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17. In order that the boundaries of the state of Indiana may more clearly be known and established, it is hereby ordained and declared, that the following shall be and forever remain the boundaries of the said state, to wit: Bounded on the east, by the meridian line which forms the western boundary of the state of Ohio; on the south, by the Ohio river, from the mouth of the Great Miami river to the mouth of the river Wabash; on the west, by a line drawn along the middle of the Wabash river, from its mouth to a point where a due north line, drawn from the town of Vincennes, would last touch the north-western shore of the said Wabash river; and from thence, by a due north line, until the same shall intersect an east and west line drawn through a point ten miles north of the southern extreme of lake Michigan; on the north, by the said east and west line, until the same shall intersect the first mentioned meridian line, which forms the western boundary of the state of Ohio.

ARTICLE 12.

§ 1. That no evils or inconvenience may arrise from the change of a territorial government to a permanent state government, it is declared, by this constitution, that all rights suits, actions, prosecutions, recognizances, contracts, and claims, both as it respects individuals and bodies corporate, shall continue as if no change had taken place in this govern

ment.

2. All fines, penalties, and forfeitures, due and owing to the territory of Indiana, or any county therein, shall inure to the use of the state or county. All bonds executed to the governor, or any other officer, in his official capacity, in the territory, shall pass over to the governor or other officers of the state or country, and their successors in office, for the use of the state or county, or by him or them to be respectively assigned over to the use of those concerned, as the case may be.

3. The governor, secretary, and judges, and all other officers, both civil and military, under the territorial government, shall continue in the exercise of the duties of their respective departments, until the said officers are superseded under the authority of this constitution.

4. All laws and parts of laws now in force in this territory, not inconsistent with this constitution, shall continue and remain in full force and effect, until they expire, or be repealed.

5. The governor shall use his private seal until a state seal be procured.

6. The governor, secretary of state, auditor of public accounts, and treasurer, shall severally reside and keep the public records, books, and papers, in any manner relating to their respective offices, at the seat of government: Provided, notwithstanding, that nothing herein contained shall be so con

strued as to affect the residence of the governor for the space of six months, and until buildings suitable for his accommodation shall be procured, at the expense of the state.

7. All suits, pleas, plaints, and other proceedings, now depending in any court of record, or justices' courts, shall be prosecuted to final judgment and execution; and all appeals, writs of error, certiorari, injunction, or other proceedings whatever, shall progress, and be carried on, in the respective court or courts, in the same manner as is now provided by law, and all proceedings had therein, in as full and complete a manner as if this constitution were not adopted. And appeals and writs of error may be taken from the circuit court and general court, now established in the Indiana territory, to the supreme court, in such manner as shall be provided for by law.

8. The president of this convention shall issue writs of election, directed to the several sheriffs of the several counties, requiring them to cause an election to be held for governor, lieutenant governor, representative to the congress of the United States, members of the general assembly, sheriffs, and coroners, at the respective election districts in each county, on the first Monday in August next: which election shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by the existing election laws of .the Indiana territory; and the said governor, lieutenant governor, members of the general assembly, sheriffs, and coroners, then duly elected, shall continue to exercise the duties of their respective offices for the time prescribed by this constitution, and until their successor or successors are qualified, and no longer.

9. Until the first enumeration shall be made, as directed by this constitution, the county of Wayne shall be entitled to one senator and three representatives; the county of Franklin, one senator and three representatives; the county of Dearborn, one senator and two representatives; the county of Switzerland, one representative; and the county of Jefferson and Switzerland, one senator; and the county of Jefferson, two representatives; the county of Clark, one senator and three representatives; the county of Harrison, one senator and three representatives; the counties of Washington, Orange, and Jackson, one senator, and the county of Washington, two representatives; the counties of Orange and Jackson, one representative each; the county of Knox, one senator and three representatives; the county of Gibson, one senator and two representatives; the counties of Posey, Warrick, and Perry, one senator, and each of the aforesaid counties of Posey, Warrick, and Perry, one representative.

10. All books, records, documents, warrants, and papers, appertaining and belonging to the office of territorial treasurer of the Indiana territory, and all moneys therein, and all papers and documents in the office of the secretary of said territory,

shall be disposed of as the general assembly of this state may direct.

11. All suits, actions, pleas, plaints, prosecutions, and causes whatsoever, and all records, books, papers, and documents, now in the general court, may be transferred to the supreme court established by this constitution: And all causes, suits, actions, pleas, plaints, and prosecutions whatsoever, now existing or pending in the circuit courts of this territory, or, which may be therein at the change of government, and all records, books, papers, and documents, relating to the said suits, or filed in the said courts, may be transferred over to the circuit courts established by this constitution, under such rules and regulations as the general assembly may direct.

Done in Convention, at Corydon, on the twenty-ninth day of
June, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixteen,
and of the independence of the United States the fortieth.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.
JONATHAN JENNINGS,

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ORDINANCE.

Be it ordained by the representatives of the people of the territory of Indiana, in convention met, at Corydon, on Monday, the tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixteen, That we do, for ourselves and our posterity, agree, determine, declare, and ordain, that we will, and do hereby, accept the propositions of the congress of the United States, as made and contained in their act of the nineteenth day of April, eighteen hundred and sixteen, entitled, "An act to enable the people of the Indiana territory, to form a state government and constitution, and for the admission of such state into the union, on an equal footing with the original states."

And we do further, for ourselves and our posterity, hereby ratify, confirm, and establish the boundaries of the said state of Indiana, as fixed, prescribed, laid down, and established, in the act of congress aforesaid; and we do, also, further, for ourselves and our posterity, hereby agree, determine, declare, and ordain, that each and every tract of land sold by the United States, lying within the said state, and which shall be sold from and after the first day of December next, shall be and remain exempt from any tax laid by order or under any authority of the said state of Indiana, or by or under the authority of the general assembly thereof, whether for state, county, or township, or any other purpose whatever, for the term of five years from and after the day of sale of any such tract of land; and we do, moreover, for ourselves and our posterity, hereby declare and ordain, that this ordinance, and every part thereof, shall forever be and remain irrevocable and inviolate, without the consent of the United States, in congress assembled, first had and obtained for the alteration thereof, or any part thereof.

June 29th, 1816.
Attest,

JONATHAN JENNINGS,
President of the Convention.

WILLIAM HENDRICKS, Secretary.

CONSTITUTION OF LOUISIANIA.

Constitution or form of Government of the state of Louisiana.

WE, the representatives of the people of all that part of the territory or country ceded under the name of Louisiana, by the treaty made at Paris, on the 30th day of April, 1803, be

tween the United States and France, contained in the following limits, to wit: beginning at the mouth of the river Sabine; thence, by line to be drawn along the middle of said river including all islands, to the thirty-second degree of latitude; thence, due north, to the northernmost part of the thirty-third degree of north latitude; thence, along the said parallel of latitude, to the river Mississippi; thence, down the said river, to the river Iberville, and from thence, along the middle of the said river, and lakes Meurepas and Ponchartrain to the gulph of Mexico; thence, bounded by the said gulf, to the place of beginning, including all islands within three leagues of the coast; in convention assembled, by virtue of an act of congress, entitled "an act to enable the people of the territory of Orleans to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of the said state into the Union, on an equal footing with the original states, and for other purposes;" in order to secure to all the citizens thereof the enjoyment of the rights of life, liberty, and property, do ordain and establish the following constitution or form of government, and do mutually agree with each other to form ourselves into a free and independent state, by the name of the state of Louisiana.

ARTICLE 1.

Concerning the distribution of the powers of Government.

§1. The powers of the government of the state of Louisiana shall be divided into three distinct departments, and each of them be confined to a separate body of magistracy, to wit: those which are legislative, to one; those which are executive," to another; and those which are judiciary, to another.

2. No person, or collection of persons, being one of those departments, shall exercise any power properly belonging to either of the others; except in the instances hereinafter expressly directed or permitted.

ARTICLE 2.

Concerning the Legislative Department.

§ 1. The legislative power of this state shall by vested in two distinct branches; the one to be called the house of representatives, the other the senate; and both together the general assembly of the state of Louisiana.

2. The members of the house of representatives shall continue in service for the term of two years, from the day of the commencement of the general election.

3. Representatives shall be chosen on the first Monday in July, every two years; and the general assembly shall convene on the first Monday in January, in every year, unless a different

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