Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-03
THE QUESTION SETTLED.
When Did Ohio Become q State?-His
tory of Its Formation and Admis-
sion Into the American Union.

The question, one OF law, perhaps
more than OF fact, remains somewhat I'M
decided. Several dates are given and rea-
ons adduced therefor. Certain steps
are necessary to create any state; the
people petition Congress; they adopt
Constitution, fulfilling certain require
ments, after which, when Congress
accepts, an act is passed admitting the
territory as state into the Union. Not
till this last act is done can state ex.
list. The people may petition Congress,
NAV adopt Constitution, may elect
state officers and a representative 10
Congress, all of which has been done;
but not till Congress ratifies their pro-
ceedings are they valid, and passes en-
act defining the territory and admitting
it TO the Union, does the state exist.
As Ohio never existed Ia Itself as terri
tory, the history OF its creation and adj
mission is somewhat different from that
OF its Western neighbors.
The ordinance of l7s7, amonIits con-
ditions provided first, that the North
west territory should be divided into not
less than three nor more than five states.
The eastern and western boundaries Of
provision made for the creation OF two
others-now Michigan and Wisconsin
whenever Congress should elect. The
eastern division, rs ii was called, en-
braced all of what is now Ohio and part
of Michigan. This division Is the only
one which never existed as a territory
of itself The ordinance further pro-
viied that whenever any OF these diyis-
ions contained $1,000 inhabitants, such
territory should be admitted, by its
delegates, into the Congress OF the
United States on an equal footing with
the original thirteen states, and shall
have liberty TO form permanent Con-
stitution and state government
BY 1901 the eastern division of the
Northwest territory contained the re-
quired number OF inhabitants, and pc
titioned the Congress OF lS0l-2 Tor admis-
sion as state. April Is, 1892, that
body passed an act providing for CON
stitutionai convention of elective dele
gates in this territory. The election
was held October ,. The convention
met in Chillicothe, the capital of the
Northwest territory, November /, AMI
on the 10Th they signed a Constitution,
which, without submitting To the peo-
pie, they ut once forwarded 10 Congress.
Travel was slow in those days. and the
messenger did not reach the seat of gov
eminent for several weeks. The Con-
stitution was made Immediately opera
tive by the delegates, and from this fact
many conclude November ~. 1902, 10
be the day of the creation OF the state.
They overlook the fact that 10 Congress
only belongs the powerto create "a state,
and had that body declined To ratify the
acts of this convention that day could
have no claim. Without the sanction of
Congress the work of this convention
would have been of no avail.
February L., 1903, the question OF adj
hitting the eastern division of the
Northwest territory into the Union rs
state, under the name of Ohio-the
name designated by the convention
came before Congress. That day an
act was passed recognizing and ac-
cepting the work OF the convention and
providing for the "due execution Of the
laws OF the United States within the
State Of OHIO" This is the first official
by Congress of the State OF
Ohio, and is considered by good his
torians and by the State department at
W Washington as the date when Ohio be-
came q state.
The Constitution OF 1902 provided Tor
an election of state officers on the second
Tuesday of January, 1903, who, with the
members of the state Legislature elected
at the same time, should assume their
duties March ]. 1903. The Legislature
met that day. and on the 81 Governor
Tiffin, the first state Governor, was in
augurated That day the territorial
officers gave place to the state officers,
~ Ind D. n. h..
date when Ohio became state. His
tory establishes the fact that such pro-
could not create a state. When
Hon. George X. Nash was attorney gem
aral the question came in some form be-
lore him, though not officially. His
opinion il worthy OF careful considera-
ton We have not his answer before Us,
but recall the fact that he stated that
there are three steps necessary 10 cree
ate or admit a state into our Union.
These are, briefly: First, an act 10 ena-
bic the people OF certain territory To
Iorm a Constitution and state govern
meut; second, the formation of such an
and third, It's ratification by
Congress. Until this last il done the
prior acts are imperative, and hence no
state can exist until il is passed. The
others are the initiatory steps, the last
the perfecting act.
A an evidence Of these statements, /
would cite DAKOTA, which has been
knocking at the doors OF Congress for
admission as a state, aud which requires
only such recognition to become state.
In Minnesota similar condition of AZ
airs existed. They even elected state
ticket several months before their terri
tOry was made a state. The fyt sena-
ior from Kansas waited several months
n Washington until his state was adj
Ilitted before he could take bis seat
When "a state is admitted the Presi-
lent usually issues his proclamation -
hat effect. Ia Ohio's ease, for Some
-esson, Mr. Jefferson did not do so AZ
east no record Of 80 has come down 20
-. Perhaps he did not deem IL neces-
'ary. The history o; it's formation d.
Get. without the Intervention Of terri
orial period. 81 the Territory Of Ohio.
= somewhat different from others, and
his Mr.. Jefferson may have considered
publication.
,ounfy Representation In the Great Ohio