Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-01-01
To the Editors Of tie Enquirer.
~ SENATOR K. NJ 7. HUNTER.

TO SENATOR Il. NJ. L. RI
Thso has been much said of late years Me rs Editors,
49, ,an nersons in Congress and ont of Congress- 4 e
ference To the provisions Of the ordinance p before
adoption Of the present constitution ~ rho ;vnmrn,
n the Confedeacy BY the State OF Virginia MAJ cessioh
was made in good faith by Virginia. to enable
~ 10 have fund forming nucleus from whirse aeos y;
the Revolutionary War were 10 be paid va !lanu nv
some other States jealous because Virginia aa
Land Office and dsposing of her lands IN West Au
,sta at fifty per Motions una proceedings
5 thai the lands should be held for the general benchi OF
the States in their individual capacity This did no succeed
which caused the display Of feeling BY the Executive o
MARYLAND in those early days ::
have said the cession 10 the Conederacy was made IN
GOOD faith and all Virginia required was that the ctced terri
tory should be constituted into not less man ee lot NOR
than fire States Has the provision oil that cesson Deen
complied with? Not rs il should be by any means
By Treaty of lIS3 the limits and actual dimensions
b then Union as defined by Mr. Madison are thus set forth
ON the East the Aanc the South the latitude OF thirty
one derrees on the West the Missssppl ana on me Norm
an irregular line running in some instances beyond TIE io.
fifth derrcc in others falling low as the forty second
About thousand miles, mean length rom .Norlh u
South and the mean distance from East 10 West not pro-
badly exceeding hundred and fifty miles SLch was
the extent this Union, by the Treaty OF io3 on I'M tcS
mopy of one who was well informed the subject and
as tenacious of the rights Of his country as any OF The pa
triots of The present day.
Your readers form estimate OF the valuable ceS
sion made 10 the confederation March ls 1884, When they
bear in mind that what constitutes the rising greatness
Of the Northwest viz Ohio, Michigan, Indiana Illinois
Wisconsin and all Minnesota East of the Mississippi 10 the
Lake ofti Hoods did in 1888 compose part Of the original
limits of The United States and coded 10 the condera-
ton BY Virginia sacrifice on the altar OF fraerna i'end
ship and the Union.
That portion of the Northwest territory included within
the limits Of Minnesota contains 22,336 square miles exc
=ive OF the ire States already formed above stated
Should the population justify such DIVISION from me
manner OF opposition the South cynced by the free
soil advocates YOU may expect that portion o nneso
East OF the Mississippi made into State, as the territory
thus enumerated exceeds in four Of the most flour
islug States of New England, viz Vermont Mas
sachusctts, Rhode Island and Connecticut Two OF the
above States in colonial day. and for years al
Ter the treaty OF lIs3, owe much oi ther CONNER
cia prosperity and importance their and prohts
in the STARE trade The merchants of Bristol and Newport
r. L. and Bedford and Salem Mass imported more sarea
into the colonies than all other places united II was then
legitimate business ran.aciion and because the trade was
discontinued and prohibited mainly by The influence o
Southern III Congress- our Northern friends nave peer
FESTIVE since in their prohs being reduced oy the lh'
bitiun oi their trade IN slaves.
Well sirs the ordinance passed and carried fully int
effect by being accepted by Congress- both before and after
the adoption of the Constitution of the land. In fact tn,
ordinance for special consideration and that con-
sidcraon expressed that slavery should not exist there
states We hold You To the ordinance the 'bon>
and contract, you appearing fond OF It's PROVISIONS
Messs Fecsoie5s and say you have got every thing
and more than you claim, by its expressed provisions
then by what right Of justice You further claim for al
ordinance passed before the Constitution was formed
bind territory subsequently purchased BY treaty with foreign
powers As well might you say that the ordinance Is TIT
Constitution contend that the ordinance OF l7S1 cover
the purchase of Louisiana by Mr. Jefferson ~ oS, or TN
purchase Of Florida by Col Monroe, in lS9, or our lat
treaty with Mexico BY which we acquired BY S1giherr
blood and PATRIOTISM those regions Of anta Fe an'
! California. Ii is abslrdity.
admit, that should there be amendment 10 the Consti
tuition OF the United Sates adopted BY three ortS OF tn
States such an ordinance might be passed by Congress
But the Constitution of country declares that pomtr
not delegated the United States by the Constitution
prohibited by 10 The States a!e reseed to The States It
specycly TO the people," Then how can the powers
claimed by ic advocates Of the ordinance, be extended l.
territory that had the accep.aon 10y peopl
the
ans such argument, Constitution overrides all such pro
visions, and the only way 10 come at that question will b.
propose the people such amendment 10 the ConSt
ton as will the views of the -soers Peradven
tre they will be able obtain the Of three fourS
the States for such provision Al least there would b.
great harm in moving the subject in the present Congress
where possibly, they obtain eoihirds vote for suc
measure. Yours &c.
! JACOB FAITHFUL, JR.