Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-02-16

which was rejected was the system Of
warrants, surveys, entry, and location !;
such as prevails south Of the Ohio. 1t is
not necessary to extend these remarks into
invidious comparisons. This last system
is that which, as has been emphatically
said, has shingled over the country to
which it was applied, with SO many con-
tilcting titles and claims. Every body
acquainted with the subject knows how
easily it leads TO speculation and litigation
two great calamities in new country.
From the system actually established,
these evils are banished. Now, sir, in Ell.
fecting this great measure, the first i'm
portant measure on the whole subject,
New-England acted with vigor and effect,
and the latest posterity Of those who set
tied northwest of the Ohio, will have
reason to remember, with gratitude, her
patriotism and her wisdom. The system
adopted was her own system. She knew.
for she had tried and proved, its value
II was the cid fashioned way of surveying
lands before the issuing of any title pa
pers, and then of inserting accurate and
precise descriptions in the patents or
grants, and proceeding with regular ref.
erence to metes and bounds. This gives
to original titles, derived from government,
a certain and fixed character it cuts up
litigation by the roots, and the settler COM
mences his labours with the assurance
that he has clear title. 1t is easy to
perceive, but not easy to measure, the inn
portance of this in new country. New
England gave this system to the West.
and while it remains, there will be spread
over all the West one monument of her
intelligence in matters of government,
and her practical good sense.
At the foundation of the constitution
of these new northwestern States, we
are accustomed, sir, to praise the IaMgiy-
ers of antiquity; we help to perpetuate
the fame Of Scion and Lycurgus; but I
doubt whether one single law of any law
giver, ancient or modern, has produced
effects of more distinct, marked, and last
ing character than the ordinance of 81.
That instrument was drawn by Nathan
Dane, then. and now, citizen of Massa-
chusetts. 1t was adopted, as ] think
have understood, without the slightest
alteration; and certainly it has happened
to few men to be the authors of a politi-
cal measure of more large and enduring
consequence. 1t fixed, forever. the char
acter of the population in the vast regions
Northwest ofthe Ohio, by excluding from
them involuntary servitude. 1t Impress
ed on the soil itself, while it was YET a
wilderness, an incapacity to bear up any
other than free men. IT laid the interdict
against personal servitude, in original COM
pact, not only deeper than all local law,
but deeper, also, than all local constitu-
tons. Under the circumstances then ex-
listing, look upon this original and sea-
sonable provision, as a real good attained.
We see its consequences at this moment,
and we shall never cease to see them,
while the Ohio flows. 1t was great and
salutary measure of prevention. Sir, |
should fear the rebuke of no intelligent
gentlemen of Kentucky, were to ask
whether, if such an ordinance could have
been applied to his own State, while it
was yet wilderness, and before Boone
had passed the gap of the Allegheny. he
does not suppose it would have contribut-
ed TO the ultimate greatness of that COM
monwealth 1t is, at any rate, not TO be
doubted, that where it did apply, it has
produced an effect not easily to be de-
scribed or measured in the growth of the
States, and the extent and increase of
their population. Now, sir, this great
measure again was carried by the North,
aud by the North alone. There were,
indeed, individuals elsewhere favourable
to it: but it was supported as measure
entirely by the votes of the Northern
States. If New-England had been gov
erned by the narrow aud selfish views now
ascribed to her, this very measure was, OF
all Others, the best calculated to thwart
her purposes. 1t was, of all things, the
very means of rendering certain vast
emigration from her own population to
the West. She looked to that conse-
quence only to disregard it. She deemed
the regulation most useful one to the
States that would spring upon the terri
tory, and advantageous to the country at
large. She adhered to the principle of it
perseveringly, year after year, until it was
finally accomplished.
Leaving then, Mr.. President. these two
great and leading measures, and coming
down to our own times, what is there in
the history of recent measures Of govern
ment that exposes New-England to this
accusation Of hostility TO Western inter-
ests /! assert boldly, that in all meas
ures conducive to the welfare ofthe West
since my acquaintance here, no part OF
the country has manifested more liberal
policy. l beg to say, sir, that | do not
state this with view Of claiming for her
any special regard on that account. Not
at all. She does not place her support OF
measures on the ground Of favour confer
red--far otherwise. What she has done