Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-28

That convention adopted resolutions declaring their
Sire Ia hd slaves setting f1rh that their mmiprao ion
mostly the southern states and saying it Oper
ated unfairly TO prevent them and asking congress 10
suspend the sixth article Of the compact, which was the
one prohibiting slavery. In 1893 Vim. Henry Harrison
addressed alccr to the speaker OF the house OF repre-
seatves at Washington enclosing the proceedings OF
the convention, which referred select committee
10 consider and report upon it, That after duly
considering the question: made the following report
That rapid population of the state of Ohio sui-
GENTLY evnces in the opinion of your committee, that
the labor of slaves is necessary to promote the
this labor demonstraby the dearest any only be
employ ed to advantage in the cultivation products
United States. That the committee deem highly dan
gerous ana meApedient to impair provision wisely cal
northwestern country and 10 give strength and security
this agacous and restraint it believed
the Inhabitants OF Indiana will, at very distant day
ma ample remuneration for temporary privatiOn of
RESOLVED That it inexpcdent to suspend for a mi-
yea me the operation Of the sixth article OF compact
between the original states and the people and states
This report which strongly of black republic
eanism, was written by John Randolph OF Roanoke lie
was their right and duty to guarantee to all settlers
that territory by positive legislation the ownership of
In 1904 another application made by the people
follows:
ReSotred That the sixth article of the ordinance of
1o7, which prohibited slavery within the sad territory
be suspended i'll qualified manner, years SO
10 permit the introduction OF slaves bora within the
United States from any OF the individual states pTovid
that such individual the
tatlon of slaves from foreign countres and provided
further that the descendants all such slaves shall if
males be free at the of tweny five years. and il f
males, at the age Of twenty-one years.
This favorable report lost and the ordinance of 81
again ratified and confirmed.
In 1905 still another application made by the people
OF ts vast territory asking congress TO remove the re-
strlcuonand another committee to whom' the matter
| was referred reported as follows:
That having attentyely considered the stated in
| the said petitions and memorials they OF opinion
that qualified suspension, for limited Time OF the
six article of the compact between the original states
be beneficial to the people OF the Indiana territory me
suspension Of this article object almost aiuelsdy
Resolved, That the Sixth article of the ordinance of
1851 which prohibits slavery whint the Indiana territory
be suspended for ten years as to permit the introduce
ton OF slaves born within the United States, from amy OF
This not adopted, and congress again re-afhrmed
the principles contained i'll the prohibition OF the ord-
may said that although the people of the
rtores were constantly making applications and were
constantly resisted by congress- there is conclusive
evidence that at any time the people were generally in
favor of slavery and that perhaps they could not have
elected territorial legislature favorable to establishing
| slavery.
If this be so, then there is still at least bubble to
which Mr. Douglas and his friends may cling Uhortu-
oblitcrated Its annals develop The following record,
| der date of Jan. 70, 1907:
The speakeriad before the house letter from William
Henry Harrison Of the Indiana Territory, ell
closing certain resolutions passed by the legislative coun
eli ana house OF representatives OF the SAID territory
relative to suspension Tor certain period oi inc sixth
article Of compact between the United states ana the
territories and states northwest OF the river ONO made
ON the thirteenth Of july thousand seven hundred
Resolved, Unanimously, by the legislative council and
house of representatives OF the Indiana Territory, that
United states and the territories and states northwest
Of the river Ohio, passed the Sth qay of July 1851 Tor
the years. would be highly advantageous to
the said Territory and meet the appreciation OF at least
nine-tenths Of the good citizens OF the same.
Resolved Unanimously, that the abstract question of
suspension of the article, inasmuch the number
slaves in the United states would not be augmented
| by the measure
Resoly1i, Unanimously, that the suspension Of the
said article would be equally advantageous 10 the Terri
tory to the states from whence the negroes would be
| brought, and to the negroes themselves.
To the Territory because of its situation with regard
to the OtherstateS; it must he settled by engrants from
those IN which slavery IS tolerated. or for many years
remain in its situation its citizens deprived
all those which distinguish American from the ct-
zens and subjects of other governments.
be benefited by their citizens having opportunity OF
disposng of the which they cannot comfortably
support, OF removing with them to country abound
ing with all the necessaries OF le and the negro him
self would exchange scamty pittance of the euarscst
food for plentiful and nourshng diet, and situation
which admits not the most distant prospect OF ealcpa
ton for which presents considerable obstacle to
Resolved Unanimously, that citizens of this part
OF the former Northwestern Territory, consider them
selves as having claims upon the Indulgence OF congress
in regard TO the suspension OF the SAID article because
at the time of the adoption OF the ordnance OF 1851,
sd cry was tolerated. and slaves generally possessed by
the citizens then mhabitng the country, amounting To
AT le'st oheaii me present population oil lhudi' ana
because the said ordinance passed in congress wnen
the said citizens represented i'll that body with
out their being consulted, and without their knowledge
Resolved, Unanimously that from the situation, soil
climate, and productions Of the Territory it is not be
eved that the number OF slaves would bear such
proportion to the white populations as to cndanger the
internal peace and prosperity of the country;
Resolved, unanimously, that copies OF these resolu-
be by HIM forwarded the president the and
United States, with request that they Will lay the
before the senate and house OF representatives. over
which they respectively preside.
Resolved, Unanimously, That copy Of these resolu
tons be delivered to the delegate from this
territory and that he be- and hereby is Instructed to use
article.
The resolutions referred Mr. Parke Mr. Masters
Mr. lhea of Tennessee Mir sandiord, MIR Aston, Mr.
jeremiah Morrow and Mr. lrigg to examine and report
their opinion thereupOn to the house.
Thursday, February l2.-Mr Parke, from the commit
tee to whom referred The letter OF William Henry
HARRISON governor Of the Indiana territory enclosing
certain resolutions Of the legislative council and house
REPRESENTATIVES of the said territory, made the follow
That the resolutions of the legislative council and
house of representatives Of the Indiana territory elae
TO suspension, Tor the term of years, Of the sixth
article OF the compact between the lmted stats ana
the territories northwest of the Ohio passed tile
18th july, 1881 That article declares there shall be
territory"
The suspension. Of the said article would operate an
immediate and essential 6eHet to the territory as emf
grafton to it will be ncOnsderable for many years,
cept through those slavery is tolerated. and
aitoush II Is MOI considered eNpeutht 10 force inc
population OF the territory yet ii is desirable to connect
It's scattered settlements; and, in regard to political
rights TO place II equal footing with the different
states From the interior situation the territory, il is
as to endaIger The internal peace or future prosperity of
| the country The current Of emigration flows to the
western country the territories ought be opened
Their introduction The abstract question Of liberty and
slavery is not involved i'll the proposed measure,
slavery exists 10 considerable extent in different parts
| OF the Union; II would not augment the number OF
slaves, but merely authorize the removal to Indiana
of such held in bondage the United States. If
slavery is evil, ought be devised render it
least dangerous to the community, and by which the
hopeless situation OF the slaves would be most ameora
ted and TO accomplish these Objects would
be so efectual as the one proposed. The committee,
therefore, respectfully submit to the house the following
resolution:
Resolved, That it is expedent to suspend from and
compact between the United states and the territories
and stat, northwest Of the river Ohio passed the 18th
day of July, 1851, for the term Of ten years.
Thus 1t appears that all the coordinate branches of
the government were unanimous ON TINS point Inc en-
TIRE body OF the legislature expressed its desire i3r tme
Cured therein his ii must be borne in mind was the
ana, illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. Congress again
resisted the application, and against the unanimous
servace of the sacred ordinance which consecraed her
freedom and free labor forever Can reasoning
being demand higher better evidence that the people
Of the territory wanted slavery and would have estab
shed it but for the persistent intervention OF congress-
We have their petitions presented year after year
TO congress and BY congress resisted and we at last see
them, rising with entire unanimity, and appealing TO
congress for the removal Of the ordinance Of 1884, At
the next session, fresh application made, which
shared the late OF the five previous ones Baed m every
attempt and discouraged by successive defeats, the peo-
lie sat w"rs III thot Territory Tho eotnnit}ee renor
ed bill entitled AN act to encourage the
Of salt in Illinois by partial Introduction OF slavery
therein This was lost, and fail to ind trace of any
subsequent effort.
Thus period of years. we find the peo-
pie struggling to remove the ordinance and
slavery Seven times they applied to congress- and
en- times congress refused TO grant their prayer.
| Afterwards, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wiscon
sin, in compliance with the ordinance 81 came into
the line of states, with free constitutions ana their pros
perty and their Immense relative prosperity as com
pared with the states along their southern ana western
line where slavery is established, is abundant evidence
that not only these states but the whole country hays
been benefited by that intervention Now the III ht Of
the record and OF history, any say that the or
Dtoh oil slavery by congress did not give these states
| reedumY 1919 O'
rms question of slavery has been troublesome one in
tins country through its imam ,vhi