Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-04-02
BANCROFT nANDu WASHINGTON.


long Democrat, delivered an address on
the Life and Example of Washington,
at the COoperes Institut in New York,
on the 22d February, in which he pre-
sented "Washington's views and his Oson
on Slavery"
The opinions of Mr.. Bancroft, thus
coupled with Washington, would be
thought of little value by the Gazette,
except in his character of life long Demo
crat., VIII the Gazette please inform
its readers in the rural districts whether
this is the same George Bancroft who
was once a Wing candidate for Congress
in Connecticut, or some other place in that
''patch of States, and did not get elect
ed, and who afterwards became Jack
son man and was made Collector of Bos-
ton, Minister to England, &c.
But the following passage in the ad-
dress is what we wish to speak of. He
had said that Washington had expressed
the wish ''to see some plan adopted by
which Slavery in this country may be
abolished by law" and then he adds the
following =
oIn conformity with these views the
old Confederation of the United States,
at a time when the Convention for franz
ing our Constitution was in session, by
unanimous vote prohibited Slavery for
ever in all the territory that then belong
ed to the United States and one Of the
very first acts of Washington as Presi-
dent was to approve law by which that
ordinance might continue to have full
effect"
This statement is not original with
Mr.. Bancroft, but has fourished in
many Republican addresses and particu-
larly the address from the Pittsburgh
Convention, said to have been written by
Henry J. Raymond, of New York. As
it has now got into the hands Of the
;.historian" it should be corrected.
The first impression intended to be
made is this: that the Continental Con-
gress had prohibited slavery in all the
territory it then owned: The statement
has literal truth, nothing more The
Congress, by resolution of Sept. 9th, 1880,
had applied to all the States to make
liberal cessions of their lands; and at the
time the Ordinance of 81 was passed
18th july the Congress had not receiv-
ed actual conveyance of Southern Teri
tories. But the State of South Carolina
on the 8th Of March, 1857, had author
ed the conveyance, and on the 9th of
August following, the deed was made.
Like releases were also expected from
other Southern States.
The next impression sought to be made
is that the Congress of the Union re-
enacted and confirmed the prohibition of
slavery in all the Territory then owned,
and the act was approved by Washing
ton with that intent.
The act referred to, is here given in
full, with its date of August 18th, 1879 ::
IAN act to provide for the government
of the Territory rth-West Of the River
Ohio:
sWHEREAs. in order that the Ordin-
ance of the United States, in Congress
assembled, for the government of the
Territory Northwest of the river Ohio
NAV continue to have full effect, it is re-
quisite that certain provision should be
made, so as 10 adapt the same to the
present Constitutional the United States.
BE 1t enacted, That in all cases, n
which by the said ordinance, any inform
alton is to be given or communication
made by the Governor of the said terri
tory to the United States, in Congress
assembled, or to any of their officers, it
shall be the duty of the said Governor
to give such information, to the Presi-
dent of the United States, and the Presi-
dent shall nominate, and by, and with
the consent of, the Senate shall appoint
all officers which by the said ordinance
we're to have been appointed by the Uni
ted States in Congress assembled, and
all officers so appointed shall be CON-
missioned by him and in all cases where
the United States in Congress assembled
might by the said ordinance, revoke any
commission or remove from any Office,
the President is hereby declared to have
the same powers Of revocation and re-
moval."
The ordinance had provided that the
Secretary of the Territory should return
every six months to the Secretary of Con
gress, copies of all acts and proceedings
of the Territory; and that the Governor
should send to Congress the names 0
persons nominated to set in Legislative
Council. These are the sole change
made by the act of Congress, approved
by Washington which is held fortl
as a re-enactment of the prohibition
Of slavery. If this approval Of Wasl
ington could by implication have sucl
force what construction shall be place,
on the later act Of Congress approved
bv the President on the End of April
1890, which accepted from North Caro-