Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1856-08-06
From the Vsnecnnes Carcffe.
The Ordinance OF f,s7.


Al the present iunctgrc. when an attemp, i.
being made hy ambitious spd unscrupnlous
men 10 shbvert the policy Of the rovernmen,
a. established by the heroes Of the Re~ola
ton and the trainers q our Federal Constitn.
ton. history Of this famous ordinance !.
we'll tim. d aud canDot Tail n exerting = good
influence. Gov. Coles. Of all men living. i
perhaps best prepared to compile such a docr.
ment. The personal and political friend of
jefferson. Madison and Monroe Nirginian
by birth. education and residence-an carly
settler IN the Northwest Territory and par.
ips9t IN the political discussions which al
tended the settlement Of the slavery question
IN lllinois-elected Governor II Illinois IN
1894 upon that very i~sue-he enjoyed rare
opportunities Of becom NJ familiar both with
the private opinions and official action of III.
men who. in the infancy of the Republic. IN
auguraied the policy involved in the ordi-
nance Of l7e7. the Missouri Compromise and
the Texas settlement respecting the non ex
tension Of slavery.
One Of the most interesting facts establish.
ed by Gov. Coles in this history felaies To tho
authorship of the ordinance. Ii has become
the fashion OF late among certain ,scnsant
Democrats 10 assign It's origin 20 Nathan Dane
Having widely departed themselves from The
doctrines Of Democracy as established by the
great founder es the party. they seek to cover
over their delinquency by Satisfying history.
and dspriviug Mr.. jefferson the credit that he.
longs 10 him. Gov. Coles places the question
beyond the reach of controversy. aud in view
of the interest which attaches 10 the subject.
we epi,omize the following from hi. admirs.
bic history:
The whole Of the old Northwest Tcrritar,
including all the tract bounded by the State
Of New York. the Ohio. the Mississippi. and
the Lakes. became the property of tn. Federal
Government, the Western Reserve IN ohio er.
cepted. by deed Of cession froin Virginia.
dated March l. lisa. A few davs aftei the
execution Of the deed Mr.. jeiferson n'oSeo IN
Ccngress the appointment, Of corimii,ee. to
frame "a orgzrie Law for lie new ACQUISITION.
The COMMITTEE consisted OF Mr. Jefferson,
Samuel Chase. Of Maryland. and David How
ell. Of Rhode Island. The report Of thi. com.
mitee was founded on draft Submitted by
Mr.. jefferson. and contained a variety Of pra-
visions Of necessary aud formal sort, and e
naly this
AFTER the year 1870 % the Christian era.
there shall be neither slavery nor Involuntary
seryiiude in any Of the said States. otherwise
than in punishment Of crimes whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted TO hsv-
been personally guilty"
This clause of the ordinance excited much
discussion. and finally. on the 18Th of April.
l1e4. Mr. Spaighi, OF n. C.. seconded by Mr.
Reed. OF ;. c.. moved To strike IL out. On
the question whether IL should stand. all the
members from the Northern States. together
with Mr. Jefferson. Of va. and Nr. William
son. Of n. q voted Ayr the Southern States
voted No and it was stricken out because on.
hsTss sS ssses s % s'sd iH. Or 81 Sn
whole number OF thirteen States, vas required
To pass any measure. IL was exr laued. at the
time. that the Limitation was liked at 1900, be
cause the act operated a an emancipation act.
since large mbers of settlers from Virginia
were IN the Territory. with slaves while all
the old French settlers on TIE banks Of the
Mississippi wh-e shareholders Justice re-
qlircd that some interval should be given them
to prepare for freedom The question came
up again in March. lisa. when lr King nov
ed that Mr. Jeserson's proyiso-the limitation
just alluded 10 being omitted-shoGld bs re-
fetred To n committees with a view - It's intro
duetion into the organic law of the North
Western Territory. The. motion was carried
eight States voting for il. aud three against
II. Finally. on the 9Th Of July. l7sT. jn>t
sixty nine years ago. the ordinance with this
Anti Slavery provision in Il was adopted.
~ State voting for IL. In showing that the
provision was first reported by Mr.. Jefferson.
m l7si. Mr. Coles destroyed the claim set up
in behalf Of Nathan Dane. OF Massachusetts.
10 its authorship. since Mr.. Dane, only took
his seat in November. lIo5. eighteen months
after Mr. Jeffcrsons report. In connection
with the adoption Of the ordinance. Mr.. Coles
adds:
TIT. Strings 20 fiy recollection what was
told by Mr. Madison, and which DO no. ~.
member To have ever seen Ia punt. The Old
Congress held its session IN 7s5 IA New York.
While a. the Same time the Convention which
framed the Constitution of the United States
A n. ii -.
siduals were members of both bodies. aud
thus were enabled to know what zas passing
IN each-both sittif with closed doors and ia
secret sessions. The distrssting Question of
slavery was sgitating aud retarding the la
bors Of both. and led To conferences aud inter
communications of The members, which result
ed IN a compromise ~ lnhich me Norfhsra or
Asfi Siaperr reffion Of ne eoaafrs agreed 70 in
corporate INTO the Ordnance and CoHsfsfHfioR The
prorision 70 resfore fse'ffoe siaDes and this mu-
tnal and concurrent aciior ~as the cause of the
similarity Of the provisions contained In both
and had its influence an creating the great un-
animity by which the Crdirance passed. aud
slso. n making the Constellation more accep-
able 10 the SHAREHOLDERS"
The tendency Of the whole history goes 10
show that the great statesmen II the country
the purest aud most enl ghtened % her citi-
sens Of all sections, North. South. East and
West. from the Revolution down down 10 lo5l
-gste their adhesion 70 the policy of Col
rressional legislation restricting slavery -et-
tsasion. We corclude this notice with the fo'-
lowing closing remarks Of Gov. Coles excel
lent paper.
ITO 4 cool and disr-ssionaie observer who
has q tnowledge Of me enlightened origin.
the great popularity. and beneficial effects Of
the ordinance. IL seems 10 be incredible that u
should have been repealed: and especially de-
pouncsd a. violating the great principles on
which our Government is founded. Yet such
ha. been the fact, and what adds 10 the aston
ishment H.. that this has been done by men
protesting 10 bs of the Jefferson school Of po-
litics. The inconsisterey IL 'uly iDodlfying
20 those vto believe. as we'll ia the capacity
of man 10 govern himself, in the wisdom,
and suitability Of our political Institutions 10
promote. above all others. his hGPPinesf.
In conclgsiou. viii say. the wisdom. expe-
diency and salutafy pr-eiickl effects. Of the
ordinance. could rot he more clearly show "a
than by contrasting is operations with those
of IT, substitute. Under the ordinance from
i7s7 to 1854. the Territories subject to Il were
quiet, hsppy, and prosperous. Since IT. prir
esples were repudisied IN rs. We have had
nothing but contention. riots aud tbrea,s, II
not The awful realities Of civil var. which
painful state Of things has beer brought about
By the substitution u he Legislation Of i-5.
Tor that Of 1851. long consecrated a. u had
been by time. aud by the appreciation OF the
creates; aud best men Of our county"
Gov. Coles. We believe. - now residen. OF
Virginia. wcrtcr IL The people cf that Stale
viii expei from her borders the old personal
and political friend and early associate Of
Thcs Jefferson We shall see. certain IL u
the pro-siavery parry in Illinois n IN debognce
him a. an aboiifionist while IL be vas TO go