Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-07-23

what was then called the Illinois country, now
tue state Of illinois Afterwards he followed tue
rlvei 10 the Gulf OF Mexico. THIS man of wonder
Jul ENTERPRISE, wondrous foresight aud iron en-
ergy, even hen dreamed that the alley OF the
Mississippi might, in his time, become what II
is Dow-the garden and glory OF the world still
later, and all the way down to the time when IL
was finally owned and occupied by the United
states, isCopsin continued 10 have remark
able and eyenifui history, until 1t was finally or
ganiZed into separate territory in loa6, when
the people then here were invested With the
great American boon Of sel(-gevernment.
From 1870 TO 1868 period OF 80 years, Wiscoa
sin was owned by and was under the government
of France; rom 1863 to l79i, period Of 81 years
ii was owned and governed by Great Britain; for
SIX years, from 1894 10 1900, 1t was governed by
Virginia ana Ohio for nine years, from 1900 TO
1909, II was under the government of lndiana
rom 1909 TO ISIS II was governed by Illinois and
from Isis 10 1886 it was under the government OF
Michi gan. Thus 1t VIII be seen that for perio4
OF lG6 years the territory which now comprises
this magnificent state the mere football of
nations, states aud territories.
Since this territory came under the government
of Illinois, 1t has mad somewhat curious, IS 1t
had he ore "a remarkable, history.
In tie year l1Si on the lst of March Of that year
aud IN less than hundred DAYS after the evacu.
alton Of this country 10y the British army, Thomas
Jefferson reported to the continental congress with
the concurrence of his committees majority being
iron the southern states-his celebrated ordinance
for the government OF all the territory coded to
be ce6ed by individual states to the United States
Section Of which provided: " That after
the year 1910 Dl the CHRISTIAN era, mere SNORtu
be neith|r skdUery nor iHC0luntorg sertjtade in
any OF me said etates, OTHERWISE tfdh aH the
pnHtsh7teht 81 crimes, UhefeT me pGr1y ShdU
mare been ftuiB contested to hare been personality
qUuty." . Sixteen members vo ed for and
against this ordinance, a test vote bat the
requisite majority OF states not voting for the ordi-
nance it failed. 1t will he observed that this pro-
posed ordinance embraced all OF the states thereafter
forever to be admitted into what was then denomi-
mated the conicderacy afterwards the 18th OF
July, l16r, TWO months before the adoption of the
Isfrr
ratification by nine states-the requisite number to
make II the constitution OF the United stttes,- that
celebrated ordinance : for the government OF the
territory Of tn United States northwest Of the river
Ohio introduced by Nathan Dane, of Massachu.
sets, was passed by the Continental congress. Arti
Gle of this ordinance is in substance exactly like
article in the one in reduced by Mr.. Jefferson,
which have already quoted. with provso in rela
ton to persons owing service who should escape
from any Of the original states BY this ordinance
all officers of the territories had to be appointed by
congress after the adoption OF the constitution OF
the United States and on the 18th OF August 1883
congress, amended this ordinance 10y providing that
all such officers should be appointed 10y the presi-
dent of the Unite States; in all other respects the
ordinance of 1851 stood as the organic and para
mount law for the government of the territory OF the
United States northwest OF the river Ohio.
This ordinance of l7st so familiar to all Of the
early settlers OF Wisconsin the great charter of
our rights and the limit of our powers; as 1t had
been for all the territories which bad before that
time been admitted iuto the Union out of the north
west territory or OF the territory northwest o. the
liver Ohio Except the constitution of the United
States, this ordlHauCe was unquestonably the
grandest and most perfect written charter for the
protection If the rights and liberties of people that
has ever been devised. Ia some respects it was
more explicit and more perfect than the constitution
lts'lf In view Of subsequent events 1t is sttuct-
i've to observe the wisdom and foreth"ught OF the
following provision of this ordnance Article 4
The said territory and the states which may be
formed therein shall forever remain part of the
coniederacy of the Uutei States OF America, sub
iect to the articles of confederation and such alter
atoms therein as shall be constitutonay made, and
TO al the acts and ordinances of the United States IN
congress assembled coniormabie thereto" IL this
or like expression had bren ioscrt'd into the con
-tituon Of the United states, should never have
heard of the right OF the constitutional ana legal
secession. Such doctrine could never have found
certain that it would have saved the people of
this country from that cruel and awful war with all
its terrible consequences which must abide with our
people for generations to come. possibly forever,
1t is indisputable that many Of the American
statesmen north and south did believe IN the
right OF secession, and the question was consid
erahlf discussed even at al early day: Una. aud
unhappily on many were willing 10 peril all IN
support % this opinion. Had this plain and em-
phattc declaration that all the states that adopt
and nccept this constitution shall forever re
main palt OF the United States subject 10 this
constitution none wonld have been found bold
enough and bad enough to propose the dtssoln.
tiou and destruction 90 Tue Union; for that would
have been treason without parallel and without
even the poor excuse ot an honest conviction.
But have wondered somewhat from my sub
lcct, and tom the plan OF this address, now ne
turn hoping that my digression may not, after
all, be unpiohtahle The ordinance OF 1851, artl-
Gle five, provided that there should be formed IN
ran NO ststes Win mis- |
provlso: That if congress shall hereafter nnd It
eXpedient, they shall have authority to form one
two states that part Of said territory which
lies north Of an east aud west line drawn hrough
the Sonthetly bend ortxtreme Of Lake Michigan |
Ihns, the north line OF the territory OF Illinois
anf the south boundary of Michigan, and what
Is now Wisconsin. was fixed on line drawn |
through the souiheTly bend OF extreme OF Lake |
Michigan" By the express terms OF the oruI !
nance, a. was Moreover o remain unalterabie, I'M
less by common consent Such continued TO he !
the north Inc of Illinois and The southern bound. |
AIRY OF Wisconsin until 1878, when Illinois was |
admitted into the Union AS a state. Then con |
gress,in establishing the boundaries OF TINS state,
extended lis north line Eear sixty miles north OF
the line established by the ordinance of 1881, and |
This done without the consent OF Wisconsin;
indeed, il was done AT a time when there We're |
but few here To object, and 1t was done in suoh |
haste that these few had no opportunity to OBJ |
jtct
The part thus taken from Wisconsin, embraces |
the fourteen northern counties OF limos, tie |
richest ana most popuous part OF that state, IN
Guiding of course, the CITY OF Chicago.
The ordinance of 1854 although made unatera-
bic, was changed Ia this particular, out time and
circumstances have sanctioned the change, aV
is now, iadeed unalterabie
have referred to this subject solely for the |
purpose ottailing your attention TO the circum- |
stances aud reasons which induced this change |
OF BOUNDARY 1t was done stXty-one years ago |
ANA oHly thlrty-Oue wears after the adoption OF |
the constitution of the United States, at u period |
when nov, t would hardly be thought that there |
was nny threatened DANGER OF dissolution OF |
the union, Rld vet we shall see that The so emn |
compact OF he ordinance ot liS1 was disregarded |
and Wisconsin deprived of "A very important and |
Immensely valuable part of It's territory IN order |
that llluoiS just then 10 be admitted a. stale, |
might be mUrc firmly bound u the Union by |
tdennirlng aer through the great lakes, with the |