Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-08-29

For the Express

Be sure you sre right. hr. v. then go
ahead.
For the Express.
EDIToR EXPRESS | see by an article in
the Terre Haute Journal that the editor of
that paper has become somewhat nettled
about my article in the Express in relation
to the Ordinance of 1887. The Col. says
that l am utterly ignorant, or am wilfully
attempting to deceive those who perchance .
may read my communication. / am will
ling this community may Judge as to that. 7
am not a lawyer, neither / an editor
l profess to be a farmer, the Col. is law
yer and al editor He admits that Con-
gress passed that Ordinance, but the Col.
says-two months aud four days before the
Constitution of the United States was
adopted /; he assigns this TO show my gno
rance relative to the Ordinance of 81
This seems to be the issue between the
Col. and myself. Upon this subject 81 us
look at history. We find that the Legisla-
tive Council of Indiana in 1906 adopted
resolutions, :resolviug una nimously, that
suspension of the Sixth Article of the CON-
pact between the United States and the
Territory North west OF the Ohio river
passed the 18th day of July 1857, for the
term of ten years, would be highly advan
tageOus to said Territory and meet the ap
probation OF nine tenths Of the good ciu.
zens of the same.
What was the action OF Congress upon
these resolutions Coz. please inform The
public Does the Col. think this Legisls.
tive Council was utterly ignorant upon
that subject ii you think SO, inform this
community at what time the Ordinances Of
81 came in force Col, / think these men
knew as well as YOU that this Ordinance
passed two months aud four days before
the Convention finally adopted the present
Constitution, SCI they thought the 0rdi.
nance binding. or they would rot have Of
feIed the petition.
ask the Col. what was the question be-
tween Randolph and Jenning. when they
were candidates for delegate from that Ter.
ritory to Congress say the question
I was, the suspensions Of tho Ordinance of
81. Gen. Harrison threw himself into that
canvass, making that question The harden
Of bis argument
What a pity it was that Col. Coekerly
was not bern at gan early day. that he
might have told these msn they were Ell.
tirely ignorant. or that they we're trying to
deceive. Well. Col. YOU have one conso-
lation left. you can inform the people in
this nineteenth century upon this subject.
ask the Col what that Ordinance was
spread on our statute books for, if il cut
no figure relative 10 the question OF the
prohibition of Slavery Did Col. Cook
erly know this when he wrote his article
If he did, he intended TO palm off dscep
ton il he did not, he assumes TO write
about that'of which he is totally ignorant
Why sir, did the Congress of the United
States in its enabling act, authorize the
Territory OF Indiana to form her Constitu.
ton in accordance with the Nrdinance of
I l7sf ask the Col if indiana had re-
used "a eompy with the requirement,
what would have been the consequence
Here was condition passed BY Congress.
as a condition precedent To the admission
ofIudisna into the Union. ani by comply
ing with ii she admitted into the Uni
on as a sovereign State
Measures were taken by Congress ta e..
tabi,sii government over this North
western Territory, but nsthiug VI a per
manent character was effected until the
adoption Of the Ordinance OF 81; The sal.
utary effects OF which have been fell by
the whole nation, and its influence ~ III be
experienced for ages TO come.
ask the Col If the Convention that
adopted the Constitution was not in se.-
sion at The tilne Of the passage Of this Or
dinancer | undertake to say that the first
Congress after the adUptiua Of The Consti
tuition passed a supplement to this Ordi-
nance Of 81, and passed it expressly for
the purpose Of carrying into effect H. Or.
dinsuce excluding Slavery from the Terri
tory / would say furthermore, that The
doctrine that Congress has the power to
prohibit Slavery in her public domain has
not been denied until the latter day dema
gogues arose with the cry. ''Do Let the !
desr people say"--throwing the quarrel |
between eighbors-bsrrowine the wor.r 81 /
feeling between men
Try again, Col, aud lee IL you cannot
do better next sine. and see if you cant 1
gain 20 ynurself 4 great Herculean fame,
A. j. LISTON.