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Show ) 170 'l'llE ORDINANCE OF 1787. amendments made in CongTCSR, on the 12th of July to Mr. Carrincrton's report of the lllh. All that was struck ont is printed in italiu, wltaL was ill. erteu is ill ti.l\1ALJ. CAllJ1'ALS. 'fhe reader, on compnrillg this with the plans prl'v iou ·ly reported by Mr. J cfTerson, and by 1\[r. Johnson, will cc that most of the principles on which its wit;dom and fame rest, were first presented by Mr. Caningtou. TVashinglon, August 20th, 1841. P. l!\ AN ORDINANCE FoT the Govcrmnent of the 'l'err·ilo'ry of the Un ilecl Stales Northwe t of the river Ohio. Be it ordained by the United States ill Congress oR. embled, 'l'hat the said Territory, for the purposes of temporary government, be one district ; snhject, however to be divided into two di stri cts, as circnmstnnces may in the opinion of Congress make it expedient. l3o it ordained by the authority uforrsaid, rrhat the estates l10th of resident and non-resident proprieto rs in the said territory dyiug inte tate, shall descend to aml ue disLrilJutcJ among their children and the descendnn ts of a deceased child in equal parts; the descendants of a deceased child or grandchild to take the share of their deceased parcut in equal parts among them ; and where there shall be no children or descendn.nls, then in equal parts to the next of kin in eqnal degree; and among collaterals, the children of a deceased brother or sister of the intestate slt all have in equal parts among them their deceased parents' share ; AND TII:ERE SHALL IN NO CASE BE A DISTINCTION BE'l 'WEEN KIN· DRE'D OF TilE WIIOl)E AND IIAJ,F BI,OOU j saving ill all CU. C to the widow of the intestate her third part of the real estate for life, and [whc1·e there shall be no uhildrcn of the intestate J one-third part of the personal estate ; and this law relative to descent and dower shall remain in full force until altered by the legislature of the district. And until the 'l'll!J; OHDlN ANCE OF 1787. 171 Governor and J uclgcs sl1n.ll adopt ]n.ws n.s hereinafter men· tioued, estates iu the snid t 'rri tory may be doviHc<1 or bequeathed by wills in writing, signed and sca.letl lly him or her, in whom tho estate may be (ueing of full ngc) and attested by three witnesses; anclreal estates ma.y be conveyed by 1 ase and release, or bar·gain and sale, sicrned s alcu and delivered by the p rson, being of full age, in whom tho estate may be, and attested by two witnesses, provided such wills be duly proved, anu such conveyances l>c acknowledged, or the execution thereof dnly proved, and bo recorded wi tbi n one year· aft er proper mngi~Lrates, courts, and registers shall l>e n.ppoi n ted for that pu rposo; n.nd personal propert,y may he tran~fe rre d by delivery, savi n~, however, to the [1:nlwln:tanls of [{askn,.kics and J>o,.t Vincf'nl,] Fn.ENCH AND CANAOTA N INHA HIT ANTS, AND OTI I ~: It ·~;'l'TLI~Ito OF 'l'flE K.ASK.AtiKI~S, SAl NT vI NCI~NT'S, A NJ) 'J'Ifl<: N gJOl[BOl'tlNO VliJLAGES, WHO lTA VI~ lllntETOI<'ORI~ J>lWl•'J•;oB~:D 'l'JIJ<:MSELVES OITI~ENS OF VJitCHNJ.A, their )nws n.nd customs now in force among them relative to tho descent and conveyance of property. Be it ordained by the anlhority aforesaiu, That there shall be appoin ted from time to time hy OongreRH, a Governor, whose commission shall continue in forco for tho term of three years unl ess sooner revoked by Congress; ho shall reside in the district, and hn.ve a freehold estate therein, in one thousand acres of land, while in tho exercise of bis office. There shall be appointed from time to limo, by CongresR, a Secretary, wh ose commi ~io n shall conti nuo in force for four years unl es~ Roon 'l' revoked; he shn.ll rcsi de in Lite district and have a fro 'hold estate therein, in fi ve hundred acres o'f land, while in the exercise of his ofnco. Il shall be his duty to keep and preserve the n.cts and laws pa sed by the legislature, aod the public records of tho district, and the proceedings of the Governor in his executive depart· |