The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-08-18
Sauatter SOYereientY.

uen. CasS Claims to be The author and
finisher of the silly doctrine of "Squatter
Sovereignty" He first made known his
great discovery in his Nicholson Letter, in
lS4s, which doctrine, as Mr.. Benton truly
says in his Anti-Nebraska speech, "is a
monstrosity, born of timidity and ambition,
hatched into existence in the hot incubation
of Presidential canvass, revolving to the
beholders when first presented" and has con-
tinued so until the present time. But e are
reminded by an article in late number of
the National Inteli9enccr, that Gen. Cass
after all, is not the original inventor; that he
stole his invention from early Territorial his.
tory of the Northwest Ghe original inven-
tor Of what is row called "Squstter Sover-
eighty" was. Gen. st. Clair, the first Gov
ernor of the Northwestern Territory; so it
| is of Federal and not Democratic origin.
Congress past an act, in April, 1902, au-
thorizing the people living in what is now
called the State of Ohio, to form Constitu-
tion and State Government. Congress, at
the same time, formed Territorial Govern
ment for the Territory of Indiana, in which
there were some FIVE or six thousand in
habtants Up to that time the whole Ter
ritory had been under the Government of one
Territorial head. In November, 1902, the
convention met to form a State Constitut; on;
on coming together, Gen. St. Clair met them
and made speech, in which he contended
that the people Of the Territory required no
act of Congress to authorize them to call
convention and form constitution, and that
the act of Congress was nullity. He said
"lor all internal affairs, we have a complete
Legislature of our own, and in them are no
more bound by an act of Congress than he
wou Id be bound by an edict of the first Consul
of France" He also contended that the
five thousand persons who were let off to the
territory Of Indiana had been divested of
their rights. He also said that "we have the
means in our hands to bring Congress to rea- !
son, il we should be forced to use them"
When this speech reached Washington,
President Jefferson did not like it; love tor
"Squatter Sovereignty" was not one of his
iailings. He therefore directed Mr.. Madison
who Was Secretary Of State, to address Gen. /
st. Clair the following note:
"SIR: The President, observing in an ad.
dress lately delivered by you to the Conven-
llQH uelu Ut anu
indecorum of language towards the Legislature
of the United States, and a disorganizing
spirit and tendency of very evil example, and
grossly violating the rules of conduct ehjoin-
ed by our public station, determines that your
commission of Governor of the Northwestern
Territory shall cease on the receipt of this
notification. | am, &c.
"JAMEs MAuIsoS |
"ARTHUR ST. CLAIR; Esq, Chillicothe."
To which Gen. St. Clair replied in
severe letter, dated Cincinnati, 2lst Decems-
er 1902, in which occurs the following sharp
pointed paragraph.
81 request of your, sir, to present my hum
BILE thanks to the President for that favor, as
he has thereby discharged me from an office
was heartily tired of about six weeks sooner
than had determined to rid myself of it,"
These historical facts show what Mr.. jeff
ersoR and his Cabinet thought OF "Squatter
Sovereignty" They not only repudiated the
doctrine, but .repudiated the Governor who
advanced and promulgated it. In February,
1903, Ohio was admitted into the Union, and
the Hon. John Smith and Hon. Thomas
Worthngton were the first Senators from
the State, and took their seats on the Let of
April, 1903. The Hon. Jeremiah Morrow
was the first Representative. Gin. Gazette.
Democratic EcoNoMY.--According to an