Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-03-27

they considered TO be their own interests.
But if We are to turn our attention 10 the
dark ages of the world, why confnc our view
to colorod slavery; On the same principle
white men were made slaves.
All Slavery has its origin in power, and is
against right.
The power of Congress to establish Terri
torial Governments, and to prohibit the in
PRODUCTION of Slavery therein, is the next
point TO be considered.
After the ccsson of western territory BY
Virginia and other States TO the United States.
the public attention was directed to the best
mode of dsposing Of it for the general bono-
fit While in attendance on the Federal Con-
vention, Mr.. Madison, in letter to Edmund
Randolph, dated the pod April, 1887, says !;
Congress are deliberating on the plan most
eligible for disposing of the Western Terrific
ry not yet surveyed Some alteration will
probably be made in the Ordinance on that
subject. And in the same letter he says !:
" The inhabitants of the Illinois complain of
the land iobbcrs, &c, who are purchasing
titles among them. Those of st. Nincents
complain of the defect of criminal and civil
justice among them, as well Of military
protection. And on the next day he writes
20 Mr.. jefferson: The Government of the
settlements on the Illinois and Wabash is a
subject very pcrpleNeing in itself, and render
c,rrst,,cos on ,rbicl ri.,ht ;,d,.r,o,,t da.
nonds Tho inbabitarts a. tt,,,s, ,,i,,ros c1a;,,
,,rotoc,;,,, ,,,.;rst tl,,. s,,,,as a,,5 -,
vision for both civil and cr;,n;nol ;rst;co "
Ia NJ 1zo7 NJ EI,,,,,,J p ,,Ill,,b Sab,
,,;tto1 - t,a Eodorol Co,,,-o,,ti,, c,rt,;,,
,,ro,osit;o,s ,s tbo bas;..oro F,lorol Gov.
erniro,,t a-,or,, ,,'hi,l, ,,,s ,bo f,lIo,,in,,
p..,-., rh,, ,,..,, ho,,,d. s- ,b. .a
mission state lawfully arising within the limits Of th,
0nsa a'g % we1h'r nom ,olunai3 junction o. gov
number Of voices n he Nationa Lesslatnre. css than
the whole
Aftorward Mr. Madison submitted to the
Convention, in order to be referred to the
Committee of Detail the following powers,
as proper to be added to those of general leg
islature.
To dispose Of the unappropriated lands OF
the United States. To institute temporary
Governments for new States arising therein.
10 regulate affairs with the Indians, as well
within as without the limits of the United
States.
Other propositions were made in reference
to the same subjects which it would be tedi-
GUS to enumerato. Mr.. Gouverneur Morris
proposed the following: " The Legislature
shall have power to dispose of and make all
ncedful rules and regulations respecting the
territory or other property belonging to the
United States and nothing in this Consttu-
tion contained shall be so construed as to
prejudice any claims either of the United
States or any particular State. This was a
dopted as part Of the Constitution, with
two verbal observation-disclosures was substi
tuted for Legislature, and the word "either
was stricken out 4
In the orranizatiou of the now Government
hut little revenue for a series of years was
expected from commerce The public land.
were considered as the principal resource O.
the country for the payment of the Reyolu
tonary debt. Direct taxation was the mean.
relied on to pay the current expenses of tn,
government. The short period that occurred
between the cession of Western lands to th,
Federal Government. bv virginia and othe,
States, and the adoption Of the Constitution
was sufficient to show the necessity of
proper land system and temporary govern.
mont. This was clearly seen by proposition.
and remarks in the Federal Convention, some
of which are above cited by the passage OF
the Ordinance of 1887, and the adoption o
that instrument by Congress, under the Con
stitution, which gave TO 1t validity
1t will be recollected that the decd of ces'
sion of Western territory was made to the
United States by Virginia in 1854 and tina
it required the territory ceded to be laid ou
into States, that the land should be disposed
OF for the common beneht OF the States, and
that all right, title and claim, as wei OF sol
as OF jurisdiction, were ceded and TINS wa
the form of CeSSlOQ from other States
On the i5th ol july the Oralnance oil / 20
was passed nor the government o. tne OhiV
eu states territory northwest OIL tho iiVei ,,,
ONO win pnt one disSen'ing Voe' Inn
instrument PROVIDED there shoulu DC organ
Noa IN the territory not less thah tnree no
more lhan h'e otateS' uGSiShatihg 'holr oouh
daIies' II was passed "hle inc feuera
convention was IN session. ABOUT TWO non1h' III
before inc Constitution @ was au1P'e1 py 'h'
Coh'ehuoh ne members o. inc NonNen
uon must' therefore nave ooen wen acquaiht
ea "lth the provisions OIL lhe Orulhahce'
PROVIDED Ior teihPorar! government as III
luatory 10 the formation oI 9talo No'orn
mehts' slavery was PiohiDi'eu IN inc 'oiii
tory
Can any one suDDOsp that the eminent mel