South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-03-03
The North West Territory.
ny a. W. KEncuEvAL.

Ill.
Il was simply stated that the No. III West
Territory. OF which the State or Ohio.
admitted into the Union in 1902. consIi.
tinted n part, had been ce6ie,l ID the Fed
erat Government, nnier the original Ar.
ticles OF Confederation existing previous
w TO tile adoption OF the Constitution OF
the United States. by the State or Viz.
9Inia. Her paramount title to that grand
aud eligible domain was in fact estab-
lished by the very terms OF her Colonial
Charter from the British Crown. deolar.
ing the extent of her territory TO he
IRON seu TO sea- tcess and nOrih,rest." "a. y
This proper claim Of title on her part
had however heeu confirmed. at no re.
mote day, in 'ight # acquis;t .on, by al.
sofafe conquest t; for n secret expedition
bad been conceived AMI successfully nm.
deriaken by the gallant Colonel George
Rogers Clarke, in the year 1888, result.
ing in the capture of the military post
ut VinceDnes, established shortly before
by the British arms, within the limits OF
this territory; by which their we'll as.
certained design Of permanent military
occupation had been si2nally frustrated.
With body OF only one hundred and
thirty brave but raw and undisciplined
recruits, after forced march through n
wilderness beset by hostile savagcs and
attended with almost incredible hard.
ships. Colonel Clarke reduced the fort
and made prisoners OF the comman,lant.
Colonel Hamilton, Governor of Detroit,
and garrison consisting of seveniy-nine
British regulars. In America even, ap.
peariny TO lie the theatre Of gallant ex.
PLOTS, eut few have occurred to compare
with this extraordinary expedition OF
General Clarke, and it's striking exam
pie OF heroism and personal proves de-
serves lasting commemoration in our
country's history.
In the manifesto addressed TO the sew
cral State Legislatures, on 18th Dccem.
Der. 1871. by the Continental Congress,
this capture Of Vinccnncs is alluded TO,
In these apt and grateful words 1--WE
are happy TO observe, that the present
year hath been distinguished by the re-
ductioa of powerful British garrison
in Virginia
But when the Colonies had already
become sovereign & Independent States,
the possession Of SO extensive domain
ny any one oil them very naturally serv-
Ell TO alarm tue fears or provoke the jeal-
ousies of others, which had borne their
due part with her in their mrmentous
an9 protiacted Struggle for independ-
eLce, with Great Brita ~. the mother
country, to which they had in comm n
Cause broken their former Colonial al.
iegianco. 1t will accordingly he found.
That, IN 1913, the very year OF Clarke's
Expedition, the State OF Maryland laid
before the Continenal Congress decla-
ration OF grievances in regard TO this
subject, which Virginia answered in a
demonstrates, OF December, 10. Pro.
ceilings ia this sort. tending of course
TO disturb the harmony OF The States
and to impede their subsegucnt conled.
Grafton, Induced the Legislature OF New
York TO afford an example OF magma.
pimity to her sister States, by the pas
sage Of ali Act relinquishing 10 the G en-.
eral Governmenl-the old Colonial Con.
fcderatioa-the western part OF her do.
main, in February 1880; and the Con.
tinental Congress to issue an gent ap.
peal To the other States to adopt the
like generous policy, in the following
September.
In consideration OF those crcumstan.
ces, the Legislature Of Virginia, distin.
guished for patriotism aud devotion TO
the common veal, adopted certain reso-
lntions, which were consummatcd i'm
their intention by formal Deed of Ces.
sion. executed by Thomas Jefferson.
Samuel Hardy. Arthur Lee and james
Monroe, Representatives, Of that State
in the Continental Congress, under in.
structions OF her legislature. which bear
date o. March 1st 1891. Itdeseryes TO
he remembered here. that OF these four
representatives, two were afterwards
Presidents OF the United States, while
the names of all OF them are gratefully
COMMUNICATED in those OF counties in
their native State.
This Deed OF Ce4sion conveyed to the
United States all the title add claim Of
the State Ito the territory North West
OF the river Ohio, within the limits OF
the Virginia Charte, rpm coatl,iioa:--
/. That the territory so cc,lcd shall
be laid out aud formed into States, con-
tanning suitable extent of territory. not
less than one hu1dred, nor more than
one hundred and fifty miles square. or
as near thcre;o rs circumstances will adj.
NIT; and that the States so formed shall
be distinct republican States. and AL
mitted as members OF the federal Union
having the same rights oil sovereignty,
freedom and independence. as the 9th.
er States.
,. That The necessary and reasonable
expenses incurred by this State. in sub.
DUNG any British posts. in maintaining
fOris or gMrsons within and for the
defence, or in acquiring any part OF tie
territory so coded or extingnished. shall
be fully reimburse hy the United States.
.. That the French and Canadian in.
habitants. aud othor settlers OF the Has.
kasics, saint Vincenrs, and the noigh.
boring villages, who have protested
themselves citizens OF Virginia. shall
nave their possessions and titles confirm.
ed 10 them, and he protected in the en-.
jOyment OF their rights and Liberties,
4. That quantity not exceeding one
hundred and tilty thousand acres OF land.
promised by The State. shall he allowed
and grained to the then Colonel now