Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-09-08
THE ORDINANCE OF l7S7


as to the authorship of certain important provisions
embraced in the Ordinance of l7o7 for the govern
ment of the Western Territory, now constituting
several States OF the Union, and especially i'm re-
gard to that celebrated provision which forever ex
cuded slavery from that and fertile region our
fellow-townsman, Peter Force, Esq, has prepared
from authentic materials the article which appears
on the preceding page. From this careful exposi-
ton it seems clear that Mr.. Webster was right
when, IN his celebrated speech on "Foot's Resolu-
ton" he ascribed the authorship (f not the oriei-
nal conception) of the clause above specified to
Nathan Dane, of Massachusetts,
1t happens that, in seeking among the ar
'chlves OF all the old States, and among numerous
private collections, for materials for his yoluminous
work, "American Archives" MIR. Force became
possessed OF the original projects and reports submit
ted to Congress respecting plan of government
Tor the Northwestern Territory, from the first step
In 1854 to 1897, when the Ordinance was finally
adopted lie has the copy of the Ordinance OF
l|o|, with all It's alterations marked on it, while
under consideration, just as it was amended at the
Presidents table, amongst which the clause respect
ing slavery remains attached to it, as an amend
ment, in Mr.. Danes handwriting, in the exact
words In which 1t now stands in the Ordinance
From these materials, together with the official
Journals of the body, Mr.. Force has compiled the
narrative which now insert; and, his materials
being thus authentic, we must receive it as set
the sake OF historic truth and the same motive
together with the intrinsic interest of the subject
and the further reason that we have given curren-
cy to versions OF the transaction which do Injustice
to Inc Dead have induced us cheerfully to yield to
At the large share of our space which it occupies
Come OF our contemporaries who are afflicted
with periodical fits of Anglomania-usually most
distressing about the time the dog rages-have
found In the recent return of the Mexican Chief
tain Paroles TO his own country, very plain ndi
cations of a deep British intrigue. The following
from what may be considered at least semi ofii-
cal source, comes just in time to relieve them from
that apprehension Md Int.
Correspondence Of The Philadelphia Public Lcdrer,
WASHINGTON, August 90
al can assure you to- day that all fears and ap
prehensons Off European intervention other than
the kind Offices Of Mr.. Bankhead, British Minister
IN Mexico. to bring about reconciliation and a tres-
ty of peace, have completely vanished. Our Go
vernment has received the most positive assurances
from all the Powers of Europe that they will leave
us to settle quarrel with Mexico i'm our own
way, though they are all most anxious that our ne
gotlatons may be brought to successful ISSUE
Their commerce, OF course, suffers greatly by the
war, and by the state Of anarchy and uncertainty
which is Its immediate consequence"
THE DEMOCRACY AND THE WAR.
o. The Hopkinsvlle Gazette says that not
withstanding the First Congressional District in
this State gave majority of three or four thou
sand for Polk. Democracy, and sour counlry's
wal" not solitary man Of this large number has
lent helping hand to prosecute the war! This
is really too bad, A District, numbering within
its bounds some eight thousand good and true De
mocrats, every one of them camorous for war; all
apparently eager for an opportunity TO avenge their
country's wrongs, and show To the world that our
rights were not to be trampled upon nor our coun-
try's flag lnsulted with IMMUNITY, by any nation |
when the day of battle comes when the call of
their country for volunteers was heard throughout
the land, not man of them-not one of that EIGHT
thousand Polk and war Democrats responded Ia
the call thus aff1rding the Mexicans the most CT
fectual "aid and comfort" they could ask II is
even worse than the Shenandoah and Rockingham
District in Virginia. That District, known as the
Gibraltar Of Virginia Democracy, did furnish t,co
both Wings, however but the Gibraltar of Ken
lucky Democracy did not furnish single yolun-
tcer! What a roproach upon Democracy
Democracy fighting Democracy! the Democracy
that delight TO boast Of our countrys war, but not
to fight in it, prefeuing to stay at home and de-
nounce those who were fighting in it, as Mexican
Whigs.-Licking VaLey (Ky) Register.