The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-09-21
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ernment of this Colony be reserved to the
people thereof g S}HIT
"We have also thought proper to call
new convention for the purpose Of es.
tablshing government in this, Colony.
"No ambitious views, no desire OF in.
depenaenee, induced the people of iMafy.o
land to form at union with the other Col.
onies. 70 procure an exemption from
Parliamentary taxation, and to continues
to the Legislatures of ftbeseT Colonies the
sole and exclusive right of regulating
their Internal Policy, was our originate
and only motive. To maintain Finviolate
our liberties, and to transmit them iunim.
paired to posterity, was on, duty and ffsto
wish; our next, to continue connected
with and dependent on Great Britain
For the truth of these assertions we ap.o
peal to that Almighty Being whoi is ON
phatically styled the Searcher Of hearts;
and from whose omniscience none is c0nis
cealed. = Relying on his Divine protection
and assistance, and trusting to the jus ice
of our cause, we exhort and conjure evefys
| virtuous citizen to join cordial 'ly in de-
fense of our common rights, and ia maids
tenance of the freedom of this and her Sis
ter Colonies" #o), 0lFkQ
! The first Plan of Federal Government
adopted for the United States was. formed
during the Revolution, and is usually
known as "The Articles of q Confedefd-
ton" BY these Articles it was provi.
ded thatT TuJIa IL 9EEL .Tu
| Each State retains its Sovereignty,
Freedom, and Independence, and every
power, jurisdiction. and right which is not
by this Confederation expressly delegated
to the United States in Congress assemS
bled." LD@JILH9II q .EH
At the time the Articles of Confedera-
! tion were adopted-July 9. l77S-the
United States held no lands or territory
in common. The entire country-tinclu-
ding all the wastes and unappropriated
lands embraced within or pertaining to
ths Confederacy, belonged to and was
/ the property Of the several States within
whose limits the same was situated.
! On the 9Th day of September. 1880,
4 Congress recommended to the several
Fl States in the Union having claims ID
4 waste and unappropriated LANDS in the
Western country, liberal cession to the
United Ststesgof portion of their rel
J. spective claims for the common heneftloE
the Union." IS iu vas. s4s8w 4ahaoW
:. On the goth day of October, 1888,
!, the Legislature of Virginia passed an act
authorizing the Delegates in Congress-
, from that State to convey to the United
t States ''the territory or tract Of country
/ within the limits of the Virginia Charter.
/ lying and bearing to the Northwest of the
G River Qhio"-which grant was to be
made upon the "condition that the terrisi
: tory 80 ceded shall be, laid out and formea'
: into States;' and that "the States isd:
r formed shall be distinct republican States
and admitted members of the Federal
Union, having the same rights of Sove,,
D reignty. freedom, and Independence aa
e the other States" ,s.nD
! On the lst day of March, 1884,
Thomas Jefferson and his colleagues in
t Congress executed the deed of cession in,
e pursuance of the act of the Virgins, Leg
: islature, which was accepted and ordered
t to abe recorded and enrolled among uthe
J. acts of the United States in Congress as
sembled" This was the first territory ever
acquired, held, or owned by the United
e States. On the same day of the deed OK
y cession Mr.. Jefferson, as chairman, Of a
e committee which had been appointed.
e consisting of Mr.. Jefferson of Virginia,
Mr.. Chase of Maryland, and Mr.. Howell
e of Rhode Island, submitted to Congress
: ga plan for the temporary government OF
!. the territory ceded oroto be ceded by Che
If individual States to the United Statessio 8
CONTINUED IN OUR NEXT. s-- ~