98 NOTES ON THE NORTHWEST. 



known as Louisiana, with the same extent that it formerly 

 had in tlie hands of France, and that, at the date of the treaty, 

 it had in the hands of Spain. 



By act of Congress, of 31st October in the same year, the 

 President of the United States was empowered to take pos- 

 session of the country ceded, and provision was made for 

 the temporary government thereof. 



By act of March 26th, 1804, the country was divided into 

 two territories. The southern was called Orleans, and em- 

 braced the country east of the Missisippi River and south of 

 the Temtory of Missisippi, and west to the western limit of 

 the purchase. The northern portion, being all the remainder 

 of the country that was purchased by the treaty, was annexed 

 to Indiana as a district by the name of Louisiana. Indiana 

 had been erected into a Territorial Government by act of May 

 7th, 1800, to take effect on the 4th July followmg : with all 

 the rights and privileges which, by tlie ordinance of 1787, 

 for the government of the Territory Nortliwest of the Ohio, 

 had been secured to the settlers of the northwest. The act 

 of 1804, which annexed Louisiana to Indiana, extended these 

 rights and privileges to that district. The executive poAver, 

 which was vested in the Governor of Indiana, was extended 

 to the district. The Governor and judges of Indiana were 

 empowered " to establish in the said District of Louisiana 

 inferior courts, and prescribe their jurisdiction and duties ; 

 and to make all laws which they may deem conducive to the 

 good government of tlie inhabitants thereof :" provided, that 

 no law shall be valid which is inconsistent with the consti- 

 tution and laws of the United States, or which shall lay any 

 person under restraint or disability on account of liis religious 

 opinions, profession, or worship, in all of which he shall be 

 free to maintain his own, and not be burdened for those of 

 aF.other." (Sec. 12.) And it was provided, by sec. 13, that 



