The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-09

The anti savey clause received the votes of States
of the ten present in Congress Under the articles OF
confederation the delegates voted by States and by the
same articles majority OF the theen States was requi-
carry any proposition Nr Jefersons proposition,
having received only six votes was not adopted
hold in nv hand Mr. President, copy of his plan
Tor temporary government for the Northwest Territory
made from the original, which found few weeks ago,
among the archives of the confederation In the State De-
partmen where they are deposited. The original in
the clear careful handwriting al Mr. Jefferson and set
ties the question of authorship 1t divides the territory
into ten States instead OF ve was finally determined
and il contains the anti slavery clause to which have
referred, and which has heretofore been attributed TO
him. will read il for the information of the Senate
Like some other propositions OF kindred character, and
OF later date. il is in the form oil provlso:
safer the year 1890 of the Christian there shall be
neither slavery involuntary servtude in any of the said
the party shall have been duly convicted have per
sosally guilty."
declaration to the author of earlier declaration in favor
of human freedom--l that of our independence
and to have found it in his handwriting Without
this testimony could doubt reading the whole
paper that he the author 1t contains internal evil
dences of authorship which, any familiar with his
style OF composition and his popularity OF thought must
be conclusive. Let 1t be known henceforh the JEFF
fesson provso As such, it will at least escape the i'm
puation of selfish motives, from which, in the prevailing
heat OF party contenton no follower IN the same field
can hope be exempt, however uniustly they may be
attributed to him. have already said that this PROPOSE
ton failed for the want OF single vote. 1t renewed
in l7s5 by Rufus King then representing the State of
d !,
though it not finally acted upon at that time. The
reference made by the votes of eight States out of
eleven present, State being absent and another rep
resented by single delegate, and therefore not entitled
according to the Articles Of Confederation, to votet
Thus things remained until 1887, when the ordnancet
of that year was passed establishing government for
the Northwestern Territory, and prohibiting slavery
within it forever, except for crimes. This ordinance
was reported by committee of which Mr.. Edward Car.
rington of Virginia chairman, and Mr.. Nathan
Dane of Massachusetts leading member II received
the votes OF all the States present. 1t unanimous
vote to States, and unanimous with single excep-
emit viz: Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey Della
ware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Georgia. The five absent States were New Hampshire,
Connecticut, Rhode Island Pennsylvania, and Mary
land. The four hrst-New Hampshire, Connecticut,
Rhode Island and Pennsyvana-voted for Mr.. Jefer-
sons proviso in 1884, and Maryland voted to refer Mr.
Kings proposition in 1855.
Thus think it may be fairly asserted that if all the
States had been represented in Congress- the vote would
have been equally unanimous. The ordinance would
have been adopted by the votes OF the thirteen States
The South united with the North in excluding slavery
from this territory. 1t unanimous verdict of the
whole country against the extension of slavery 1t was
the first great movement of revolutionary fathers
the evil of slavery. And take great pleasure in award.
ing to southern man, Thomas Jefferson, the conception
of this great measure OF justice and humanity
While the Congress OF the confederation sitting in
New York, framing the ordinance of l7s7, the Fed
eral convention sitting in Philadelphia framing the
constitution of the United States While the former body
was devising for the exclusion of slavery from
the North Territory, the latter engaged in
providing for the suppression of the African slave trade