The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-06
THE MOVEMENT IN THE WEST.

The Ordinance for the government of the
Northwestern Territory" out of which have
been formed the States of Ohio, Indiana, lllis
nois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, bears date July
13, 1887. After providing the form of govern
ment it proceeds to enact certain fundamental
articles, specifying the objects in the following
preamble:
"And for extending the fundamental princi-
pies of civil and religious liberty which form
the basis whereOn these Republics their laws
and constitutions are erected to fix and estab-
lish those principles as the basis of all laws,
constitutions, and governments, which forever
hereafter shall be formed in the said territory
to provide, also, for the establishment of States
and permanent Governments therein, and for
their admission to a share in the Federal Coun-
cils on an equal footing with the original
States, at as early periods as may be consistent
with the general interest II as hereby ordain-
ed and declared, that the following articles
shall be considered as articles of compact be-
tween the original States and the people and
States in the said Territory, and forever remain
unalterable, unless by common consent"
There are six Of these articles of compact,
providing solemn guarantees for freedom of
conscience, right of trial by jury habeas cor
pus, fair representation, and all needful safe
guards for personal rights. The last article
specially has made the day on which the Ordi-
nance was adopted, worthy Of perpetual COM
memoration:
G Tho-o L. u .oskI,o.
nor involuntary servitude in the said Territory,
otherwise than in punishment OF crime, where
of the party shall have been duly convicted ::
Provided, always, that any person escaping into
the same, from whom labor or service is
lawfully claimed in any one Of the original
States, such fugitive may DO lawfully reclaim
ed, and conveyed 20 the person claiming his
or her labor or service, rs aforesaid"
The Territory organized under this compact
was then a wilderness; but, in the course of
half century, it was formed into five power
full States, comprising an aggregate area of two
hundred and twenty-eeven thousand SQUARE
miles, and total population, in 1850, of four
and half millions, all freemen, maintaining
free-labor institutions, and nobly illustrating
their benefcence and wisdom.
The policy which has given these free States
to the Union, having been repudiated and
trampled upon by the Slave Power and It's
Instruments, the Administration and the So
called Democrats at the North and West who
sustain it the People of those States severally
propose to hold State Conventions on the 9th
day of July ensuing, to commemorate the pas
sage of the Ordinance of 1887, and confer to-
gether on the best measures for furnishing
those who have dishonored and betrayed the
fundamental Principles Of Civil and Religious
Liberty which it establishes and for bringing
back the Federal Government to the doctrines
and spirit which pervaded the Congress that
enacted that glorious Ordinance.
The movement is made, irrespectively of
Party. 1t concerns the honor, the interests,
and safety of the People, and the People are
taking the lead in it.
The call for the Convention 10 Ohio has been
in circulation all over the States; thousands
upon thousands Of names have been sent to