The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-12-01
SDoule8ttr.
REPORr

ne committee charged TO enquire int,
the different forms ofterritorial government,
IN the United States, submit the following
report.
There appear to have been nine terrific.
RIGS under the government Of the u. States.
seven Of which still exist.
! L. The territory known BIZ the dencmina
ton OF "fhc territory ofMe United States
NORTH WEST Fl fhc river Ohio."
<. Inc territory known by the tlenomina-
ton oil "Me territory ofthc United Stafcs
SOUTH offhe r5Uer Ohio''
5. The territory of M1ss1ssrpr1.
e. he territory OF INDIANA.
D. he territory Of CoLuMpIA.
o. ! he Territory nf NnIFANc
z. HE territory afLoUISIANA.
8. The territory of MICHIGAN.
9: The territory of ILLINcIs.
he form OF government in the FIRST OF
these, the territory north west Of the river
Ohio, and which has afforded the precedent
Tor most of the others, was prescribed by an
ordinance of congress made under the Con
federation. 1t appears to have been framed
while the convention which gave to Ameri
ca her present constitution of government,
we're in session, and before nrv idea of the
result of their deliberations could have trans
pred; and this circumstance will explain
some Of the pcculiarities of the instrument.
the original members o. the confederacy,
and the future inhabitants of an uncutiva
ted wilderness, a compact necessarily on
one side, for want OF second party; bot
which certsinly pledged the national faith
to many important covenants; the greater
part of which, however. received more
solemn sanction in tie constitution itself, or
were superseded by the provisions of that
instrument Among these we're the estnh
lishment Of religious freedom. and of thepo-
lItica' rights of the writ Cf h2tcaS cortWs,
the trial by jury, legislative representation,
and the correct and impartial admmistra
ton OF Justice An indissolublc connection
was declared to subsist between the repub
'ics, to be erected in those spacious regions,
and the primary powers of the confederation.
An equitable pro. ,rtion OF the revolutionary
F., debt was tohe betrayed By the inhabitants
and the whole buTthen of national eXpence
was to be sustained by them, under com
mon apportopme with t. people of the
other states. The fddcrai right to the soil
was scrupulously fortified, aid the free use
of those superb navigations connected with
the Saint Lawrence, and the Mississippi,
was impreguah!v secured; exempt from
tax, impos,, or duty. Exercising an early,
and wise forecast. the existence of SLaUc-
~, that black and putrid stain on the Auc
|
lime virtue, was eternav inhibiteh In
short, the whole Instrument is stamped With
an aspect which bespeaks i, the &C, of Il free
and generous people; anxious inGecd, tn
preserve the geographical magnitude ct
| their empire. but at the same time anxious
to spread and djfiuse the holy principles OF
liberty
Humane ard provit'ent the regulations in
! contemplation certnl-ty were Dut, an j n
mediate enjoyment of the civil privileges
attached TO the character OF al American
citizen, was however impossibl-. The axe
OF savage warfare was suspended over the
land: The Legislative power, incapable ot
being exercised by tic frobie was confdcd
as temporary trust, to the anomalous de
pdrtments o: the e.CccHfiUe and the j1tdicia.
Try. That, even during SC short an emer
Gency, tyranny should find no avenue Of en-
trance, the model of every legislative reem
lanOn was to be sougli, among the wise in
stitrtions of the original and 1.eUoiutionarl
states. A model however of republican go
vcrnment, on scale more sublime than an
tiguity could boast Of, and Oh a basis more
solid than the mcnarcbies Of modern age.
can pretend to, was about to burst upon the
view of mankind Under its auspices tn,
savage hordes reiterated before the Ameri
can banner; and the closing acts Of the adj
Il II
tranquility Of ibis western world
The principles Of republican representa-
ton were then reduced to operation and
practice and the territory north west Of tn,
river Ohio, acknowledged the equilabl,
sway ct body of sages, elected by the pub
lie suffrage, from its internal popuistion.
At the outset of the government Of tht
territory north west Of the river Ohio, ant
while in its primary grade, the impossbili
ty OF at ftiHg, compelled its administrators
INTO the necessary, but HntcS;iti1'ufcd course
ofmaki G the legislative regula lions. Quicl
as is the senebility Of Il rrfu5fc. on the ap
prOaCh OF danger, or At the aspect of tyran
ny; like other portions of mankind, her CT
tlzens are slow TO learn in times Of tranouiI
l'ty and peace. Accordingly the inconven
fences Of legislative power under Sc re
traordiHary and so a7ok7vard modification
have been pcipetuated, after reason hat
probcd It's Inconsistency; and transplantet
to other governments when experience ha,
demonstrated its ipadcquacy.
The Iiberalitv Of the republic of North
Carolina, presei ted tn the confederatcd so
ve'nment another fertile and extensive do
, main. To this country tie same principle
Of government were applied; b : a shor
period 5ehcld the sister states OF Tennessee,
aud Ohio, expanding tHe circle of the Anne
, rican union.
The extent Of the southern and western
possessions, requiring continuance Of TN
system Of territorial government, those n
Mississippi and Indiana succeeded TO tn
two former, denominatcd from their rela
tive position TO the river Ohio.
a territory destined ~ the permauer