives. The council consists of nine members, having the qualifications of voters, who hold their offices for the term of three years. The house of representa tives consists of any number of members, not less than eighteen nor over thirty, who hold their office for one year. No session of the legislature can
exceed sixty days. The legislative power of the' territory extends to all rightful subjects of legisla tion not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the United States. No law is to be passed interfering with the primary disposal of the soil ; no tax is to be imposed upon the property of the United States ; nor can the lands or other property of non-residents be taxed higher than the lands or other property of residents. All laws passed by the legislative assembly must be submitted to con gress, and if disapproved are null and of no effect. The legislature has no power to inoorporate a bank, or any institution with banking powers, or to borrow money in the name of the territory, or to pledge the faith of the people of the eame for any loan whatever, directly or indirectly ; can pass no charter granting any privileges of reeking, issuing, or putting into ciroulation any notes or bills in the likeness of bank-notes, or any bonds, scrip, drafts, bills of exchange, or grant any other banking powers or privileges, or allow the establishment of any branch or agenoy of any such corporation, derived from other authority; cannot authorize the issue of any obligation, scrip, or evidence of debt in any mode or manner whatever, except certifi cates for service to said territory. All township, district, and county officers not otherwise provided for in the organic act are to be appointed or elected in such manner as is provided by tho legisletive assembly of the territory. No member of the legislative assembly can hold or be appointed to any office whioh has been created, or the salary or emoluments of which have been increased, while he was a member, during the term for which he was elected, and for one year after the expiration of snch term ; and no person holding a commission or appointment under the United States can be a member of the legislative assembly, or hold any office under the government of eaid territory.