The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-01-29

nifty of distress and the best and most
ardent patriots could hardly resist de-
spair, the question was solemnly dis
cussed at Washington's table--"What
shall we do, if Britain succeeds in es.
t~ablishing and maintaining her domin-
ion in this countrys Submission is out
Of the question; but whittier shall we
Ayr "Behind yonder mountains"
said Washington. "There we can be
free. The valley of Ohio, fertile as
ancient Egypt, will afford US all we re-
quire. With the mountains for a bar
rier, we can defend ourselves there,and
be happy" This was told by the Off
GERS to their friends and families, so that
the idea of a refuge behind the noun
tains, in the last resort, was pretty Sc
riously entertained. When those gloo-
my prospects passed away--when
peace returned, and the independence
Of the country was ackno wledged, ma
ny of those who had merely looked to-
wards the west, as a refuge, in case
England should prevail in the subjuga-
ton of the colonies, now began to view
it as presenting almost the only means
of retrieving tl.eir ruined fortunes, and
securing homes and subsistence for
their growing families. The project Of
a settlement in the west offered many
powerful inducements to men in their
situation, many of whom had hardly
any other resources, and was at last
adopted and carried into effect, by the
formation Of the Ohio company.
The proposition of Virginia, ceding
to the United States her territory on
the north side Of the Ohio, with the ex-
ception OF some reservations in favor
of her own troops, had been formally
accepted by Congress,b by an ordinance
passed on the 18th ofSeptember, 1888.
The great treaty made between the
United States and the Indians, with
respect to the occupation Of the coun-
try within the present boundaries ofthis
State, was concluded at Fort McIn.
tosh, on the Ohio, below Pittsburgh, on
the 9lst day Of January, ITS, by Geo.
Clark, Richard Butler, and Arthur Lee,
commissioners on the part of the Uni
ted States, with the chiefs and warriors
of the Wyandot, Delaware, Chippewa
and Ottawa tribes. 1t was commenced
by declaring that the United States
gave peace'1o the Indian nations NAM
ed in the treaty; and established the
boundary line between the parties from
the C~uyahoga river up the Portage, and
then down the Tuscarawas branch OF
the Muskingum, to the forks, near the
place at which Gen. Mcintosh erected
Il fort in the autumn o. l778, which was
abandoned the next year, and from
thence to the Great Miami, which it
struck about Loramies. This treaty
was considered in force at the time the
Ohio Company was formed. Another
one was made on the 31st of January,
1886, at the mouth Of the Great Miami,
bet ween the U. States commissioners,
George Clark, Richard Butler, Samuel
H. Parsons, and the Shawnee nation,
which recognized the same boundaries.
On the 25th Of January, 1886, the
first movement was made towards the
formation Of the Ohio company,b by Cen.
erals Putnam and Upper, who insert
ed in the newspapers an address to the
officers and soldiers entitled by an act
of Congress 10 a grant Of land in the
territory northwest OF the Ohio; and
to others who might be induced to
become settlers, proposing an asso-
citation by the name Of the Ohio compa-
ny, and that those of whom it should
be composed, should unite in a petition
TO congress for a location oftheir lands.
In pursuance Of the notice, a general
meeting of delegates, from several coun-
ties in Massachusetts,, was held in Bos-
ton, on the first Of March, 1885, when
the proposed association was formed,
and officers appointed to manage :heir
business. 1t was resolved that a fund
Of one million Of dollars in continental
certificates should be raised, and appli.
cation having been made in Congress
w. W. Y. ~ 81