matter of controversy, when the title or boundary of land may be in dispute, or where the sum claimed exceed fifty dollars.
Art. 12. The laws of Iowa territory, shall be the law of this territory, in civil, military, and criminal cases; where not otherwise provided for, and where no statute of Iowa territory applies, the principles of common law and equity shall govern.
Art. 17. All male persons, of the age of sixteen years and upwards, and all females of the age of fourteen and upwards, shall have the right of engaging in marriage—provided, that where either of the parties shall be under the age of twenty-one, the consent of the parents or guardians of such minors shall be necessary to validity of such matrimonial engagement. Every ordained minister of the gospel of any religious denomination, the supreme judge, and all justices of the peace, are hereby authorized to solemnize marriages according to law, to have the same recorded, and pay the recorder's fee. All marriages shall be recorded by the territorial recorder, within one month form the time of such marriage taking place and being made known to him officially. The legal fee for marriage shall be one dollar, and for recording the same, fifty cents.
Art. 19.—Resolved:—That a committee of three be appointed to draw up a digest of the doings of the people of this territory, with regard to an organization, and transmit the same to the United Staes government for their information.
The Militia.
Art. 1. The militia of this territory shall be arranged into one battalion, consisting of three of more companies or mounted riflemen.
Art. 2. Any person now holding, or hereafter wishing to establish a claim to land in this territory, shall designate the extent of his claim by natural boundaries, or by marks at the corners, and on the lines of such claim, and have the extent and boundaries of said claim recorded in the office of the terrritorial recorder, in a book to be kept by him for that purpose, within twenty days from the time of making said claim—provided, that those who shall already be in possession of land, shall be allowed one year from the passage of this act, to file a description of his claim in the recorder's office.
Art. 3. No individual shall be allowed to hold a claim or more than one square mile of six hundred and forty acres in a square or oblong form, according to the natural situation of the premises; nor shall any individual be allowed to hold more than one claim at the same time. Any person complying with the provisions of these ordinances, shall be entitled to the same recourse against trespass as in other cases by law provided.
Art. 4. No person shall be entitled to hold such a claim upon city or town sites, extensive water privileges, or other situations necessary for the transaction of mercantile or manufacturing operations, and to the detriment of the community—provided, that nothing in these laws shall be so constructed as to affect any claim of any mission of a religious character, made previous to this time of an extent not more than six miles square.
Approved by the people, July 5th, 1843.
The legislative committee met again at Willamette Falls, June 18, 1844, and daily transacted legislative business until June 27, when it adjourned, to meet again on third Monday of December, 1844. The enacting clause of every law was—"Be it enacted by the house of representatives of Oregon territory." Among the laws passed at this section, was an act to authorize John McLoughlin to operate a ferry at Willamette falls; an act to prevent the introduction, sale or manufacture of ardent spirits in Oregon; an act to prevent slavery, in Oregon. N. H. King applied for a divorce from his wife to this legislature, and it was not granted. John McLoughlin was authorized to construct a canal at Willamette Falls. F. Ermatinger and others sent in a petition to incorporate
