The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-19


antly through the House. But nthe Senate,
where the spirit Of opposition to all popular
amelioratious Of the law, is always most pow
er.ul, very strong opposition was made to
| II; and finally committee Of conference upon
the subject was mutually appointed by the
House and Senate. The conierees on the
part of the House, were Messrs. Gallatin and
Harrison; on the part Of the Seraie, Messrs.
Ross and Brown The conferences finally re-
suited in compromise, according TO which
the public lands were 10 be thereafter sold in
alternate whole and half sections that is, IN
alternate tracts of $40 and 800 acres. This,
though far from being all that Mr.. Harrison
| and his constituents could have desired, was
a very great improvement upon the old sys-
TEN and as about this time the tide of emf
grafton began to flow pretty rapidly upon
Ohio, the influence Of this law upon the cha
racter and fortunes Of her inhabitants must
have been very great. AT the same time with
the principal modification above described,
several other minor, but important changes,
were introduced into the land laws through
the exertions OF the delegate from the North
western Territory
Mr.. Harrison was also the author Of a law,
providing for an Improvement in the method
Of locating military land warrants. BY the
same Congress the Northwestern Territory
was divided, and Ohio was made Territory
by itself, and the vast tract Of country lying
west and including what now constitutes the
States Of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wiscon-
sin, and Iowa, received the name Of Indiana,
and was erected into a separate government.
/ Mr.. Harrison remained in Congress but one
year, having been appointed, at the end OF the
session, Governor Of the Indiana Territory.
BY the act Of Congress, the form of Co
vernment established for the Territory, was
what was then called the first grade Of Ter
ritorial Government; system under which
very extensive authority was placed in the
hands Of the Governor. He had, with the
assistance Of the Judges, the power of adapt
ing and publishing such laws Of the original
States as might be best suited to the Terri
tory--he had the appointment Of all magis-
4 trates and other civil officers, and all militia
officers below the rank of General-the sole
power Of dividing the Territory into counties
and townships-the great power Of confirm
ing grants Of land to individuals having GER
tain equitable claims, his sole signature vest
| ing title, and besides all this was the
representative and constant correspondent Of
the Cabinet at Washington.
4 Many men, as we have Witnessed in mo-
dern times, situated as Governor Harrison
was in relation to the public lands, would
have amassed splendid fortune, by availing
themselves Of the facilities thus offered for
speculation. Having, without check or limi-
ta,ion, the extraordinary power Of ves,ing IL
ties BY his own signature, and no other Off
Ger being required to approve, 10 eountersign,
or even to record his grants, was it not re-
markable that, with such powerful temptation,
The trust should have been discharged with
out stain or abuse! Yet Governor Harrison,
at this or IL any other time, directly or indi-
recty, made no use for his own advantage, Of
any knowledge Of land titles, given in his
official capacity; nor has he ever owned
single acre Of land, held under title emana-
ting from himself as agent Of the General
Government
The Governor was ca o6icio superintendent
Of Indian Affairs, in addition to which, he
with the Indians The tribes were numerous,
and in that vast wilderness Of country, har-
raised by traders, and excited by the British,
very difficult 10 manage. This part Of the
history Of Gov. Harrison is therefore ex-
tremely interesting, and reflects great credit
upon him; and the prudence and justice with
which he discharged his duty, en,itle him to
the everlasting gratitude Of the country
In 1904, he negotiated treaty with the
Sacs s. Foxes, by which, in addition to peace
| full relations, he obtained the cession of that
valuable tract Of country embraced between
the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, running as
| far north as the Wisconsin. All that tract
between the Ohio and the Wabash, as far
| north as the road from Louisville to Vincen-
mes, was obtained by one treaty; and by
subsequent treaty, the Piankashaws coded
tract extending from Vincennes westward
to the settlements on the Mississippi
Governor Harrison's jurisdiction was in
creased by the purchase Of Louisiana, which
was annexed to the Indiana territory, and Of
course his laborious duties were greatly aug
mented.
In 1905, the territory Of Indiana was raised
to the second rank Of territorial government.
being allowed territorial House Of Assembly,
elected by the citizens, and Delegate to