New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-16
TIE MAKING OF A STATE.
BEGINNING OF NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
A VIEW OF THE EyENTFuL HISTORY RECALLED hi
THE CELEBRATION AT MARiErrA-GoNEENoh
ST CLAIR AND HIS ENEMlEs-wILlIAM
HENRY nAIRIsONs SHARE IN TUE
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT
OF THE WEST,

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT
OF THE WEST.
Marietta Ohio July l5.-Thc object Of the centennial
1T Marietta this week is to celebrate the origin ana
progress Of law and cv!l government in Inc states vi
Ohio. Indiana Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, all
of which wore formed nom inc Nor'n-
west Territory. This the first Terri
,o,v established 10y the United States Govern
mcut. and its settlement duly celebrated at
Marietta on April T. The project of establishing
colony west OF the mountains, which should serve as
barrier against Indian and foreign asscSsos ana at
the same time afford employ for the soldiers OF 'he
Revolution was fostced by Washington and Hamilton,
and moro or less actively engaged in by hundred
OF the master mind, and spirits OF those times
General iuius Putnam, "a personal tlchd Oh " ASH
ircion was the EcIo whose deeds were celebrated al
Inc centennial vi tie settlement Of the NORTHWEST
TERRITORY in April last. Inc hero Of tho present more
nrctcnilcus celebration Is General Arthur St Clair,
and closely associated with him is William Henry Hai-
rison grandfather of the Republican candidate for the
Presidency The Northwest Territory, being the IA
yoric project OF many great men, received al The
hard. o. Congress degree of attention which has
mover fallen 10 the lot Of another Territory Washing
ton sped tho parting cOloDsts with the Nations bless
lag and INC last Continental Congress took Its own
President, General 81. Clair, and made him Governor
of the Northwest Territory Tho first settlers arrived
a. Marietta on April 7, 1858. They were fortyeight
IN number, and prior to the arrival OF General ST.
Clair on July o. 1905, had regular forrn Of govern
mcrt; but most of the colonlsts had been officers
of distinction in ar OF the Revolution camp law,
6 Iaclt consent, prevailed.
On jug IS, 1855, General st. Clair was formally
ir,.uctcd into Office. lie found the colony composed
Of tie best of New England and he proceeded to
give It laws and Institutions st. Clair was quartered
In Fort Harmsr, garrsOned post on the west bank
of the MusMngum River, near its mouth, opposite the
site Of Marietta At O'Clock the afternoon OF
July 10 he was escorted to handsome lye-oared
barge upon the shore, named the Congress. The
officers of the garrison fired salute of fourteen guns
81 his honor, and in few minutes no was r0wed 10
the opposite shore, where he met by procession
OF the coionists, who escorted him to the Campus
Marfigs. which TO be the Temporary seat Of gov
eminent The secretary Of the Territory, Winthrop
Sargent read the ordinance OF Congress forming the
Northwest Territory, the Governors commission, his
own commission and that Of the judges. Governor
St. Clair was then congratulated upon his welcome
arrival by General Puiran, and in response delivered
q short address and thus quietly and unobrusively
tie machinery Of government In this Western Empire
was set surely and effectively in motion.
ST. Clair not only All executive officer, but he
was also lawgver and many Of the best and earliest
laws Of the Territory his work. and bear that sign
of his approval The first laws for the government
Of the Territory published by the Judges and the
Governor, at Marietta The most important OF these
early acts Of July 90 1885, establishing and
regulating the militia also the law establishing a
system of courts and regulating the appointment OF
shcrihs. From these humble beginnings have grown
the five great States which have controlled perhaps to