New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-14
--.,roRY NORTHWEST OF THE
TBkH OHIO RIVER.
vo.ra.wrsrERS TERRITORY of

-. e~orised within its MINUS 'ie P'0oea' "''
slSw ,sAsua. Illinois, Michigan aud Wisconsin,
c'o0p ..;,ed at that time 50,240 inhabitants,
sns 49, aggregate population of these States IN
4Sz3. iS9. All history does not contain
800 Of ar large and as rapid an increase IN
% 80, and wealth, during the short period of
&c this Territory Northwest of the
n.;o River" furnishes.
w A.. vsar of Grace 1899, and of the Indepen-
r ,;,e United States Of America the twenty-
,o,,v Ap.ns. as Chief Magistrate, commits
I..ob Burnett, James Findley Henry Van
ss.,..,gb Robert Oliver and Daniel Vance as mem
-. oS The first Legislative Council of the Terri
- Northwest of the Ohio River"
iodee vanderbergh, late of the ancient City of
r;.eeupes Ind, and deceased, was the
v..,Seut of the Council, and the author of the
e.. legislative Address to the CITIZENS of the
srsn;fory." This Address is noteworthy, as ex-
b;h;.ing the condition, resources and expectations
n fhe people Of the Territory fifty years ago, and
= an honest disclosure Of the enduring founda-
tons upon which the unprecedented prosperity Of
these States were laid, by the founders thereof.
II is dated Dec. 49, l799 and after alluding to the
sarduous task" of framing laws to protect the
rights and property of men scattered over SO " ex
tsnsiye a tract Of country" proceeds and con-
sludes as follows:
alt must have been easily foresecn that the 2en'cs
ring on entering upon the present stage Oh gov
,rueut would be considerable. To provide for thes'
-. a Land tax presents itself the principal, .;
-, n, only object of which we could avail ourselve
a. h,s uurvose We conceive this the least burden
.oe 10 the greatest class of citizens, as no small por
,;or vl be paid by persons living whou. the Terrific
- owning large tracts OF land within.
0ur soil climate and navigable waters, present
a. mind Of observation and contemplation tae most
ps tiews aid prospects Of the future greatness and
;.,o,tspce Of the American Empire; but to realize
,ss.s advantages, exertons must be made which ar
,hn the power Of an industrious, enerprising and
,A,ened people Let the present generation set the
.v.mple BY misunderstanding ideness and dissipation,
d ON the other hand by encouraging industry fruga
4. temperance, and every moral virtue-and In few
. the desert will disappear before the hands OF in
su,trv. the fields will be covered with hocks and the
.es n nature will blossom like the rose.
.ReHgop, morality and knowledge are necessary to
4. sOa government say the venerable trainers of our
os.in6on and to this great truth every man OF lib
.r., affirmation will subscribe The liberal grants OF
od from the United States for the purpose of erecting
and eudouing an University and other Summaries OF
,srppeor private schools and for the support OF re-
us,onare advantages superior in these respects to
these auy other country can boast of and time will
be Lost in bringing these advantages into actual opera
ton To these advantages let contribute, as Tar as
we are able that wisdom knowledge and virtue may be
widely diHused let us inculca,e the principles OF hui
MANLY benevoence honesty and punctuality In deal
ns sincerity chastity and all social affections Let 1t
be remembered that the foundation Of public prosperity
and happiness must be laid in private famiies-every
well ordered family is little amiable community-and
great community made of such families must be pros
porous and happy at home and respected abroad"
Fifty wears ago, within the presest limits Of the
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and
Wisconsin, there were only $4,000 inhabitants;
and the log cabins of the enterprising pioneers and
frontier settlers of this Northwestern Territory
were few and far between. Then there were
only about 5000 acres of improved land in the
Tenitory-the praries and forests, the rivers and
lakes Of this extensive tract of country were
mostly in the undsturbed and undisputed pos
session Of untamed savage men and wild beasts.
Then the Indian trails, the birdie paths and bark
canoes, were the only signs of internal improve
provements" and the only guides and means o.
internal communication. Indeed " this part
the American Empire" was then almost an unlil-
habited and unmproyed "tract of country and
school-houses churches, canals, railways, steam
boats andtelegraphic wires--there ~ere none. But
there was rich and productive soil, exhaustless
mineral deposits, genial and healthtul climate,
loag rivers and inland seas-there were also few
thousand of hardy pioneers" little amlablc com
munities" Of well ordered private families"
And now, in 1859, this Northwestern Territory
comprises four States, containing about 100000
people, entitled to 4S Representatives has
5000, 900 of acres of improved land raised in
1850, 40,O00,O00 bushels of wheat, 100000
Bushels of corn, 2i50o000 pounds of cheese, and
10000 600 pounds of butter. Ii has McAdamlzed
roads, canals and railroads made and being made
throughout each State, with hundreds of elegant
steamers plying upon its rivers and lakes, tele-
graphic communications between all its chief cities
and towns and those of all other portions of the
Union, with churches, colleges and school-houses,
sufficient and convenient for the education of the
millions. Yes, these "great (State) commune
ties" were founded by, and their present prosper
lty and happiness are based upon, the early labors
and lnauencesof those energetic pioneer settlers
those few well ordered families" And by zen
eoaragmg industry, fugality, temperance and
every other moral virtue" the wilderness has dis
appeared; the prairies, hills and valleys are COW
cred with aocks," and this portion of the Ameri-
can Empire now " blossoms like the rose"
De'esates to the Wing National Convention.