INTRODUCTION.
By act of congress of March 26, 1804, (2 Stat. 283,) all that portion of country ceded by France to the United States, April 30, 1803, under the name of Louisiana, lying south of the Mississippi Territory, and of an east and west line to commence on the Mississippi River at the thirty-third degree of north latitude, and extending west to the boundary of the cession, was formed into a territory under the name of the Territory of Orleans. The residue of the cession, embracing Missouri and Arkansas, was called the District of Louisiana, and placed under the government of Indiana Territory. By act of congress of June 4, 1812, this district became the Territory of Missouri. 2 Stat. 743. On March 2, 1821, (3 Stat. 645,) congress provided by joint resolution for the admission of Missouri into the Union, and which admission became complete on the issuing of the president’s proclamation, August 10, 1821. 3 Stat. 797.
By act of congress of March 2, 1819, (3 Stat. 493,) all that part of the Territory of Missouri lying south of a line beginning on the Mississippi River at thirty-six degrees north latitude, running thence west to the river St. Francois; thence up the same to thirty-six degrees thirty minutes north latitude, and thence west to the western territorial boundary line, was erected into a separate territory called Arkansas Territory, to take effect after July 4, 1819; and the seat of government was established at the post of Arkansas until otherwise directed by the territorial legislature.
By act of congress, May 26, 1824, (4 Stat. 40,) the western boundary of Arkansas Territory was fixed at a point forty miles west of the south-west corner of the State of Missouri, and to run south to the right bank of Red River, and thence down that river, and with the Mexican boundary, to the line of the State of Louisiana.
The act of 1819 vested the judicial power of the Territory of Arkansas in a superior court, consisting of three judges, appointed for four years, but subject to removal by the president, and in such inferior
