The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-12-15
so,

cred in Committee Of the Whole. reported
and engrossed; on the 2lst read third
time and passed without dissent. 1t was
received that dag in the Senate, and bad
It's first reading; was read second time
ou the 3lst; was further considered Aug.
3D. and had its third reading Dcxt day.
when it passed without voice raised 1t.
As you do not seem to have heard OF
this act, allow me to quote 1t. 1t is
good deal shorter and sweeter than Jour
Nebraska bill. and refers to the same sub
lect. Here it is:
AN ACT to provide for the Government of the
Territory northwest Of the river Ohio:
Whereas. In order that the ordinance of
the United States, in Congress assembled for
the government of the Territory northwest
Of the river Ohio, mGg continue 10 hare JuH
effect, it is requisite that certain provisions be
made so as TO adapt The same TO the present
Constitution Of the United Stdtes.'
BE IL enacted, &c, That in all cases In
which, by the said ordinance. any information
is to be given or communication made by the
Governor OF said Territory to the United
States in Cohgress assembled, or to any OF
their officers, it shall be the duty of the said
Governor to give such information and to
make such communication 10 the President
of the United States; and the President shall
nominate, and by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate shall appoint, all Off
GERS which by the said ordinance we're 10
have been appointed by the United States IN
Congress assembled, ,and all officers so apPOln-
ted sha II be commissioned by him; and IN all
cases where the United States IN Congress
assembled might, by the said ordinance, re-
woke any commission, or remove from any Of
fee, the President is hereby declared 10 have
the same powers of revocation and removal.
80. And be 1t further enacted, That III
case of the death, removal, resignation, or
necessary absence, OF the Governor of the
said Territory, the Secretary thereof shall be
and he is hereby, authorized and required to
execute all the powers aud perform all the
duties OF the Governor during the vacancy
occasioned by the removal resignation, or
necessary absence of said Governor.
Approved Au. 7. I7S9.
GEO WASHINGTON.
Are you reading, Mr.. Senatorl Here
is the act passed by the first Congress
uuder the Federal Consttutiou--James
Madison, Roger Sbernan. RUFUS King.
Ebridge Gerry, John Langdon, Robert
Morris, and other eminent mem bers of the
Con~ti utional Convention teing also MEM
ters Of this CoDgre4s-to gre .fuH cJtect TO
the Ordinance of 81 and to aaapt IL to tie
Fec}er0L CoHaituttOa-Dot one voice being
raised from any quarter against either
the avowed purpose or the especial pro-
visions of the act. Do you doubt that
Washington. Madison. Gerry. Sherman,
&C., understood the Constitution which
they had framed scarcely two years be-
iorel THIS, st least, was DO remnant of
a Congress rs men bers we're not ah-
sent from their seats concoc;iBg new
Constitution. Why then, in giving what
purports to be history Of the action OF
Congress on this subject. do you ignore
them aud their act of 1871 Are they
beyond egeo g0nf power o. manipulation!
Yet once more, and leave you to jour
reflections The matter Oh which We are
at variance is no vague abstraction but
grave pr.cticaity. Indian Territory,
embracing the State you now represent,
and all else between the Ohio and the
Mississippi except The State Of Ohio. ear
IL eyinced diss abstraction With the Sla-
very Inhibition embodied in the Ordi-
nance of 81 ond kept in force under the
act of SO. Her former settlers were
nearly all immi grants from Slave States,
and they hankcred after negroes. They
held a Convention in l502-Gen. Harri-
son, their Governor, presiding--and me-
morislized Congress in favor Of tempoTa-
ry removal of the Slavery Inhibition
That memorial was presented to the Con-
gress of lsO2-3, Mr. Jefferson being then
President, and Congress largely Republi-
can. 1t was referred BY the House to a
Select Com mittee of three, txo of them
from the slave States, John Randolph
being Chairman. March 2, 1903. Mr.
Randolph presented their unanimous Re-
port, denying the prayer Q! the petition
ers, and saying that
"The Committee deem it highly danger
Gus and inexpedient to impair provision
wisely calculated to promote the happiness
and prosperity of the northwestern country,
&c &c.
Congress thought so, too. and refraiued
from any action on the subject.
The next year, the memorial aforesaid
vas referred TO a rev Committee-Cesar
Rodney of Del Chairman--~bo Feb. IL,
1909 reported IN taror of the prayer of
the petitioners. No use the House took
DO acton Oh the subject. Feb. IA, 1906,
another Report was made-ihis time by
Mr.. Garnett OF Va, in favor of the tenn
porary suspension prayed for; but Con-
gress persisted in its policy of action.
Feb II, 1907, third Report was made,
by Mr.. Parke (Delegate) Of Indiana, in
favor of letting the squstter soVereigus OF
Indian Territory have liberty to hold
slaves therein for limited tern; bot Con-
gress still declined TO take the subject up
for consideration. Finally, memorial
of the Territorial Legislature of indiana,
asking pernission to import and tempo
rsrily hold slase.. was Submitted. Jan.