Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-06-23

Historical Skstekcs.-We commence to-
day Tia publication Of a series of numbers
IN which we shall endeavor to embody such
historical and geographical notices of the
Territory, as viii be useful 20 the many who
are now coming IN, henceforth 10 share il:
fortunes. and contribute their proportion &c
The formation OF its character and the deve
lopement Of its resources.
Michigan Proper lies between Al deg Is
min. So sec. and 10 deg rs min north laii
tude; and 81 deg Is min and 81 deg Sc
min. west longitude from Greenwich II i.
bounded north and east By Ohio and Indiana
and west by line running northerly along
the middle of Lake Michigan TO Biz Beaver
Island, and thence due north TO the national
boundary IN Lake Superior The territory
csmprehended within the above limits. con
talns about 60,500 square miles, third oil
which, probably. is covered with water II
IS composed principally of two pcninsulas
The larger one being the Peninsula of Mi
chigan. so called, bounded east ky lakes Erie
ST. CLAIR and Huron; west by Lake Michi-
gan; containing about $1,000 square miles
The smaller one, bounded south hy the strait.
OF Michillimackinac; east by the river St
Mary; north by Lake Superior; containing
about two thousand square miles The length
OF Peninsula of Michigan, from north to
south IS about two hundred and eighty miles:
breadth, from east to west. one hundred and
eighty or two hundred. The jurisdiction OF
Michigan Territory extends over all Of the
territory Of the United States east of the
Mississippi, and north of Illinois
The first regular settlements were made
in the beginning of the last century. The
Jesuits planted the standard of the cross on
the site of this city in 1920. the year in which
the Puritans landed at Plymouth. in New En-
gland; bat then the missionaries Of that order
and few traders were the only visitors OF
this region. While he country remained in
the possession OF the French, the govern
ment remained arbitrary. The civil AID mi
htary authority was united in the person of a
"eommandaut " Lands were held by the
King, under grants, sometimes temporary
sometimes permanent, by his Governor Gen
eral; 10 Which leutal rent was usually Incl
dent. The laws, egu!ating the ri ,lits of pro
perry, paiilcHrl, III regard TO the marriage
relation, Succession and degises were those
Of the common law OF France, called the
"Coutume dc Paris" so Gar as they were ap
plIcable to the circumstances of the country
These laws were abrogated. as 10 any further
operation in the territory, in eighteen hun
drcd aud len.
In I7G5, the French possession were ceded
TO England, by a treaty, signed at Paris, in
February Of that year. In 1888, at The con
clnsion Of the Re, dictionary War, the coun-
try was Transferred to the United States On
the / ia of July, 1876, in conformity to the
provisions OF Jays treaty, the possession OF
Detroit and the upper posts, was delivered to
the American Government. The North Yves
tern Territory was coded TO the y States by
Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and
New York; in 1897 an Ordinance was fra
med ny Congress. for its government, which
was altered IN 1883, to adapt it 10 the con
stituiion.
BY the act Of May eighteen hundred, In,
diana, including Michsa1, was created Sc
parae Territory. BY the act OF January
eighteen hundred and five, Indiana was diyi
ded, and Michigan Territory set off BY the
act of April, 1918. the territory lying north
OF Indiana, included in the former. indiana
Territory, together with the part OF Ilnoi:
Territory, north of and not included within
the boundaries of the State oil Illinois, was
attached to Michigan.