The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-12-26
JAMES R. MORRIS, ,EO1ron And l,D Pa,o,IrlalEToa.

occupied buta few sites 81 her immense
water power, and but just begun to
loper, her inexhaustible mines Of iron
and fields Of coal. Before the lapse
of twenty years, her population will
have increased from two 10 four mil
lions, and her taxable property from
four hundred to thousand millions Of
dollars. + 'Ss ~. III.
Z The cause Of this unexampled pros
.perity, is as much without a parallel IN
history as the effect. It will be found
in the natural resources ofthe State, ID
the security of. titles to land, 10 the
early protection and liberal policy Of
Ahe general government. II will be
found 10 the character Of fher population,
who, instead Of emerging through long
ages from barbarisnl to civilization,
brought with them freedom, law, chris
-tianity, and the arts ofciviized life. il,
will be found in her free constitution,
comforting on her Executive nenher
patronage. nor the veto power; and in
her legislation, which, in the main, has
been liberal and wise. II will be found
I'm the Ordinance of 1887. That great
charter of North Western liberty was
here before our fathers. It had guar
anteed TO every. emigrant liberty ofcon-
science the right oftrial by jury7the
right Of equal representation-and the
invlolabilitya Of private property. It
had declared that f.no law impairing
the validity Of contracts, previously
made without fraud, should ever have
any binding authority within the ter
ritory." And it had proclaimed, that
s.schools. and the means, Of education,
should forever be encouraged; for the
plain reason, that religion. morality.
and knowledge. are necessary to good
government, and the happiness ofman-
kind" ,,N ~ ~ ~ =
But. Of all the provisions Of that or
dinance, the most important to the
cause Of humanity, and the most ben
efficient in its operation upon ths NOR
falls, the rights, the happiness, and the
prosperity Of the millions, who In all
time to come will inhabit these States,
liz that which makes the soil north
vest Of the river Ohio, forever incapa-
| BILE Of sustaining slave. -
With African serviiude, as the franz
ers Of our government found it within
the limits Of the original slaveholding
States. the people Of Ohio have no de-
sire 10 meddle. Not that we look up
on the subject with cold indifference,
or ever cease to contemplate with earn
est so.icitude as men and as Americans,
the course which our brethren OF those
States. united with US in the same great
| bond Of union, may feel it to be their
dutv no less than their true interest, 10
pursue towards that oppressed and
down trodden race nor, much less, that
we countenance the doctrine broached
by some, that human slavery is not IN
itself an evil, but because we look'upon
] i, as an institution beyond our jurisdic
ton, subject to the control alone OF the
legislatures and people Of the severa
i States wherein it exists. There the
i convention which framed our Fedora
4 Constitution found it, and there they
were compelled reluctantly to leave it
But surely it is matter ofrejolcIng t
I. us, no less than Of honor to our fathers
that, in laying the foundations Of th'
social system here, where slavery hat
never existed, they in great wisdom ant
Il humanity hedged il out, by perPetua
interdict, and consecrated the land 7
/ freedom.
q In contemplating the history Of tha
, period and dwelling upon the difficul
FLIES which beset our fathers, in CON
promising the conflicting interests OF tn
/ several sections Of the Union, hoy
!. cheering It is, thus to witness the eve
: living doctrines Of the Declation
3 American independence bursting fort
I into practical operation wherever
e was possible to give them immediai
n efficacy! Y ,-,.i 49, .,.s',' -.
d And how should a sense Of deep h
& initiation and guilt fall upon us, the d
!. scendants Of such men, when with II
!. prosperous career ofOhio and OF ii
r other free states of the Northwester
"a territory before our eyes, and with, .
s the lights Of Christianity and freedo
beaming upon us, we compare or rat
Is Ier contrast the ordinance ofgl787 WI
,e lthe constitution Of III Texas, the one pc
is peiuaIly prohibiting slavery, and u
Ie other perpetually prohibiting freedom
Ie How, can we reflect upon the motiv
IN and means which brought about q
I'd annexation Of that province with su'
sf constitution!--a constitution taste
l. ling slavery forever upon vast regl'
" wherein asneighboring republic had
D. ready ssbroken everyiyOke and d,iet, I
III loppressed 60 free.' tii tasss.i
he sb And how, with the constitution