Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-07-18
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
The Centennial Anniversary of the Or
ganixation OF the Northwest Terri

The Centennial Anniversary of the Or |
ganixation OF the Northwest Terri |
tory.
Minneapolis Journal; Ii was just 100
years ago yesterday that Gov. Arthur
st. Clar appeared before the colonists OF
Marietta on the Ohio river and the frs.
formal act OF civil government in the
territory northwest Of the Ohie was per-
formed. They are now celebrating the
centennial anniversary of that important
event at the quaint old town OF Marietta.
The celebration opened yesterday with
an address on religion and civil govern
ment," by Rt. Rev. Bishop Gilmour, of
! Clevelsnd.
1t is centennial year with the people
OF Ohio. They are celebrating oensen-
| malls in Columbus and Cincinnati and IN
various other places, but the great event
OF them all = the one which interests the
whole northwest and in which the whole
northwest generally is entitled to share
is the centennial OF Marietta. Sa
| Marrietta-thev very name suggests the
time and circumstances of its founding.
The grateful memory of the unfortunate
queen OF France, Maria Antoinette,
whose sympathies for America we're no
commendation to the passionate and
prejudiced people of her own country,
is perpetuated in the name OF the his
torio town.
The famous Ordinance OF 81" as it's
name indicates, had been enacted by
congress the year before, and the plans
had been made then for the establish.
ment OF the form of government which
hnS 30 Epek A.
Just 100 years ago. The beginnings made
then were the beginnings OF what has
been accomplished since, not only in
!, Ohio, but in all that immense region
! then described as 'the northwest terri
: tory" and bounded by Pennsylvania, the
great lakes, the Ohio river and the Mis-.
sissippi river, and not only In that des--
, cribed district, but in ali OF what we
: now call the northwest. The magnifi
cent group Of states, now lying at the
? very heart of the republic, ard standing
, for every thing that is best in American
achievement. owe what they are to the
beginnings made at Marietta.
There may be said to be three title
I deeds to American constitutional liberty
the declaration Of Independence, the
constitution of the United States apc
l. the ordinance OF 'S7. The last could mo-
: have been without the others, bnt the
: others could never have been as glorious
as they are without the last. The guar
aptees and requirements OF the ordln-
anceR- Q) religious freedom; (2) tn,
= right of habess corpus, trial by jury
: proportionate representation in the leg
: islature, admission to bail, immunit,
Q from excessive faes and cruel punish
ments. the jnviolability OF person an,
+. property and non-interierence with pri
Yste business; ~ the encouragement o
education; (4) fealty to the Unitet
States; (5) the division of the territor,
= into states to be admitted into the uuiol
i whenever any OF such states had 5000
. . free inhabitants; (6) and, in the light @
. = history, more important probably tha
. any OF the Others, personal freedom will
u neither slavery nor involuntary servi
tude'' in the northwest territory--ther
/ were the very essentials which carrie
b the principles of the founders OF the re
# public across the continent and mad
. possible here the brillians aohievmeni
of what Governor Foraker describe
's yesterday as "the most brilliant century
is measured by the promotion OF huma
history Of the world"
We OF the far northwest are entitle
. to full share in the interesting celsbYa
i, tion now in progress at Marietta. In th
= event thus commemorRted there VIZ
al little OF the picturesque or dramat
:, which is so easily exaggerated in story
~ There was no accident or fatality sbot
70 ii. It required the courage of the OF
rt venturer and the self reliance OF the pit
re- neer, but their small beginnings wei
undaFtaken with dalibaratiOn and with
20 definite purpose toward the entire nortl
10 west which we are still engaged in worl
in lug out along the same lines that we
O. established for us on the banks OF Il
40 Ohio 100 years ago.