TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

Formed out of part of the territory ceded to the United States by the Mexican Republic by Treaty, concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo, the 2d February, 1848.

[For statement of propositions for forming a territorial government for New Mexico, see under head of "California."]

A Bill (S. 170) "to establish the governments of Utah and New Mexico, and for other purposes," was reported by Hon. Stephen A. Douglass, 25 March, and passed the Senate 15 Aug., 1850, amended to "An act to establish a territorial government for New Mexico." [This bill, with the addition of a new section, was engrafted on Bill (S. 307) in House of Representatives. See following statement.]

In House of Representatives, 28 Aug., 1850, the Bill (S. 307) entitled "An act proposing to the State of Texas the establishment of her northern and western boundaries, the relinquishment by the said state of all territory claimed by her exterior to said boundaries, and of all her claims upon the United States," having been under consideration until 5th Sept., 1850, was then amended by providing a territorial government for New Mexico, and on the 6 Sept. was passed, and the title amended by adding-And to establish a territorial government for New Mexico. The Senate concurred in the amendments, and the bill became a law on the 9th September, 1850.

TERRITORY OF UTAH.

Formed out of part of the territory ceded to the United States by the Mexican Republic by Treaty, concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo, the 2d Feb., 1848.

[For statement of propositions for forming a territorial government for Utah, see under head of California and New Mexico.]

The Bill (S. 225) "to admit California as a state into the Union, to establish territorial governments for Utah and New Mexico, and making proposals to Texas for the establishment of her western and northern boundaries," was reported by Hon. Henry Clay, 8 May, and was amended and passed the Senate 1 August; being reduced to a provision for, and the title having been amended to, "An act to establish a territorial government for Utah," which bill passed the House of Representatives 7 Sept., and became a law on the 9th September, 1850.

TERRITORY OF NEBRASKA.

Formed out of part of the territory ceded to United States by France by Treaty of 30 April, 1803.

A Bill (H. R. 444) "to establish the territory of Nebraska," was introduced on leave by Hon. Stephen A. Douglass, 17 Dec., 1844, and referred. An amendatory bill reported 7 Jan., 1845, but no further action thereon.

A Bill (S. 170) "to establish the territory of Nebraska," was introduced on leave by Hon. Stephen A. Douglass, 15 March, and referred. Reported without amendment 20 April, 1848. Recommitted 20 Dec., 1848. Not reported.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Established under the 17th clause, 8th section, 1st article of the Constitution of the United States: "Congress shall have power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the Government of the United States," &c. In pursuance of which provision the State of Maryland, on December 23, 1788, passed "An act to cede to Congress a district of ten miles square in this state, for the seat of the Government of the United States."

And the State of Virginia, on December 3, 1789, passed "An act for the cession of ten miles square, or any lesser quantity of territory within this state, to the United States in Congress assembled, for the permanent seat of the General Government."

These cessions were accepted by Congress as required by the Constitution, and the permanent seat of government established by the "Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the government of the United States," approved July 16, 1790; and the act to amend the same, approved March 3, 1791.

The district of ten miles square was accordingly located, and its lines and boundaries particularly established by a proclamation of George Washington, President of the United States, on March 30, 1791, and by the "Act concerning the District of Columbia," approved February 27, 1801, Congress assumed complete jurisdiction over the said district, as contemplated by the framers of the Constitution.

CHAPTER 11.

SOURCES OF HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, STATISTICAL, AND OTHER INFORMATION, REGARDING THE LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE, AND JUDICIAL ACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN POSSESSION OF THE PUBLIC OFFICES AT THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

In the course of experience in public business, it has been found that great embarrassment arises to persons entering into public life in obtaining a practical knowledge of the operations of the Government from its foundation to the period of their entering upon the arena—which knowledge cannot well be dispensed with by unbelievers in the doctrine that statesmanship comes by intuition or inspiration. They modestly approach the highly important and responsible stations in the legislative or executive branches of the Government to which the partiality of their fellow-citizens has called them, and prepare with diligence, however well acquainted with the general history of the country, to qualify themselves for a consistent, intelligent, and faithful discharge of duty, by a revision of the acts and proceedings of their predecessors tending to or terminating in measures of state policy, which have either been confirmed by repeated legislation, or remain open questions for investigation and discussion, and by an examination of the foreign and domestic relations, the matter and form of legislative business generally, and the facts and minutiae of cases requiring, by appointment and a proper discharge of duty, particular attention.

It may, therefore, not be unacceptable to citizens entering into public life, or to those who may expect at some future period to take part in public affairs, or to those who may desire to extend their information concerning the measures, policy, and business

concerns of the government, to be furnished with references to some of the sources and means of acquiring such information.

To the uninitiated, the accumulated mass of books, records, and documents, contained in the public archives, is calculated to dampen the ardor, if not to repulse the ordinary scholar or man of business from the attempt to fathom the depths of the arcana; and the present effort of the author and compiler to aid in this undertaking is more with the view of essaying a treatise which by extension and improvement may hereafter become a vade mecum to the statesman and legislator, and subserving the public interest and convenience, than with the hope of effecting such object in the present edition. The design of this undertaking is simply to refer to and briefly describe the books, records, and documents of a public character, to be found in the public archives at the Seat of Government, constituting the principal sources of political and statistical information. With a view of preserving perspicuity in the system, the whole will be arranged into classes and sections, as follows, viz. :

CLASS No. 1.

THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, AND DOCUMENTARY AND OTHER HISTORY OF THE REVOLUTION.

Sec. 1. COLONEL PETER FORCE'S AMERICAN ARCHIVES: Consisting of a collection of authentic records, state papers, debates, and letters and other notices of public affairs: the whole forming A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY of the origin and progress of the North American Colonies; of the causes and accomplishment of the American Revolution; and of the Constitution of Government for the United States, to the final ratification thereof.

IN SIX SERIES.

First Series. From the discovery and settlement of the North American Colonies to the revolution in England, in 1688.

Second Series. From the revolution in England, in 1688, to the cession of Canada to Great Britain, by treaty at Paris, in 1763.

Third Series. From the cession of Canada, in 1763, to the king's message to Parliament, of March 7, 1774, on the proceedings in North America.

Fourth Series. From the king's message of March 7, 1774, to the Declaration of Independence by the United States, in 1776.

Fifth Series. From the Declaration of Independence, in 1776, to the definitive treaty of peace with Great Britain, in 1783.

Sixth Series. From the treaty of peace, in 1783, to the final ratification of the