The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-02-15

Limestone, hentucky, DOth situateo
on the Ohio river, distant from each
other, across the country, over 200
miles. This "trace" soon became and
remained for many years the great
highway OF travel from the southwest
to the Northeast. 1t was surveyed
and opened by the brothers Ebenezer
and Jonathan Zane, and John Mcln-
tire, the son-in law of the former, all
of Wheeling. During this year, the
first mail ever carried in the Territory
was brought up the Muskingum river
from Marietta by Daniel Converse to
McCullech's Cabin, who kept q ferry
where GAINESVILLE was laid out the next
year. Here the Marietta mail was
met by one flom Limestone and also
one from Wheeling. These mails soon
met here weekly, McCulloch being
authorized to send the packages in the
proper direction.
On the Goth of August, 1898, the
Governor proclaimed the county of
Ross, and established the county seat
at Chillicothe. The county was
named in honor of James Ross, Esq.
of Pittsburgh, who was the most Gel
ebrated lawyer in Pennsylvania, and
a statesman of distinguished talents
and large experience. and the acknowl.
edged leader of the Federal party, west
of the Alleghenies.
During the year, Winthrop Sargent,
Secretary of the Territory was appoint
ed by President Adams, Governor of
the Mississippi Territory, and Capt.
4 II
to fill the vacancy. 1t was rendered
to Judge Jacob Burnet, then one of
the leading law practitioners of the
Territory, who knowing that Captain
Hrrrison desired to retire from the
army, declined it in his favor, and he
was accordingly appointed.
Towards the close of the year 1898 it
was ascertained that the Northwest
Territory contained 5000 male inhab-
itants, and was therefore entitled to
enter upon the second grade of gov
ernment provided for in the Ordinance
of 1877. On the 29th of October,
1898, Governor ST. Clair proclaimed
that the required population existed,
and ordered an election held ON the
third Monday in December for men,
! bers of the Territorial Assembly, who
should meet January 22d, 1893, at
Cincinnati. Nineteen members were
elected, of whom the following is a
full list: Return Jonathan Meigs'
and Paul Fearing from Washington
county; William McMillen, John
Smith, Robert Benham, Aaron Cald-
well, William Goforth. John Ludlow
and Isaac Martin, from Hamilton
county Solomon Sibley from Wayne
county; Bazalel Wells. from Jefferson
county Nathaniel Massie and Jos.
Darlington from the county of Adams;
and Edward Tifin, Thomas Worth
ington, General Findley and Major
LaAgham from the county of Ross :
This body nominated ten gentlemen
whose names were sent to the Presi-
dent, who selected the following five
for the Legislative Council of the
Territory, to-wit jacob Burnett and
James Finley of Cincinnati Robert
Oliver of Marietta; David Vance of
Vanceville; and Henry Vanderburg
of Vincennes. They were confirmed
by the United States Senate on the
Sd of March, 1899. These two bodies,
the former consisting of 10 members
and the latter of 6 members, met aud
organized at Cincinnati on the 24th of
September, 1899, as the Legislature
or law-making department of the
Territory. Governor St. Clair address
sed them in joint meeting. after their
organization, by the election of Edward
Tiffin, Speaker of the popular branch,
and OF Henry Vanderburg President
of the Council, or the aristocratic
branch
One of the first and most important
duties which devolved on the Legis-
ture was the election of delegate to
represent the Territory in Congress.
William H. Harrison and Arthur
st Clair, Jr, son of the Governor,
were the candidates, and the vote in
joint session stood eleven for Harri-
son and ten for St. Clair, only 81 of
the d votes which composed the
joint body being cast. Harrison had
been favorably identified with the ar
my in the West for a number of years;
had been one of General Wayne's
aids, in whose official report he had
favorable mention for his valor and
efficiency; had given full satisfac-
tion as Secretary of the Territory,
and was young man withal of pop
nlar manners. st. Clair was very
promising young lawyer from Cincin-
natl, but fell short of the talents OF
his father, whom Judge Buraet says
was a man of superior abilities. The
election of delegate took place Oct.
Sd, 1899. Captain Harrison's election
made the office of Secretary of the
Territory vacant, and Charles Willing
Byrd was appointed his successor, who
served until the organization of the
State government in 1903, when he
was appointed Federal Judge and
served as such about % years.
The Legislature remained in ses-
sion from September oath until the
18th of December, when the Cover
nor prorogued them at their own re-
| quest; till the first Monday III No
vcmber, 1900.
The session was laborious one, and
many laws were passed, eleven OF
which were vetoed by the Governor,
who, claiming the right of an abso-
lutte veto, did not return the vetoed
bills to the Legislature with bis rea-
sons therefore, contending that his
negative was unqualified and could
not be overruled, even by unani-
nous Legislature More detailed ref
erence to the legislation by the first
Territorial Legislature might be made.
but in a mere outline history of the
Northwest Territory it seems rather