Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-10-06
From the Summit Beacon.
Jefferson on Territorial SOver.


Jefferson on Territorial Sover-
IA seignty.A - -
Gen. Arthur St. Clair was appointed
Governor Of the N. w. Territory, By Presi-
dent Washington. When the Convention
to formia "a State Constitution met at Chill
cothe, in 1902, il was resolved, Zone dis
senting vote) that Arthur st. Clair, Esq,
be permitted to address the Convention.
From one of the members of that Con-
vention it was our good fortune to get an
account of Gov. st. Clair's address. He
was opposed to the formation of a State
Constitution at that time. One of his
strong points ofopposition was, that Wayne
County, then embracing an indefninte
region of the North West-all North of
Wayne's, Treaty line, and West of Trum-
bull County, at least--was not allowed
any representation, under the enabling
Act. g osg; .r5,s.ssf ~.n 4 q Sid,
The National Intelligeacer from some
source. TO us unknown) gives an extract
from Gov. st. Clare's address. 1t is no.
ticably that he asserted the; doctrine, of
Territorial Sovereignty and. that President
jefferson, for that reason, removed, him
from offieel Gov. st. Clair was a Fedora
list. But he put forth the doctrine OF Ter
ritorial Sovereignty very much in the
fashion of lattei. day democrat Mr.. JEFF
fersou, regarded it as q "disorganizing
spirit, of evil example," and dismissed him.
Gov. St. Clair, said: 80. s. Ito
aThat the people of the Territory should
form Convention and a Constitution
needed no Act of Congress. To pretend
10 authorize it, was on their. part an inter-
ference with the internal affairs ofthe coun-
try which they had neither the power nor
the right to make. The act is not bind
inc. on the people and it is in truth null
ty and could it be brought before the tri-
bunal where acts of Congress can be tried,
would be declared nullity. .4' s's.so
For all internal affairs, we have com
plete Legislature of our own, and in them
are no more bound by an act of Congress,
than we would be bound by an ediet Of tie
First Consm of France. ''- .i '''9'ii'
You may do whatever appears to you
to be for the best for your constituents as
freely as if Congress had never interfered
in the matter and it may be strong mo-
tive to you for so acting that by this very
act about five thousand people are divest-
ed of the rights they were in possession of
without hearing, qartered away hike sheep
in market, transferred to another Gov
ernment, thrown back into stage Of it
which has been loaded with every epithet
of opprobrium which the English language
affords. 'i '-i - --'',-o' q =.
Form then, gentlemen, or direct new
election for the purpose, a constitution for
the whole Territory, assert your right to a
full representation in the councils. Of the
nation; direct the Legislature forthwith
to cause census to be taken; it will not
require much time if set about in earnest.
Let your REPRESENTATIVES go forward with
that in their hands, and demand the adj
mission of the Territory as State. 1t
viii not, it cannot be refused. But sup
pose it should be refused, it would not af-
feet your gorernmet or anything .yeu have
done. to organize. THAT would 90 on
equally well and perhaps better. 1t was,
l think, eight years after The people Of Yer
mont had formed their government and ex-
ercised all the powers of an independent
State before it was admitted into the Union.
The government was not retarded single
moment on that account. 1t would be in
comparably better we should be deprived
of share in the National Councils for a
session or two, or even for years, than that
we should be degraded to an unequal share
in them for nine years; but it will not hap
pen. Ne hare the means IN oar hands
to bring Congress to reason II toe should
be forced to use them. If we submit to
the degradation we shall be trodden upon,
and, what is worse, we shall deserve 10 be
trodden on" " ' 81 +ii ..- i2e
A copy of this address having been
brought to the notice of the Executive
Government Mr.. Madison, thea Secreta-
ry of State, wrote to Governor st. Clair, by
direction of President Jefferson and under
date of November %, 1902 as follows:
"SIR:-The President, observing in an
address lately delivered by you to the Con-
vention held at Chillicothe, an intemper-
ance and indecorum of language towards
the Legislature of the United States and a
disorganizing spirit and tendency Of every
evil example, and grossly violatieg. the
rules Of conduct ewoined by your public
station, determines that your commission
of Governor of the North Western Terrific
y shall cease on the receipt of this notifi-
cation. l am, DC. ~ 49,
JAMES MADISON.
ARTHUR ST.. CLAIR, Esq. Cbillicothe."