The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-11
THE ORDINANCE OF 17S7-MR. JEFFERs0N's
LAST LETTER

In the admirable speech Of Mr.. Tappan, of
View Hampshire, delivered on the 29th OF July,
W. find the following brief history OF the Anti
Slavery Ordinance of 1887, accompanied by
Liter from Mr.. Jefferson, never before pub
l.brl, which was written only about six weeks
before his death. The history Of the Ordinance
has frequently appeared in the Era, but its i'm
r,rt..gce. particularly IN the present crisis, re-
,.,res that it should be accessible to every
,.qlrr. We regret that we are unable at pres
,,t 70 make further extracts from the excellent
.osrrh OF Mr.. Tappan. Like that of his col
l-a,ue. Mr. Cragin, it abounds in historical
indications of the Republican platform, and
shows, beyond controversy, that our party and
candidate are the true representatives of the
Wbiss and Republicans Of the Revolution !;
y1ii- the present sham Democracy have aban-
Iaurd all liberal principles, and adopted the
,aayms Of Austro-Russan despotism.
Extract of the Speech of Mr.. Tappan.
Sir. what s the history of Slavery prohibition
n Inc Territories? | can barely glance at It's
r.;a aud progress, as 1 pass on to other matters
l,ion. And if the doctrine we now contend
far be treason. then was Mr.. Jefferson traitor !!
On the first day of March, 1884, a committee,
c,ass ing of Mr. Jefferson of Virginia, Mr.
Chase of Maryland, and Mr.. Howell of Rhode
Island. submitted to Congress plan for the
government Of the territory coded, or to be
r.i,A By individual States to the United States"
,aJlti. i..g all The territory 6etlceea the thirty
FIST de9fee Of north latitude. aohich ,oas then
In s,af4srn boundary o tie United States, and
H.. sorihcrn line of The United States, extending
r-s.rard!g 10 The Mississippi riOer. This plan
provided, among other things, that said terri
ilry should be divided into nine States, desig-
Mating them by name, and defining the partic-
ular boundaries of each. 1t also contained the
f,liosny provision, which has been the basis
OF all the subsequent Anti-Slavery Legislation in
regard to the Territories
" Th4t after the year 1900 of the Christian
era there shall be neither Slavery nor invol-
'uutary servtude i'll any of the said States, 9TH
rrSisc than in the punishment of crimes, where
Of the party shall have been duly convicted TO
have been personally guilty"
GA a motion to strike out this provision, SIX
teen, among whom was Mr.. Jefferson, voted to
retain it and seven voted against it. 1t lack
I'd one vote of the requisite number-the full
H.. Three Years later, however, it was incorpo-
rated into the celebrated Ordinance of 1877,
which applied to the Territories northwest of
the Ohio. 1t is a remarkable fact, Mr.. Chair
man, as viii be seen by glance at the map,
that il the iar-seeing and sagacious policy OF
Nr Jefferson, contained in this provision, had
prevailed in 1874, uHder ITS operation tie States
81 iiaJGma Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ken
turiV. trould nO1c hare been free States That
the policy thus initiated would have been ad-
yau:aseous to the States ust named, COM
p4rsou between the thrift, enterprise, and
prosperity of those States, and the great free
States Of Ohio Indiana, and Illinois, formed
oal Of the Northwest Territory, under the Anti
Slavery Ordinance of 1887, will conclusively
establish. That ii would have been better for
tie destiny of the Republic, let the fierce strug-
-le between the antagonist principles of Liber-
Is and Slavery, which now convulses the coun-
tn, bear witness!
Nr. Chairman, the Fremont party, to-day,
arv only contendng for the application of the
same principle to Kansas, which Mr.. Jefferson
proposed for all tie Territories Of the United
Ns'ta in 1874!
That Mr. Jefferson retained his AutiSlavery
sentiments down to the period of his death, is
apparent from a letter which he wrote, short
ulit previous 10 That event, 10 JdiIlSS uesAOoLi,
Of Ohio, in reply to one from that gentleman,
making inquiries as to his views on the subject
Of Slavery. The letter bears date May 20, 1876.
4ad Mr. Jefferson died on the 18th of July OF
'he same year. The original letter, in the hand
Ari'int of Mr.. Jefferson, is now in the posses
Ron of my friend from Ohio, Mr.. CAMPBELL.
l. viii be seen from the letter, a copy OF which
subiuined. that Mr.. jefferson refers to his
op.uious dating as far back as this plan OF
1851:
MONTICELLO, May 20, 1896.
Dam SlH: Persuasion, perseverance, and
patience, are the best advocates on questions
depending upon the will of others. The rev.
ou,iou in public opinion, which this case re-
gires is not to be expected in day, or per.
laps in age; but time, which outlives ell
things, will outlive this Grill also. My senstt
neats hare beea forty years before tie pu6ttc
iial yepeated them forty times, they scortd
rlrs onig become tie more stale and thread
h'g|. AuhOugh / shalt not tiUe to see than
.oasa.amafed, they ,oW not die miM me; Jm
'iriag ar dying, they 'ciU erer be an my mo2t
iIo,pt prayers. This is written for yourself
AID not for the public, in compliance with
youc request for two lines of sentiment on the
subject.
Accept The assurance of my good will and
Respect Thomas JEFFERSON"