Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-02-20
The ohIe Csnreanen q 1so2.

pamphlet entitled "JoURNAL OF THE
CONVENTION, OF the Territory of the
United States, northwest OF the
Ohio, began and held at Chillicothe
on Monday, the first day of Novem-
Der, 1902, and of the independence
of the United States the twenty-sev.
, enth. From the Press OF N. Willis.
Printer 10 the Convention"
!, This Journal, with all its afixes
, and pre6xes, numbers but 46 pages,
and, therefore, can in no way CON-
pare with the vast and yoluminous
book, which the present Convention
lis preparing for the delight and edif-
cation OF poSterity. In fact, we re-
gret that the Old Convention was so
impressed with the idea, that brevity
is the soul of wit, that they have left
us a bare skeleton of their acts and
scarcely a vestige Of their thoughts.
But they did leave US a Constitution
"a free Constitution-in which the
sovereignty OF the people was not
restrained by despotic prohibitions,
and under which they have lived
happily, comfortably and prosperous
ly for half a century. The best
luck, which can be wished for the
people of Ohio under the New Con-
siitution is, that they may fare no
worse than they did under the old
one. Ii was formed, when Ohio
knew no party divisions, and when
the Convention itself gave a willing
tribute to the administration of Mr..
Jefferson. A brief reference to the
Convention may not be uninteresting
now.
The Convention consisted OF Thirty
fire members, representing nine coun-
ties. The whole Miami country was
then divided into the two counties
of Hamilton and Clermont; the
whole Scioto country into the coun-
ties of Ross and Adams; the whole
Muskingum country was contained
in the county of Washington, and
the whole Western Reserve in the
county of Trumbull. The residue
of the State was divided into the
counties of Jefferson, Belmont and
Fairfield. About one half the Terri
tory of Ohio then belonged TO the
Indians.
Among the members OF the Con-
vention were four, who afterwards
became Governors of the State, viz:
Tiffin, Huntington, Worthington and
Morrow, and three who were Sena-
tors, viz: Morrow, Worthington and
John Smith, who was expelled, for
aiding Burr's expedition.
The Printer to the Convention
was N. Willis Qhe father OF N. P.
Willis the poet) who also claimed to
have established, at Chillicothe, the
first religious newspaper printed in
the United States.
The President pro tenn of the Con-
vention was one Of the most remar-
kable men in it-Dr. William Co.
forth, Of Cincinnati. He was a
practising physician Of merit. Of in
telligence, and scientific taste. John
w. Browne of this county, was an
Englishman by birth, and Clergy
man, the father Of S. ]. Browne, and
one of the first persons interested in
advancing the Cincinnati College,
Governor Morrow, then represented
this county, and so did John Smith,
the after expelled Senator. The reg
ular President of the Convention
was DR.. Tifin, of Ross, by birth an
Englishman, one Of the earliest set
tiers OF Chillicothe, and afterwards
Governor. The Western Reserve
had a single member, in the person
of Samuel Huntington, afterwards
Governor,
II may be remembered, as an ex-
ample OF sectional and popular mu-
tation Of opinion, that Mr.. Hunting
Ton, who then represented the Wes-
tern Reserve, voted against every
proposition to give the coiored people
the right Of suffrage; while all the
Hamilton county members, (ten in
except John Smith, voted
for their right to suffrage. Things
appear to be reversed in the present
On the question Of
negro suffrage, the representatives OF
Ross and Fairfield occupied the same
ground then that they do now; al
ways opposed TO any mingling OF
races and rights. !.
The question whether the negroes
then in the State should vote was
finally decided in the negative, by
the casting vote of the President of
the Convention, DR.. Tiffin.
The Convention met on Monday.
the lst day of November, and ad-
journed Monday, the 29th day Of
November, having been in session
Just four calender weeks. Each ar
ticle of the Constitution was refer
red 10 Committee, which reported