Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-15

graphical distinctions then slave hold
lug and non-slave holding states were not
ihougitof. By one simultaneous act The
Congress declared, and the siales raii.
he'd, the declaration thai governments
were established 10 secure the enjOynicHi
oil individual rights, deriving their lusi
authority from the consent of the gov
eDed.
A, that time, let il be remembered, all
The states contained slaves, and all The
states declared, before the Supreme Judge
of the world, That slavery was a Violations
OF ihla irnih, and admitted the binding
obligation 10 remedy The wrong, when
possible. Now let Us recur 10 The ordi-
nance OF 81, and The articles OF compact
II contains. | can do II jusilce in no
Other language than thai declaring lis
purpose as laid down by The wise and
Soou men "ho conceived and gave il
eiiect. Thus II reads "And Tor extend
ing the fundamental principles OF civil
aud religious liberty, which form the
basis whereOn these republics, their
iawS ana constitutions are erected 10
M and estab ssh those principles, az
the @asis of ali laws, constitutions, and
government $, which .JoreUer Hereafter,
. shall be formed III said territory to
provide also Tor the establishment of
I
IN, aud tor their admission TO q shar..
IN the federal souhclls, on an equal
lootIng With tie original states, al as
early periods aS may b. consistent nh
| " The general interest Look a. HE Cone
| and character of this d ratlon.-Herp.
Indeed, the great seli.cvideni truths OF
which have been speaking, were applied.
III luil eject, 10 virgin ier:iiory, un
stained by The yices,. unlaiuied by The er.
| rOrs, an: unembarrassed by The mistaken
| notions OF interest incident To human
society. They we're the laws of God
| applied TO a country before il had been
| peopied, by vase foresight, which has
been often displayed, antier the guidance
o! kind Providence, By the councils OF
our country. ~ The era of indcpen,ieuce
lhe wholesome maXims of policy rccog-
nlzed, could not have their full Heel,
| because, IN the infancy of our SELL,
| mcnis, The curse OI slavery had been en-
allrd on us by a blinded and uni,ind mo-
Their country. Al that virtue could re
| quirc WaS, that so inveicrate a disease
should be relieved, by applying diligently
| discreet correclivcs, and, above al. guard
| ing against thr extension Of tke evil.
Ihus DO we fad, four years after peacc
had been settled, OF cool delberaiiou.
thi federal coumcil, seized the first op
por'unIly OF planting The fundamental
principles OF civil and religious liberty.
IKE seed sown III soil received, rs il
were, from the hand of the Creator.
where they designed them to flourish in
| eternal yigor, and spread their fragrant
branches through the world. This
mighty stroke OF wise policy was had
under The utmost freedom from all bias
| OF SelilShECSS aud of ronslraint
HI, great men who executed this trus,
looked not al tie bearings of interest or
10 The qualification OF an unworthy ambl-
ton. The ordinance declares a second
TINE hat slavery was viewed as great
evil and one, for lh, existence of winch.
Tie people OF that day we're not accounta-
bic. That states who fonnd llirns Ives
under the sad necessity of permitting lis
continuance, might al the same lime,
without Inconsistency, declare again and
again, all men are created equal This
Immortal ordinance, Inch with lis elder
sister, the Declaration OiIndependence,
will shed eternal and understandable
Iustre, over The annals olour country, was
also adopted by an unanimous vote. Ii
was aye, aye, IRON New Hampshire TO
Georgia. Here again there was 10 go
graphical distinction. In this act Of i'm
perishable virtue, Virginia had the largest
share She coded the most extensive and
best founded right 10 the territory. She
LETT Congress tree 10 impress omit The fun
damental principles OF owl and religious
liberty. She gave her ready voice Tor ille
ordinance, and il is believed her repre>
seniaives were among The most ardent
advocates for the measure. | cannot look
INTO the provisions Of the articles Of com
pact, without burning with admiration of
their principles, and tie wisdom and virtue
by which they have been consecTated.-
There are 10 marginal nOies, or would
briefly recount them. The rights OF the
HuiHiured Indian were guaranteed. and,
are ia lh" goodness and wisdom OF lie le-
gislalof: twas left open 10 his hopes that
his posieriiy might one day enioy the
blessings of the rights they secured -
These blessings, Mr.. President, have
been already cOnsecrated to three stars
OI your constellation thar will soon take
aux as OF the first magnitude. Ohio viii
probably appear IN That character az the
nest census. have spoken of the or
dlnaDce Of 81, as applying 10 territory.
Bu 81 what mighty magnitude isit!
Is fitted TO contain mighlier population
illan The mlgliirst Of the old continents.
u IT'S history was not insulated by more
comprehensive events, u might now stand
IS lie worlds best hope. IN This inslru-
meui II was not necessary To repeat that
all men arc created equal THAI was al
ready inscribed on The corner stone of
all your laws and polily. II was here
enough To say, 40 man should be a slave,
aud that every man should have an equal
share of civil and religious liberty, by
the decree OF Interchangeable Justice. So
lar we discover no hOldlug back all is
one consistent, just, enlightened aud
nnvarying policy. Every thing seems to