Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-27
TIE MOVEMENT IN THE WEST.

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The Ordinance for the government of the
Northwestern Territory" out of which have
been formed the States of Ohio, Indiana, ILL
nois Michigan, and Wisconsin, bears date July
10, 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-
Piles 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 I;
to provide, also, for the establishment Of States
and permanent Governments therein, and for
their admission to 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-
cd 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 noedful safe
guards for personal rights The last article
specially has made the day on which the Ordi-
nance was adopted worthy Of perpetual oom-
memoration:
aARTIcLE6 There shall be neither Slavery
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 be lawfully reclaim
ed, and conveyed to the person claiming his
or her labor or service, as aforesaid"
The Territory organized under this compact
was then wilderness; but, in the course Of
half century, it was formed into five power
fol States, comprising an aggregate area Of two
hundred and twenty-seven thousand square
miles, and total population, in 1850, Of four
and half millions, oil 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
called Democrats at the North and West who
sustain it, the People Of those States severalIy
propose to hold State Conventions on the 18th
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 dishonorcd and betrayed tho
fundamental Principles Of Civil and Religious
Liberty which it establishes, and for bringing
back the Federal Government to the doctrines
and spirit which pervadcd the Congress that
enacted that glorious Ordinance.
The movement .is made, irrcspectively Of
Party. II concerns the honor, the interests,
and safety Of the People, and the People are
taking the lead in it.
The call for the Convention in Ohio has been
in circulation all over the States; thousands
upon thousands Of names have been sent to
the Committee appointed at Columbus to re-
ceive them, and thousands more are rolling
in. The Ohio State Journal says the design
was 10 have tho call, with oil the names at
tachcd thereto, printed in its columns, but
the thing is impossible ~
aWc have not in the Office, nor is there in
the city, capital letters enough TO begin to set
the initials of the names. There is no way Of
accomplishing the demand upon us short Of
sending of to the type founders for supply
of letter for this especial purpose"
The Journal adds;
at il emphaticalIy movement Of the PEo-
PIE; the call for Convention has gone forth
Is with shout; tho People know whnt they
are about, this time, and they will be heard
through their delegates on the 18th.
"Take, for instance, call returned from
ono locality in Stark county. The signers stand
recorded
Democrats as
Free. SOiIers 10