The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-04-11

are necessary to make this institution al
that !; ought to be. Meantime it advise
the people of Indiana, and democrats il
particular, to watch very closely the tactic
of the individuals who are attacking the
management with such virulencc. IT
won't take a sensible man very long t'
measure the ofIiciOus zeal OF Mcssrs
AhCHExER and FoULKE and the Indianal'
oils Journd in this business at its tru
value.
The Northwest TerritOry--t1SS--tSSS
The event now being commemorated al
the pleasant little city of Marietta, o., l.
one OF the most important and intcrestlne
in modern history. The colonization OF
the Northwest marked an epoch in tn,
history OF the North American continent
AMI inlsed of the whole Western world
The opening up AMI settlem mt OF this
vast territory, which was destined to be-
come the seat OF five populous and power
ful states, forever Dedicated to freedom,
was the b ginning of new era in the life
of the English-speakiny race. II was the
first step in that wonderful march across
the virgin continent which has filed tn
century with its achievements, AMI
which must be pronounced among
the gran lest triumphs which civilized
man has won over the forces OF
nature and sayI-ery. Ole hundred years
ago to-day the territory which is now en-
braced within the states OF Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan AMI Wisconsin was al
l III. r. A,1
been the scene OF desperate warfare be-
/ tween the aboriginals AMI the English and
French, and more recently had witnessed
some Of the most sanguinary and memo
rable contests in the long struggle between
/ those two nations for its possession. In
this fierce conflict the Indians had been
arrayed first on the one side and then on
the other, but always with the result of
aggravating the cruel and hideous features
of the struggle, and introducing ele-
ments OF atrocity and fiendishness
which combine to make up one
OF the darkest and bloodiest chapters
in the history of the world. But, save the
Indians and the English and French sol
diers, no hun1n footsteps had ever
trod the spacious prairics Of the North
west territory, threaded its dense forests,
or followed the banks OF its great rivers,
excepting only those of few hardy adj
venturers and trapoers who had sought
excitement or gain in its pcrilous and dis
NAL wastes. The occupation of this vast
area by an intelligent enterprising, Con
fearing people, Injured to hardships,
to II fh~iff MI Salf- nj
resoute, determined, persevering, indom-
table, is a landmark in our annals, deGn-
inc, as it does, the end of the colonial
period and the beginning OF that
great cycle of expansion and develop
ment which has transformed col
lection of weak, puny, insignificant
: provinces, loosely held together by a rope
OF sand into a strong, compact, vigorous
nation of sixty millions OF people, and one
OF the foremost powers on the globe.
When the revolutionary war ended the
British garrisons still held the few posts
scattered in the great valley of the Missis-
sippi, between the Ohio and the lakes,
some of which had been wrested by Great
I Britain from the French. By the treaty
of peace Great Britain had coded thf:
territory to the Confederation but its gar
risons remained several years pending the
| fulfillment of certain stipulations touching
: debts due English individuals by Ameri
cans. and other matters. There were
few French settlements at or near the
: military posts, but with this exception thu
territory was peoplcd only by Indians
The title to the country WAS claimed b,
several states, and it was not until the.
! had waived their claims and coded tin
land to the general government that step
were taken for the organization OF tn
!, Northwest territory. On the 18th o
July, 1851, the famous ordinance was en-
acted The fifth article provided that tn
territory should contain not less thai
three nor more than five states.
? The western state shall be bounded by tn
Mississippi the Ohio, and Wabash rivers;
c direct line drawn from the Wabash and Pos
o Nincents, due north 10 the territorial line b'
. tween the United States and Canada; and y
: the said territorial line On the Lake OF tn
r Woods and Mississippi. The middle state
:. shall he bounded by the said direct line, tn
T, Wabash, from Post Nincents to the Ohio, b
II the Ohio, by a direct line drawn due mort
V from the mouth Of the Great Miami 10 the sal
trritoriai lime and by the said territorial lin,
The eastern state shall be bounded by tn
g ast mentioned direct line, the Ohio-PennSy
v lyania, and the said territorial line.
. II was provided that one or two state
r. could be subsequently established mort
/ OF the parallel OF the southern end of LAX
n Michigan. Whenever one OF these ne'
st states contained 6O,000 fres inhabitants
e was to be "adpitted by its delegates int
70 the congress Of The United States on q
" equal footing with the original states
all respects whatever" 1t was further
/ have the power 10 Storm permanen
,e constitution AMI state government PR
,e vided it should. be republican and !
n conformity to the principles contained
v these articles" In the event that it wa
re "consistenL with the general interest I
s. the confederacy" it was stipulated tn;
IL the state might be admitted to congre
Mt even before it had G0,000 free inhabitant
ls The most important and famous artic