ACTS OF THE EIGHTH CONGRESS
of the
UNITED STATES,
Passed at the first session, which was begun and held at the City of Washington, in the District of Columbia, on Monday, the seventeenth day of October, 1803, and ended on the twenty-seventh day of March, 1804.
Thomas Jefferson, President; Aaron Burr, Vice President of the United States, and President of the Senate; John Brown, President of the Senate pro tempore, from the 31st day of October to the 19th day of December, 1803, and from the 26th day of January to the 25th of February, 1804; Nathaniel Macon, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
STATUTE Ⅰ.
Chapter Ⅰ.—An Act to enable the President of the United States to take possession of the territories ceded by France to the United States, by the treaty concluded at Paris, on the thirtieth of April last; and for the temporary government thereof.
Louisiana to be taken possession of by the President of the U. States.
Authority of the U. States in Louisiana established.
Act of March 3, 1803, ch. 32.
All the military, civil and judicial powers exercised by the officers of the existing government to be exercised as the President may direct for the protection of the inhabitants.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to take possession of, and occupy the territory ceded by France to the United States, by the treaty concluded at Paris, on the thirtieth day of April last, between the two nations; and that he may for that purpose, and in order to maintain in the said territories the authority of the United States, employ any part of the army and navy of the United States, and of the force authorized by an act passed the third day of March last, intituled “An act directing a detachment from the militia of the United States, and for erecting certain arsenals,” which he may deem necessary: and so much of the sum appropriated by the said act as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated for the purpose of carrying this act into effect; to be applied under the direction of the President of the United States.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That until the expiration of the present session of Congress, unless provision for the temporary government of the said territories be sooner made by Congress, all the military, civil and judicial powers, exercised by the officers of the existing government of the same, shall be vested in such person and persons, and shall be exercised in such manner,Act of March 26, 1804, ch. 38.
Act of February 15, 1811, ch. 14.
Act of April 8, 1812, ch. 50. as the President of the United States shall direct for maintaining and protecting the inhabitants of Louisiana in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property and religion.
Approved, October 31, 1803.
Statute Ⅰ.
[Obsolete.]
Chap. II.—An Act authorizing the creation of a stock, to the amount of eleven millions two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for the purpose of carrying into effect the convention of the thirtieth of April, one thousand eight hundred and three, between the United States of America and the French Republic; and making provision for the payment of the same.
