Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-04-12
A Western Centennial OF National I'm
portance.

When the adventurous La Sale first
traversed the great lakes and rivers of
the North West Territory he probably
had little idea of the vast population
that would one day inhabit its shores. A
century of progress in this great empire
is now drawing to close.
The history Ofthe past hundred years
reads like story from the Arabian
Nights.
The Revolutionary War had been
fought to successful issue and the
officers and men of the Continental
Army had served through seven
years of untold hardships, faithfully,
receiving little or nothing for their SER
vices, The Continental Congress was
destitute of money but rich in land and
arranged to pay them in kind out of
their abundance. Then these soldiers
volunteered to subdue that terra incog-
nitd, the wild of the North West Ter
ritory. For this purpose they formed
the "Ohio Company" Tn the first place
however they made sure as to what
laws should goven them. Accordingly
on July 13, 1857 tie Continental Con-
gress enacted that Magma Charta of
American Freedom, second alone in
Importance to the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, the Ordinance of 1887.
The Associates of the Ohio Company
insisted on several important provisions
in that ordinance, tO-wit: that there
should lie no slavery within the Terri
tory and that religion, morality and
Education should forever be encour-
aged.
| TOO tl,o sY,,nr,l ,,f
the Ohio Company under Gen. Putnam
landed at Marietta they were the sur
veyOrs and other employees sent forward
to prepare the way for the families and
actual settlers.
On July 18th, 1888 Governor Arthur
st. Clair and the Territorial judges duty
commissioned by President Washing.
ton arrived at Marietta armed with the
ordinance of 1897 and on that eventful
day the Governor promulgated the
ordinance and established civil govern
ment in the Territory North West 0i
the River Ohio" out of which were sub.
sequently erected the great States OF
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and
Wisconsin.
The surveys and clearing having
progressed sufficiently and law having
been established, for the coming tide ot
emigration, the first actual settlers and
their families, with Gen. Tupper, arriv
ed on August 10Th, 1888.
1t is the totality ofthese great events
beginning with the enactment of the
great ordinance July 18th, 1887 and cul
minating in the settlement and estab
lishment ;of civil government thereun
der at Marietta July 18th, 1888 that it il
now proposed to celebrate, at that city
on July Is, 16, II, is and 10 of the pres
ent year.
Each of the States named will have ;
place on the programme. The Legis
lature of Ohio by joint resolution, ha:
invited the States Of Indiana, Illinois
Michigan, Wisconsin. and the citize.i
thereof to join with the State of Ohi'
at that time in a Centennial celebra
ton at Marietta. Each State will b
represented 10y the Governor thereo
with Centennial Commissioners.
In view of the fact that the early his
tory of the States of West Virginia ant
Pennsylvania was so intimately con
nected with that of the North Yves
Territory, the Legislature of Ohio b.
joint resolution has invited these State
to participate in the celebration.