Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-01-22
NO. Is.
Ordinance Of 1857.

ether distinguished men, have given currency
70 the idea. Edward Coles OF Philadelphia, in
communication to the National Intelligencer,
eontroverts this claim, and attributes the "con-
eeption, draft, and introduction" of the ordin-
snce, to Thomas jefferson. To establish his
position, Mr. Coles laborously traces the hsto-
rt Of the ordinance through congressional rec
ords from its commencement TO its 6nal consul
snation as law, and he certainly makes out a
very clear case for Mr.. Jefferson. OF his quail
iHeatons to speak on this subject, the n. Y.
Post, says;
"As an evidence of Mr.. Coles's authority.
indeed wc may soy duty, to testify upon this
subject, VIC will take the liberty of adding that
though himself a member Of one of the largest
slaveholding fsmilies in the United States, he
emancipated all his slaves years ago. He is q
brother-in-law of the Hon. Andrew Stevenson,
Of Virginia; was President Madisons private
secretary; the first governor of the State Of
Illinois, and a warm friend and correspondent
Of Jefferson, to whom his elder brother, Isaac
Coles, was private secretary. Mr.. Coles now
resides in Philadelphia, and, though advanced
In years, is noted for his consistent and rational
devotion to the cause of freedom, and for a
generous hospitality, which enchants all who
some within the sphere of his influence"
We have not room for the article, which is
long. and highly valuable as a historic docu-
zent. We add only the concluding portion Of
the article. Speaking of the various provisions
Of the ordinance, Mr. Coles says:
"That the most important clause in Mr. JEFF
fsrson's plan-that which provided that after
The year 1900 of the Christian era there should
be neither slavery nor involuntary servitudc
In any Of the said states, otherwise than in
punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall
have been duly convicted, to have been person.
ally guilty"-was adopted by Congress with
ne change, except the omission Of the post
Pssemont of its operation until lS0O and the
introduction Of the clause in regard to fugitiycs.
Thus the ordinance, conceived, draughted,
Aad introduced by Mr. Jefferson, was the nstru-
nsnt that ultimately became, with the altera-
lions pointed out, the great fundamental statute
Of very large portion Of the United States
Can any one, who compares the plan proposed
by Mr.. Jefferson with the plan or ordinance as
adopted by Congress, doubt to whom in justice
the credit of authorship bclongsl Especially
san any friend aud admirer of that provision Of
the ordinance which prohibits the federation of
slavery. and prevents its extension and prolon-
cation in our country withhold from the great
author of the Declaration of American Inde.
pendcnce the further and kindred honor of be-
ing the author of the ordinance Of 1887; or
tan he prefer the ordinance, as adopted by Con-
srsss, which confined the inhibition of slavery
TO the territory northwest OF the river Ohio, to
the plan of Mr. Jefferson, which contemplated
excluding slavery from all territory, wherever
situated, which had been or should be acquired
BY tho ccssion of individual states TO the United
States.
Ssno Of the thorough aud incorporating
sdvosgtes OF freedom may think the anti-slaye-
~ clause. as drawn by Mr.. Jefferson, was i'm
proved by Congress making the ordinance take
effect from its passage, rather than from the
ysn 1900. But many of them would think
differently If they we're aware that slavery ex-
istod, and was tolerated by Law, in the territory
seded by Virginia, and that the plan of govern
msnt, as drawn by Mr.. Jefferson, had reference
- the existence of slavery, and was intended to
abolish it, as well as to provide by compact for
its perpetual inhibition.
As is we'll known, Mr.. Jefferson was in favor
Of prospective and gradual abolition Of slave
~ in Virginia; and il is fair to presume that
the same motives which led him to favor that
node of putting an eEd to personal bondage in
Virginia. made him propose it for the territory
acquired from her in which, from the best in
formation have been able to obtain from the
cid inhabitants Of that part of the country,
there were then more than one thousand slaves,
several hundred of which were removed by
their masters across the Mississippi to the then
Spanish province Of Louisiana. Col Auguste
Chouteau, at that time the most intelligent and
wealthy man of that part of the country, told
me that he and all the large Shareholders in
Kaskaskia, and the " American bottom" were
induced, by the passage of the ordinance, to
remove across the river and settle in st. Gene
We've and ST. Louis, in which latter town, by
the way, there were then only about eight or
ten huts. occupied by what were called voyag-
srs.
But it has been said in dsparagement of Mr..
ysfferson's plan, that it was in the form of res
olutions and it may be that Mr.. Dane meant,
In saying he formed the ordinance, that he
netamorphosed resolutions into sections, or be
It resolved, into be it ordained. By this mode
Of reasoning. the members of the committee TO
whom were referred the constitution of the
United States. to revise the style, and arrange
and give proper form to the different articles
and resolutions which had been agreed to by
the convention. would be entitled to be called
the authors of the Constitution with this diff
ference in favor of such claim on their part
that they had been present and aided in the
CONVENTION from the beginning, whereas MIR.
Dane did not take his seat in Congress until