Ohio History Journal

THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

 

AN ADDRESS BY BISHOP BENJAMIN WILLIAM ARNETT, D. D.

 

WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCT. 11, 1899, AT MUSIC HALL, CHICAGO.

We have been called together by the authorities of the

Autumnal Festival Celebration. First, we are to give thanks

for the achievements of the present century, for the triumph of

mind over matter, as well as the success that has attended the

labors of our workmen, the harvest of our farmers and the divi-

dends that have accrued to our financiers. It is not only to cel-

ebrate the success in the agricultural, the commercial, the educa-

tional and social world, but it is to commemorate certain histor-

ical events that have proven to be the beginning of an epoch in

the history of the country and of the race.

I know of no subject so fraught with interest and so mys-

terious in its workings as the organization and the development

of the Northwestern Territory. To follow the birth, growth

and development of this territory, it is only to set up a true

standard of the progress and development of our whole country.

The country, in fact the whole country, has been one of the mar-

vels of the century. Our fathers who laid the foundation of

our magnificent Republic laid them on true principles, they

were laid on the Christian religion, Christian education, Chris-

tian morality and Christian temperance. The fathers of the

revolution cemented these foundations with their blood and con-

secrated it with their tears. Our fathers, I say, because it was

the Anglo-Saxon fathers, and the fathers of the Negro race,

whose joint heroism and courage won the battle of the Revolu-

tion and since that day the great efforts for the development of

our country, whether north or south, has been the joint work of

the two races.

Whatever is grand about our country, whatever is noble

about our manhood, whatever is progressive about our society,

whatever is beneficent in our institutions, our churches, schools,

Vol. VIII-28.        (433)

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434      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

universities and business, they are all a part of the fruitage of the

united efforts of the races, and it is well for us on this occasion to

consider the development of our national wealth, national

power and national honor. Whether in peace or in war, on

the land or on the sea, the magnificent courage of the white man

and black man have made them invincible against the foes with-

out and the foes within. No race or nation has ever stood and

succeeded before the invincible army of our nation, whether led

by Farragut on the Mississippi, Perry on Lake Erie, or Jack-

son at New Orleans, or Dewey in the Manila Bay.

The material expansion of our country has been a source of

gratification to all friends of the republican form of government.

Starting with a few states, it has continued to develop and add

star to star; since that the thirteen colonies formed a more per-

fect union. Thirty-two stars have been added to the galaxies

of the nation, and as a nation they illume the pathway of the

toiling millions and give hope to the struggling people of the

land.

The advancement of our population has been wonderful.

The following facts as relates to the expansion, territorial, pop-

ulation, commercial, educational, religious and otherwise, has

been a marvel. We have expanded by day and by night, every

day in the week, and Sunday, too. There has been no time in

the past that our nation has not increased in force, in power and

in majesty.

EXPANSION.

The question is often asked, "Are you in favor of expan-

sion?" How could I be any other than an expansionist? It is

the doctrine of our government, of our religion and of our civ-

ilization. The missionary thought of the gospel is one of extend-

ing and spreading to the uttermost parts of the earth the tidings

of man's redemption from ignorance, sin and crime.

The genius of our civilization carries with it the breaking

down of the walls of partition between civilized and uncivilized,

between the barbarian and the semi-barbarian and presented to

the unfortunate of the earth the advantages of our homes,

churches, school houses and colleges.

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The Northwest Territory.            435

The only condition that I have in expressing my opinion in

favor of the expansion by the United States, is that the expansion

shall be the expansion based upon the principles of the civiliza-

tion of Plymouth Rock, rather than the principles of the civiliza-

tion represented by Jamestown.

The two civilizations have continued for centuries. Ply-

mouth Rock has triumphed at home, and Plymouth Rock ought

to triumph abroad.

The principle that recognizes the colored man are the prin-

ciples that ought to prevail.

The inhabitants of our new possessions all belong to the

darker races, and according to the civilization of Jamestown, are

under the ban of the Anglo-Saxon and only fit to be hewers of

wood and drawers of water, and to be denied their political and

social rights.

All that we ask is, that the darker children, who are to be

invited to come in our commonwealth, that they should be given

their seat at the table with the other children of Uncle Sam, and

be given an opportunity to earn their bread by the sweat of their

brow, or to acquire their place by their skill, by their ingenuity

and by their loyalty to the flag of our country.

We trust that this will be the beginning of the accentuation

of the immortal principle of the Declaration of the Independence,

and that every law, statute or decision that discriminates against

a man on the account of his race, his color or religion, will be

wiped off the face of the earth with the Monroe doctrine, and

that we shall represent the teachings of the humble Nazarene, in

all lands and in all countries, so that wherever our flag floats, it

shall represent the principles of the cross of Calvary.

The acquisition of the Hawaiian Islands is a step in the right

direction. The Hawaiian Island has an area of 6,677 square

miles, population, 95,000. On the 12th day of August, 1898,

Admiral Miller of the U. S. Navy took the possession of the

island in the name of the United States government, and hoisted

the American flag in the presence of the representatives of the

island and established a provisional government, after which the

National Commission appointed by President McKinley, con-

sisting of S. M. Cullom, of Illinois, J. T. Morgan, of Alabama,

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436      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

and Hon. I. Hitt, of Illinois, convened and formulated rules and

regulations for the temporary and permanent government of the

island. The national authority and dominion by this act was

extended 2,089 miles and destroyed the oratorical expression,

"our ocean-bound republic."

The Spanish war is one of the wonders of the 19th century.

It has taught the world a lesson in military science. It has been

an object lesson in the relation of one government to another.

It has accentuated the doctrine of the solidarity of nations and

has taught a lesson of the interdependence of man upon man

as never before, has laid upon the heart of the civilized world

the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of

man.

The cry of Cuba has been heard and a million and a half of

people were delivered from the Spanish tyranny and the chains of

four centuries have been broken, and Cuba lifts her chainless

hands to heaven.

Porto Rico, with her eight hundred thousand souls, has been

invited to sit down at the table with the republics of our civiliza-

tion, while the Philippines are resisting the authority and power

of our magnificent republic.

 

 

RECAPITULATION.

Area in square miles, Porto Rico, 3,670, population, 813,000;

Cuba, area in square miles, 43,000, population, 1,555,000; Phil-

ippine, square miles, 117,000; population, 9,500,000.

The total number of square miles in Porto Rico, Cuba and

the Philippines combined are 163,670; total aggregated popula-

tion, 11,868,000.

This is the largest number of persons ever aggregated by

one administration since the foundation of the Republic and the

largest possibilities lie in the acquisition of the territory because

it is scattered over every zone of the earth and produces all man-

ner of fruit and animals. Nothing that we need hereafter for

our tables, need be bought outside of the Dominion of the great

Republic. Thus, the acquisition is great in many respects and it

brings with it greater responsibilities for the old institutions,

customs, habits and manners of the new territory will have to

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The Northwest Territory.             437

be changed and reconstructed on the modern civilization. New

ideas will take the place of the old, modifications in the family re-

lations will have to be dealt with very cautiously in order to pre-

vent irritation and friction; the married relations will have to be

changed and be modified according to the teachings of the New

Testament.

The educational interests of our country were never in a

better condition than now. Everywhere all persons are now

looking forward, to the rising sun, the hum of the wheels of

industries furnish music for the toiling millions, and the advance

in prices is receiving the attention of the workman, as he

returns from his day's work.

In peace and in war, William McKinley has been the same.

He has been true, not alone to the white man and to others, but

he has been true to the Negro, and in every case where he had

an opportunity he has advanced him materially and otherwise.

It has been his privilege to commission more Negro soldiers

as officers in the United States army than has been commis-

sioned since the foundation of the Republic. He signed more

commissions for the Negroes than all the Presidents since the

days of the Father of his country, and while Lincoln was the

great emancipator, he only signed one, Major; Grant, the

deliverer of the nation, during his term as President, only made

one Counselor General, wherein William McKinley has made

two, so in all the departments he has been true to the race, true

to his country and to his God.

 

GROWTH OF THE REPUBLIC.

In 1772, the Territories of the Confederation extended west-

ward to the Mississippi, and northward to the Lakes, giving a

total area of about 800,000 square miles, but by large acquisitions

since made, it has reached its present size.

Its present area has been acquired as follows:  1776-

1783 by war with England, the 13 original states, square miles

820,680, cost, $168,000,000; 1803, by treaty with France, (Lou-

isiana), 899,576 square miles, cost $15,000,000; 1819, by treaty

with Spain, Florida, 66,900 square miles, cost, $3,000,000 ; 1845,

treaty by union with Mexico, Texas, 318,000 square miles;

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438       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

debt of Texas on admission into the Union, $7,500,000; 1846, by

treaty with England, Oregon and California, 308,052 square

miles; 1846-48, by war, Mexico, New Mexico, 522,955 square

miles, cost $5,000,000; 1853, by treaty with Mexico, Gads'n

purchase, 45,535 square miles, cost $10,000,000; 1867, treaty

with Russia, Alaska, 577,909 square miles, cost $7,200,000; total

number of square miles, 3,559,687, total cost, $225,500,000.

Its increase in population and rapid growth and development

have been truly wonderful. In 1620 there were 300 white set-

tlers in New England. Less than 250 years ago New York City

was made up of a dozen log cabins, and all the land now com-

prising the city and county of New York was purchased for the

small pittance of $24.00.

Seventy-five years since, there were less than 5,000 white

people in the vast region between Lake Michigan and the Pacific

Ocean, while the population now exceeds 10,000,000. Chicago

was then a mere trading post of half a dozen huts.

Seventy years ago these immense lakes, Ontario, Mich-

igan, Huron and Superior were entirely without commerce, and

an Indian's canoe was about the only craft seen upon them, but

now they are crowded thoroughfares, and the value of the traffic

upon these waters and navigable rivers, is enormous.

April 2nd, 1788, a band of forty-eight persons left for the

mouth of the Youghiogheny and the May Flower of the West was

floated out in the Monongahela. They merged on the broad

bosom of the Ohio and began an easier journey down that beau-

tiful river to their chosen home below. Five days after they

landed on the banks of the Muskingum river April ₇th, 1788,

at its confluence with the Ohio, and the first settlement of the

Americans in the Northwest Territory began.

On the opposite side of the Muskingum river stood Fort

Harmar, garrisoned by a detachment of United States soldiers.

The pioneers found protection from the Indians and enjoyed

the society of the pioneers' defences of the backwoods' life.

The company of settlers was composed of excellent men,

determined upon finding homes for their families, determined

to retrieve fortunes lost in the war of Independence. They recog-

nized the necessity of some form of government, hence they organ-

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The Northwest Territory.            439

ized themselves into a body politic; adopted a code of laws

and Return Jonathan Meigs was appointed to administer them.

Mr. Meigs published the laws by nailing them to a tree where

all could see and read them.

October 5th, 1787, the congress of the old federation ap-

pointed Arthur St. Clair, governor, and Winthrop Sargent, sec-

retary of the Territory North-west of the Ohio river. On the

16th of the same month they appointed Samuel Holden, Parsons

John Armstrong and Mitchen Varnum, judges. John Cleves

Symmes was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by the declination

of Mr. Armstrong. The judges were among the early arrivals in

the settlement.

Governor St. Clair arrived in the colony July ₉th, 1788, and

on the 14th day of July published a compact of 1787, the con-

stitution of the territory and the commission of himself and

the three judges. He explained in the proclamation the pro-

visions of the ordinance to the people. He urged the settlers to

prepare a defence against the Indians; they neglected to do so

and suffered.

On the 25th day of July the first law of the territory was

published and the next day the Governor issued a proclamation

creating Washington county, which comprised a large part of

the State of Ohio. He next established courts of probate and

Quarter Sessions. The common pleas court was established

August 30th, and Return Jonathan Meigs, clerk of this court,

and Ebenezer Sproat was appointed sheriff. Rufus Putnam was

appointed Judge of the probate court and Return Jonathan

Meigs, Jr., clerk. Thus the commission of the government was

put in motion and Gov. St. Clair declared the 25th day of Decem-

ber, 1788, to be kept a day of Thanksgiving, thus following the

example of the Puritan fathers in 1620.

The establishment of the government in the Northwest Ter-

ritory had a very important bearing on the history of the country.

It was the beginning of the organization to be administered on

the principles of universal liberty. The provisions of the ordi-

nance were of such nature that, if carried out as designed by the

authors and decreed by Congress, a revolution, between the white

men and the black men of the new territory, the old battle so

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stubbornly fought since the days of the Nazarene, was to be

open on the plains of the west with the advantage on the side of

the oppressed and with the hope of the final triumph of the force

of freedom.

The fathers in laying the foundation of our republic did so

without a chart. The only model they had was the universal

desire of mankind for self-government, self-support and self-

defence, crystalizing these sentiments and expressing them. Jef-

ferson performed an act that will immortalize his name to the

latest generations.

The organization of the Northwest Territory was the legiti-

mate fruits of the labors of the Rev. Manassah Cutler, of Massa-

chusetts, whose life and works were the embodiment of the Dec-

laration of Independence, the true representative of the civilization

of Plymouth Rock, a friend of the continental soldier and advo-

cated the rights of the American negro. He appeared before the

people of Massachusetts and of the American Congress, advocat-

ing the consecration of a certain portion of the Northwest

Territory for the children of freedom. He had an important

mission on his hand. As a pioneer reformer in government, he

has had no equal as to the results of his work. He used as his

plea before the people, statesmen, ministers and philanthropists,

the following words to the heroes of 1776:

"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary

for one people to dissolve the political bands which have con-

nected them with another, and to assume among the Powers

of the Earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws

of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to

the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the

causes which impel them to the separation.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are

created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with cer-

tain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and hap-

piness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted

among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the

governed; that whenever any form of government becomes

destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter

or abolish it and institute a new government, laying its foun-

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The Northwest Territory.              441

dations on such principles and organizing its powers in such form

as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and

happiness."

The Declaration of Independence was the Magna Charta

of American liberty. It was the expression of the soul of human

freedom, and the language of the patriots of 1776.

The expression was not learned from the nations of anti-

quity, it was not taught in any work on political economy,

but it was the simple utterance of the human soul on the question

of mind, soul and body freedom.

Where was the expression from? Whence its origin? Was

it earth or heaven born? Never in the history of man was so

great an utterance announced as the corner stone of a humane

government. It startled the inhabitants of the Old World, and

made kings and the great men of the royal aristocracy examine

their title to power and honor. It was like the bow of hope to

the struggling government of the new world. It was a death

blow to the doctrine of the divine right of kings to rule the

people. The shock of that blow is still felt in all lands where

the name of, and the fame of, our grand Republic is known to

the earth, its inhabitants, and the beneficent influences of the

doctrine of this government of the people, and by the people,

and for the people, is to continue to increase in power and influ-

ence until the inhabitants of the entire earth shall perpetually

enjoy universal freedom.

When the fathers formed the constitution, they used the

following language:

"We the people of the United States in order to form a more

perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, pro-

vide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and

secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,

do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States."

Never was there an instrument of writing more in harmony

with the spirit of justice and right than was the Declaration

of Independence and the Constitution, but it was the same year

that the Ordinance of 1787 was proposed and the northwest was

given to freedom  The spirit of liberty was abroad in the land, in

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city and country, in the valley and on the mountain, it filled the

hearts of the people,and the sentiments of all true patriots were

for the equality of man.

 

PREPARATORY STEPS TO THE ORDINANCE OF 1787.

The first step was to appeal to the friends of liberty and

justice and secure their hearty support. This was done, and

they by speeches, lectures, essays, debates and books, presented

the wrongs of the Negro, and the sinfulness of slavery was ex-

hibited to the Christian world as never before. This was the

period of individual effort.

The second step or period was when the friends of freedom

formed organizations, anti-slavery societies to make and mould

public sentiment against the slave trade in foreign lands, to pro-

test against man stealing and man buying, to resist the non-

extension of slavery in the territories and to prevent any State

from entering the Union with slave population.

The third step or period was when an effort was made to take

the slave question out of the realm of politics as far as practicable

and put it in the domain of morals, to make it a moral and com-

mercial question, to bring the problem home to the gates of

commerce and the door of the church and thus make the pulpit

take one side or the other, to show commerce that it would be

most prosperous in a free land, with free institutions and free

men. The matter was brought before the bar of public opinion

and conscience, and finally before the bar of God, by the true

sons of liberty, and the sons of oppression. In many places the

pulpit was as dumb as the pew, and both were deaf to the appeal

of the oppressed and the entreaties of their friends; the ten com-

mandments and the golden rule were imprisoned in the house of

God.

The fourth step or period was when it became a contest

between free and slave labor. The rights of the Negro became

a factor in the problem of commerce and became intimately con-

nected with men of all stations and position. The agriculturalist,

the mechanic, the merchant, the manufacturer of wool and cotton

goods, the banker, the producer and consumer could not ignore

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The Northwest Territory.             443

the question, whether producer of manual or mental labor;

it was to their interest to take the side of freedom, because men

are independent beings. What is good for the individual is good

for the whole.

Fifth, the ordinance of 1787 was one of the greatest state

papers of the colonial period of our government, or we may say

of the formative period of the confederacy. It was the last great

act of the confederacy, for while the congress in New York was

discussing its provisions, the constitutional convention was in

session at Philadelphia, laying the foundation of the great republic

tracing the designs of the temple of universal liberty and equality,

where all races of men were to assist in establishing, maintaining,

protecting a government of the people, for the people and by the

people. Thus the legal, civil, social and political rights of the

people demanded a definition and understanding. If they were

citizens, then they were entitled to all the rights enjoyed by

the most favored; if not citizens, but men with no rights of their

own then another course was necessary. It was a trying time,

for the very air was pregnant with the sentiments of the Declara-

tion of Independence. The ten commandments and the golden

rule had met and kissed each other at the birth of the nation.

Statesmen and orators had dwelt on the inalienable rights of men,

not white men or black men, but they had said that all men were

created equal and endowed with certain rights, which could not

be sold or bought, nor could they give away, right to life, liberty

and the pursuit of happiness.

Sixth step toward the establishment of the empire of freedom

was the desire of the soldiers of the revolution to establish a

government on the fundamental principles for which they had

fought and suffered.

The seventh step which brought about the ordinance was

the "Hand of God," as seen in the providential arrangement

of the affairs of the world, so that it was almost impossible

for the Americans to retain their respect for England, France

and Spain without showing that their profession of supreme love

of liberty was genuine, and that when they said all men they meant

the black, red and white men. It was a cancellation of a debt

to the sentiment of universal liberty. It was a demand from

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444       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

the world on the revolutionary fathers; they paid it willingly and

we enjoy its blessings.

The eighth step or reason for the ordinance of 1787 was that

it became a religious question. The Negro came to the church of

the living God, and asked: Am I not a man and brother? The

Negro received no reply, was put in the galleries and was invited

to the "second table" to commemorate the death and suffering

of Christ. But he would sing with them:

"My Savior's pierced side poured out a double flood,

By water we are purified and purchased by His blood."

The ninth step was the desire of the Ohio company to have

land for the freemen and slaves, to establish Christian homes and

inteligent homes, where justice and righteousness, peace and pros-

perity reigned under the same roof, and where all would eat at the

same table and pray to the same God.

The eleventh step was the elementary principle of New En-

gland churchmen and statesmen combined in the Rev. Manassah

Cutler, who for the first time in the march of years, brought the

laws of Moses and the teaching of the Nazarene together and

gave the world the most sublime example of the triumph of

principle over personal interest, and laid the corner stone of the

temple of universal freedom for all time to come.

 

WHAT OHIO WAS, AND IS.

Ohio was the borderland of freedom, the isthmus between

slavery and Canada. It was the short cut of the underground

railway; it was the battlefield of liberty; it was the citadel of

legal equality, and the home of civil rights and universal eman-

cipation, and was the seat of the first college for the sons of

oppression and daughters of bondage. It was here liberty took

her stand and said to slavery, "Thus far shalt thou come and

no further; here thy proud waves must stop."

The Sons of Liberty organized and announced these princi-

ples to the world, and nominated one of their number for Presi-

dent of the United States, and said, "Roll on, liberty's ball, roll

on, until every chain is broken and every fetter loosed from the

limbs of every son of Adam.  Here the genius of universal lib-

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The Northwest Territory.             445

erty, immediate emancipation and equal rights to all men, un-

furled the banner and called on the Sons of Liberty to follow the

standard on to victory or death. Here was the place where the

fugitive slave law found its strongest foes; here it was checked

in its wild career; here the "Free Soilers" had the first victory

over their foes; here the right of an equal education was first

conceded to the colored men; here we had men who would assist,

in the darkness of the night, the son of bondage on his way to

freedom. It was the school of freedom, the normal school of

liberty, the college and seminary of human rights, and the uni-

versity where the Declaration of Independence, ten command-

ments, and the golden rule were the only text books, and the

motto was "The fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man."

The men who belonged to the Ohio company had been sol-

diers in the revolutionary war. They had received their pay in

Continental promises to pay; so they wanted to secure homes

for their families in the west; they wanted some place to settle

down, so that they and their children could live happy and con-

tented. We find that the conditions were for the establishment

of freedom, free men, free speech, free press, free schools and

free ballots.

An empire of religious liberty.-Free to worship God, or

free to have their own thoughts on God, man, time and eternity;

free to advocate natural or revealed theology; free to be a Meth-

odist or a Catholic. But the religious sentiment has been one

of the strong towers of the Northwest. It has given us an hon-

est, sober and industrious community.

An empire of knowledge.-Education was to be encouraged

and supported, so that every child in the States would be pre-

pared to be an intelligent and useful citizen. It was to be a

moral as well as a secular education. The whole man-head,

heart and hands-were to be trained, brought out.

An empire of free homes.-Every family was to be provided

with a home, which the family could arrange with taste and care,

adorn and beautify, for the better enjoyment of life; where a

family altar, dedicated to religion, morality and knowledge, could

be established.

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An empire of honest and loyal men, who loved their country

more than self, who were consecrated to the principle of the

Declaration of Independence, and obeyed the ten command-

ments, and worked by the golden rule. These were the men

whose sons were to lay down their lives for the Constitution and

the Union in 1861-5.

To these men who founded the State it was a safe base of

operation in the time of war, and with the cardinal principles of

a republican form of government as the foundation of the new

community. As they traveled westward, their mottoes were

free soil and free men, free labor, free speech, free press, free

schools, free ballot, free jury-box, equal taxation, equal militia

service, equal rights to all and special privileges to none. These

were some of the rallying cries of the immigrants to the west

and northwest.

Thus we see how the friends of the cause of freedom were

encouraged, and how they by their own free will laid a founda-

tion for the success of the citizens of the northwest; for when a

man or a number of men take truth and justice for their guide,

they cannot go wrong-they must succeed-for God has prom-

ised success to those who walk uprightly in church and state.

What are some of the blessings that come from the ordi-

nance of 1787? It gives an equality in everything. In the South

it was churches and school houses for the whites, while it was

the slave-pen and auction block for the blacks.

The Ohio Territory and State was the highway of freedom

and the breakwater of slavery. Here caste was permitted to live,

but she was not allowed to bring her mother along, to remain

any length of time.

It was the first field of liberty. Here she plowed, sowed and

raised a grand crop of liberty-loving men and women. It was a

loyal community. They loved their country, fellow-men and God

and their fellow-men and God loved them.

It was the highway of freedom, for thousands of men would

have died in houses of bondage if it had not been for Ohio's

underground railroad!

This ordinance gave us unrestricted emigration to the west.

There was no barrier thrown in the way, but every encourage-

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The Northwest Territory.             447

ment was given to settlers of the country, and free homes were

founded and the fires of soul-freedom burned in all the states.

The men of Ohio were loyal to the Constitution and Union, and

obeyed the ten commandments and the golden rule, and when

danger threatened our institutions, young men and old men left

farm and shop, the bank, and school house, their father and

mother, wife and children, and presented themselves, to fight,

suffer, defend, and if need be, die for the heritage bequeathed

by the heroes of 1776, and preserved by the gallantry of the

patriots of 1812, and those who marched to the City of Mexico.

There was no set of men in the army that had a better record

for gallantry and for personal bravery than had the soldiers of

the State of Ohio from 1861 until the last gun was fired and the

last foe had surrendered, to the Constitution and the Union.

The Northwest Territory has occupied a very important

place in the development of the Western part of the United

States; it has furnished a large number of the families who

occupy the western states and territories; it also furnished a large

number of men in the army of 1861-65; it has taken a prominent

part in all of the financial contests in the past fifty years; it was

very pronounced in its sentiments on the slavery question, and

within the borders of the Northwest Territory liberty found its

strongest advocates and most able defenders.

It is hard to account for the part that the inhabitants of this

small territory have taken in all of the great conflicts, financially,

morally and politically, but there is one thing we think can be

said of the Northwestern Territory. In the first place, the men

who occupied the territory, and the women who were the mothers

of the children that were born in the Northwest Territory were

of noble parentage and noble blood, and were trained in the

school of liberty and free thought. Consequently, when they

were coming to the West, they laid the foundation of the social,

civil and political institutions on principles that were immortal.

The family altar was well built and well guarded. The

children were well trained, and consequently they were law-

abiding and law-loving, as well as liberty-loving families. The

children imbibed the liberty spirit of the fathers, and the whole

community became advocates of free soil and free men.

• 15
 

448       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

The second source of strength to the Northwest was that

they built their institution on the religion of Jesus Christ. The

altar of religion stood side by side with the family altar, and

father and mother and child all became imbued with the faith

that the fathers had in the religion of Jesus Christ; that taught

the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God, and every

child was taught to say, "Our father who art in heaven;" and

then in the "our" was embraced every nation, kindred and

tongue, consequently the obligation of the great principle of the

brotherhood of man was easily accomplished in the Northwest

Territory, and the articles composed in the ordinance of 1787

contained the sentiment that religion, morality and knowledge

were the basis of all lasting governments.

Out fathers laid the foundation of an educational system,

and their educational altar became so firmly fixed that certain

sections of land dedicated by them for the cause of education are

still bearing fruit of the labors and toils of the fathers, so that the

altar of education was the third method of strength and power

of the Northwest.

The fathers not only believed in the family, religious and

educational altar, but they believed in patriotism, and built the

altar of patriotism, side by side, with the other altars, and the

smoke of the sacrifice ascended from it every ₄th day of July,

and the boys were given a rousing time, that stirred up their

patriotism when the old flag was waved, and the American eagle

made to scream, and the glories of the fathers in the Revolution

were presented in burning words by orators and by divines.

The fifth method of strength and power of this community

lies in the industry of its inhabitants. Every man, woman and

child was taught that it was honorable to work and that labor

was royal and not degrading; that free labor was the highest

occupation of the free man, and that a free man living upon a free

soil and exercising free speech, going to free schools, using a free

ballot and giving a fair count, was the highest ambition and

greatest commission of an American citizen.

Then the doctrine as taught by these fathers was that there

was a personal and moral obligation that existed between man

and man, regardless of his religion, an obligation that was natural,

• 16
 

The Northwest Territory.                449

a chain of obligations that bound each to his fellowman and

bound family to family, race to race, nation to nation, and

finally bound them all to the first great cause.

Thus you see this sentiment as grown in the Northwest has

characterized it more than any other portion of our country,

By reason of this principle it has a place in history as the works

of the fathers. The moral and religious forces of this section

were organized early. The pioneer Methodist preacher and the

poor schoolmaster were abroad in the land, and where the

pioneer preacher and the schoolmaster join forces, to lay a foun-

dation in the community, it is sure to prosper.

We will give some of the figures as to the condition of this

section of the country to-day, as contrasted with the condition of

the country in the year 1800. We will take a hundred years'

account of the progress of the educational, of the moral, of the

religious, the agricultural, mechanical and financial affairs, and

see what a wonderful progress has been made in the hundred

years that have past; and from what we have seen of the past,

and what we know of the present, we may judge, somewhat

faintly of the future of this great Northwest Territory. It is an

honor to live in such a community. It is a privilege worth a life

time to be a member of the forces that are at work in this western

country in the development of true manhood and true woman-

hood. Therefore, we will now give you some of the statistics that

you may see the astonishing growth of the territory dedicated to

religion, to morality and to knowledge.

The following is a general summary of the Territory that

was known as the Northwest in 1787, and which was to be

formed into five states, and to be the home of freemen:

 

State.             Sq. Miles.                           Pop. 1800.                     Pop. 1880.

Ohio ................. 41,066      45,000              3,198,239

Indiana   ..............              36,330              5,640                1,978,362

Illinois    ...............             56,650              12,282              3,078,769

Wisconsin ............ 56,030 (1840) 30,945    1,315,480

Michigan ............. 58,915 (1810) 4,762      1,636,331

The total number of square miles in these five states is

248,991^. The total number of inhabitants in 1800 was 98,629,

Vol. VIII-29.

• 17
 

450         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

and in the same territory we had in 188O 11,207,181.   In 1800

there were 1,253 colored persons free and 455 slaves, of a total col-

ored population of 1,708. We had in 1880 182,663 colored per-

sons, and in 1890 218,470, all free, and no slaves. These figures

are given in the last census.

Indiana was a part of the Northwest Territory and was first

settled by Canadian voyagers in 1702, at Vincennes. It was or-

ganized as a territory in 1800, and admitted into the Union in

1816 with an area of 36,350 square miles, which are contained in

its 94 counties. The following will show how her numerical

strength has developed and how the colored people have increased

within her borders:

Year                      White  Free Col'd Slaves     Total

1790................

1800................

1810................  23,890                                             302              237            24,429

1820 ................  145,758                                           1,230          190      147,178

1830 ...............  339,399                                           3,620                        3   403,022

1840 ................ 678,698                                           7,165                             685,863

1850 ................  977,154                                           11,262                                              988,416

1860 ................ 1,339,000                                       11,428                                              1,350,428

1870 ................  1,039,094                                       38,998                                              1,078,092

1890 ................  2,146,736                                       45,668                                              2,192,404

Illinois contains 56,660 square miles of territory.    The first

settlement was by the French at Kaskaskia, in 1682. It was a

part of the Northwest Territory in 1787, was organized as a

separate territory in 1809, and admitted as a state of the Union

in 1818. The following will give an idea of its growth since it was

dedicated to freedom:

Year                 Free Col'd Slaves   Whites        Total

1790 ...............

1800 ...............

1810 ................ 613                           168                           11,501                12,282

1820...............    457                           917                           53,788                55,162

1830 ................  1,647                        747                           155,061        157,455

1840................  3,598                        331                           472,254        476,183

1850  ..............  5,436                                                          841,037        846,473

1860 .                 ..............                     7,628                                  1,704,323                   1,711,951

1870 .                ...............                    28,762                                2,511,096                   2,539,858

1880  ............... 46,248                                                        3,032,174          3,078,422

1890 ................  57,879                                                       3,768,572          3,826,451

• 18
 

The Northwest Territory.                      451

Wisconsin was first settled by the French at Green Bay, in

1669, was a part of the Nortwest Territory in 1787, organ-

ized as a territory in 1836, and was admitted as a state in 1847.

The following will show the numerical growth and strength:

 

Year                   White Persons   Col'd Persons             Total

1840....................                                         30,749                          185                                 30,934

1850....................             304,753                   635                305,388

1860....................                                         774,710   1,171         '      775,881

1870....................                         1,051,351       2,113                         1,053,464

1880 ....................                               1,309,662         2,724                1,312,386

1890....................              1,680,473   6,407         1,687,880

 

The first settlement within the State of Michigan was at

Sault St. Marie, in the year 1668. It was a part of the North-

west Territory until it was organized as a territory in 1805. It

was admitted as a state in 1837, with an area of 58,915 square

miles of land. It consists of 79 counties and has had the follow-

ing enumerations of its population:

 

Year                Free Col'd Slaves     Whites        Total

1790..............

1800 ...............

1810................                                              120    24                       4,618                      4,762

1820 ...............                        174                        8,591              8,765

1830   ...............                     261    32            31,386                31,679

1840 ................                       707                    212,560         213,267

1850............                      2,583                       395,071         397,654

1860.......    .....                  6,799                       742,314         749,113

1870 ................                 11,849                     1,167,282      1,179,131

1880................                                     14,986                                   1,614,078             1,629,064

1890 ................ 16,807                               1,680,473                    1,697,280

 

 

POPULATION OF THE STATES COMPOSING THE NORTHWEST

TERRITORY FROM 1810 To 1890.

 

Year                          Year                           Year                           Year                         Year

1810               1820               1830                1840              1850

Ill .....    12,282                                          55,162                      157,445                    476,183                 851,470

Year                           Year                          Year                           Year                        Year

1860                         1870                         1880                          1890

1,711,951                      2,539,891                3,077,871                3,826,351              .........

Year                           Year                          Year                           Year                        Year

1810                         1820                         1830                          1840                       1850

Ind ....     24,520                                        147,178                                       343,031                                 685,866                                                   988,416

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452         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

Year                Year                Year                Year        Year

1860               1870               1880               1890

1,350,428           1,680,637       1,978,301          2,192,404   .........

Year                Year                Year                Year               Year

1810               1820               1830               1840              1850

Mich   ..     4,762                      8,765           31,639            212,267         397,654

Year                Year                Year                Year               Year

1860               1870               1880               1890

749,113           1,184,059       1,636,937          2,093,889   .........

Year                Year                Year                Year               Year

1810               1820               1830               1840              1850

Ohio ..     230,760                 581,295          937,903          1,519,467      2,339,511

Year                Year                Year                Year               Year

1860               1870               1880               1890

2,339,511            2,665,260       3,198,062          3,672,316   .........

Year                Year                Year                Year               Year

1840               1850               1860               1870              1880

Wis ...      30,945                  305,391          775,881          1,054,670      1,315,497

Year                Year                Year                Year               Year

1890

1,686,880

 

NUMBER OF SQUARE MILES IN EACH STATE COMPOSING THE

NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

Extreme Breadth and Length

Gross Area in Miles.         In Miles In Miles

Illinois     ..........................     56,650                                   205                    380

Indiana    .........................      36,450                                   160                    265

Michigan ........................       58,915                                   310                    400

Ohio ............................         41,060                                   230                    205

Wisconsin   ......................     56,040                                   290                    300

Total .....................     249,015                        1,195 1,750

 

POPULATION OP WHITE AND COLORED IN THE NORTHWEST

TERRITORY,-1890.

White                                     Colored                                   Total

Illinois ................                     3,768,472                  57,879                         3,826,351

Indiana ...............                     2,146,736                  45,668                         2,192,404

Ohio ..................                      3,584,805                  87,511                         3,672,316

Michigan       .............               2,092,884                  21,005                         2,113,889

Wisconsin                              ............                         1,680,473                    6,407                                                1,686,880

Total ...........               13,273,370                   218,470                                18,491,740

In 1810 there were 272,324.

In 1890 there were 13,372,840.

Increase 13,100,516.

• 20
 

The Northwest Territory.                      453

 

 

DWELLINGS AND FAMILIES IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

 

Dwellings   Av. per. Dwell.  Families    Av. per.

Family.

Ohio ..............                    720,417              5.10                                    785,291                   4.68

Indiana ...........                  452,043              7.85                                    467,146                   4.69

Illinois .........                     669,812              5.71                                    778,015                   4.92

Michigan .........                 434,370              4.82                                    455,004                   4.60

Wisconsin   ........               316,163              5.34                                    335,456                   5.03

Dwellings ... 2,592,805     Families.... 2,820,912

 

ASSESSED VALUATION OF PERSONAL AND REAL PROPERTY IN THE

NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

 

Total Amount.                                   Average

Ohio ................................ $1,534,360,508          $484.20

Indiana .............................                            856,838,472                       390.83

Illinois ..............................                                  809,682,473                     211.61

Michigan   ...........................                               898,155,532                     428.94

Wisconsin ...........................                                577,066,232                     342.09

Total ......................... $4,676,103,216     $1,857.66

The total value of the property in the Northwest Territory in

1890 was the magnificent sum of $4,676,103,216. The lowest

average per person was in Illinois, where it was $211.61 for every

man, woman and child.

 

TOTAL AMOUNT EXPENDED FOR EDUCATION IN THE NORTHWEST

TERRITORY.

Amount.

Ohio  .........................................  .........        $12,473,295

Indiana .................................................        6,636,756

Illinois    ..................................................     15,635,867

M ichigan                          ........ .......................................                      5,872,950

Wisconsin ...............................................     5,246,192

Total amount .....................................      $45,865.060

 

DAILY AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OF PUPILS IN THE NORTHWEST

TERRITORY.

Ohio       ......................................................        597,925

Indiana   ..................................................            401,702

Illinois   ...................................................           324,623

Michigan ..................................................          271,000

Wisconsin  .................................................         261,000

1,856,150

• 21
 

454         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

 

TEACHERS AND SALARIES IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

 

Male.                           Female.                        Total

Ohio ..........................         10,305                          14,875                         25,180

Indiana .........................      7,130                            7,754                     14,884

Illinois ..........................      7,057                            18,350                         25,417

Michigan       .......................                         3,634                                  12,379                     16,013

Wisconsin     ...................... 2,440                            9,894                     12,334

Total .....................  13,131                          40,623                         53,764

Average salary of men, $47.37 per month.

Total salary of men, $1,447,901.42 per month.

Average salary of women, $40.24 per month.

Total salary of women, $2,243,308.48 per month.

Grand total, $3,691,209.90.

 

SCHOOL AND MILITIA AGES IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY-1890.

 

School Ages     Militia Ages

Illinois  .................................                       1,323,030       862,635

Indiana ................................                               785,172                       455,323

Michigan ...............................                              703,684                       462,765

Ohio  ...................................                        1,271,031       767,975

Wisconsin  ..............................                            603,846                       347,469

Grand total .......................                 4,686,763       2,886,667

 

VOTING AGES, MALES 21 YEARS AND OVER IN THE NORTHWEST

TERRITORY-1890.

White.                                    Colored.

Illinois       ....................................                1,054,469       18,200

Indiana      ...................................                        581,987                       13,070

Michigan   ..................................                         611,008                       6,437

Ohio  ......................................                            990,542                       25,922

Wisconsin  .................................                         459,893                       1,829

Grand total .........................               3,697,899       61,458

 

THE MAIN CEREAL CROPS OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

1897 -CORN.

Acres                                        Bushel                                   Value.

Ohio ................                   2,835,864                92,165,580                       $23,041,395;

Michigan ............                990,511                   31,201,096                       8,424,296

Indiana .............                  3,660,844                109,825,320                     23,063,317

Illinois ..............                  7,167,018                232,928,085                     48,914,898

Wisconsin ...........                1,019,551                33,615,183                       8,411,296

Total ......... 14,673,788                           499,765,264                     $111,855,202

• 22
 

The Northwest Territory.                      455

 

1897- OATS.

Acres                                     Bushel                                         Value.

Ohio ................ 934,606                           29,907,392                          $5,981,478

Michigan   ...........    882,325                               22,940,450                     5,276,304

Indiana .............       1,116,112                            33,706,582                     6,404,251

Illinois ..............      2,899,953                            92,798,496                     16,703,729

Wisconsin ...........    1,827,215                            62,125,310                     11,803,809

Total .........  1,660,211                                         241,478,230                                          $46,169,571

1897- WHEAT.

Acres                                     Bushel                                         Value.

Ohio ................ 2,251,428                        38,049,133                          $33,483,237

Michigan ............     1,519,240                            23,700,144                     20,619,125

Indiana .............          2,573,477                                         32,675,201                                             29,080,929

Illinois ..............      1,465,570                            11,578,003                     10,304,423

Wisconsin   ..........   615,262                               7,690,775                  6,460,251

Total .........  8,338,977                            113,703,256                   $99,947,965

241,418,230

499,765,264

Grand total....................... 854,886,750

The Northwest Territory furnished the following troops in

1861-65:

No. of Men Furnished. No. for3 years.                              Colored.

Ohio ......          .............        313,190                                   240,514                                                   5,035

Indiana         .........................                 196,363                                153,576                                          1,597

Illinois         .........................                 259,092                                214,133                                          1,841

Michigan ........................    87,364                                      80,111                           1,387

Wisconsin .......................  9,134                                        79,260                           155

Total .....................                 927,326                                767,594                                    10,015

Total number of colored soldiers in the war from                       1861-65,

186,917.

The Northwest Territory furnishes the following number

of Congressmen:

Ohio      ..................................................                 21

Indiana  ...............................................       13

Illinois       ................................................                            22

Michigan            .........     .....................................                     12

Wisconsin    .............................................                10

Total .......... ...............................      78

U. S. Senators..........................................     10

Total  ...........................................                88

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456         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

 

CHURCH DENOMINATIONS IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

CONGREGATIONAL -1890.

Churches                           Min.                     Members                           Am,t Raised

Ohio ................               257             195                   38,544                  $351,502

Indiana .............               58               38                 4,589                       45,098

Illinois ..............                      360            280                        48,896      571,655

Michigan .........                                374                      272                         32,377                              269,441

Wisconsin .........                     252            185                        22,085      210,196

Total ......... 1,265                 940                   146,491                $1,427,893

 

PRESBYTERIAN -1890.

Organizations. Churches.          Valuation.  Communicants.

Ohio .............               820                                      849                              $6,722,875                                        103,607

Indiana ..........             389                                      412                              4,649,410                             77,213

Illinois ...........   752                        736                   4,640,410                         43,351

Michigan .........          252                                      243                              2,242,236                             25,931

Wisconsin........          140                                      150                              1,504,355                             14,154

Total ...... 2,361           2,390              $19,259,286                   266,259

 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.

Organizations. Churches.                 Valuation.  Communicants.

Ohio .............               109                                      106                              $2,103,487                                        17,711

Indiana ..........             65                                         61                                      537,600                           5,185

Illinois ........      196                        189                   2,343,075                         20,854

Michigan .........  191                        177                   1,653,651                         18,136

Wisconsin........  133                        117                   1,035,978                         10,457

Total ......              694             730                   $7,673,791                    72,343

 

BAPTIST -1898.

Churches           Min                  Members                     Valuation  Am't Contributed

Ohio.....                        636              555                      71,980                   $2,929,821                           $418,663 49

Indiana ..           583        371             62,618              1,523,175             208,778 40

Illinois...            1,129     881          115,991            24,139,153              684,334 61

Michigan .         456        386             45,685              2,183,426             292,348 81

Wisconsin.         220        166             19,717                         970,255    165,109 35

Total 3,024            2,359          314,991     $11,745,830                $1,768,634 75

 

METHODIST - 1898.

Org                     Ch                              Val Pro                          Mem                               Min

Ohio ........ 2,340                    2,296              $8,749,970                     240,650                                     1,205

Indiana ..... 1,618                   1,585                         4,243,180                162,480                                 767

Illinois ...... 1,903                   1,779                         7,046,786                165,191                                 1,312

Michigan .... 1,085                 894                 3,730,850                       86,958                       734

Wisconsin ...    706                       623                               1,791,900         41,360                              438

Total... 7,652               5,592              $25,562,686                   697,599                                     4,456

• 24
 

The Northwest Territory.                   457

 

 

 

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Organizations. Churches.         Valuation,  Communicnats

Ohio .............                   586              515               $7,395,640            336,114

Indiana ..........                                   311                      303                         3,534,691                          419,100

Illinois ...........                                  690                      666                         9,946,819                          475,474

Michigan ........                                 400                      360                         3,671,350                          222,261

Wisconsin ........                              650                      623                         4,873,270                          249,829

Total ...... 2,637               2,467                             $29,421,770                                           1,702,778

After examining the material progress and prosperity of

the Northwest Territory, and finding such wonderful advance-

ments and multiplication of interests, we could not close with-

out looking at the relation of the Northwest Territory as a stand-

ard toward the national government. First, as administrators,

presidents of the United States, and members of cabinets and

Supreme Judges.

The following list will be an astonishment to most persons

who have not followed the influence that the Northwest has had

upon the politics and administrations of our government.      Not

only has this section influence in the successes of our country, but

in time of war there was no section that furnished a larger num-

ber of soldiers, and no section furnished so many eminent generals

as did the Northwest. The Northwest furnished us with Grant,

Sherman, Sheridan, Logan, and a number of others equally as

honorable and heroic, but we give you the list.

 

Presidents.                     Vice Presidents.

1841- W. H. Harrison, Ohio.                                   1869 - Indiana, Schuyler Colfax.

1861 -Abraham   Lincoln, Illinois.       1885 - Indiana - Thos. A. Hend-

1869--U. S. Grant, Point Pleas-            ricks.

ant, 0.                                                                 1893- Illinois - Adlai Stevenson.

1877 -R. B. Hayes, Delaware,                     Presidents pro tern. of Senate.

Ohio.                                          1854-57 - Indiana, Jesse D. Bright.

1881--James A. Garfield, Cuya-                               1867-69, Ohio, Benj. F. Wade.

hoga Co., Ohio.                          1873-75, Wisconsin, M. H. Car-

1889-Benjamin Harrison, North              penter.

Bend, Ohio.                                1875-79, Michigan, Thos. F. Ferry.

1897- Wm. McKinley,   Niles,             1879-81, Ohio, A. G. Thurman.

Ohio.                                          1881-83, Illinois, David Davis.

1885-87. Ohio, John Sherman.

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458         Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

Justices Supreme Court.        Ohio, 1862-Edwin M. Stanton.

Ill.,  1867 - U. S. Grant (ad in.),

Ohio, 1829-61-John McLean.

Ill.,              1868--Lor Thomas(ad in.}

Ohio, 1861-81 - Noah H. Swayne.     Ill.,     1868- Lor Thomas(ad in.)

Ill.,              1869--J. A. Rawlins.

Ill.,  1862-77 - David Davis.

Ohio, 1869-W. T. Sherman.

Ohio, 1864-73-Salmon P. Chase.

Ohio, 1874-88- Morrison  R. - Ohio, 1876 --Alphonso Taft.

Waite.           Ill.,  1881-Robert T. Lincoln.

Mich., 1897 -Russell A. Alger.

Ohio, 1881-89--Stanley      Mat-

thews.                Secretaries of Interior.

Ill.,  1888-  - Melville W. Ful-                     Ohio, 1849 - Thomas Ewing.

ler.                           Mich., 1853 - Robert McClelland.

Mich., 1890-  - Henry B. Brown.                 Ind.,     1861 -Caleb B. Smith.

Speakers of House of Repre-                   Ill.,       1866 -Orv. H. Browning.

sentatives.                              Ohio, 1869 -Jacob D. Cox.

Ind.,      1845-47- John W. Davis.              Ohio, 1870- Columbus Delano.

Ind.,       1863-69 - Schuyler Colfax.            Mich., 1875 - Zachariah Chandler.

Ind.,      1875-76 - Michael Kerr.                Wis., 1888--W. F. Vilas.

Ohio, 1881-83-John W. Keifer.                             Secretary of Navy.

CABINET OFFICERS.           Ind.,                 1877 -R. W. Thompson.

Secretaries of State.                                    Secretary of Agriculture.

Mich., 1857 -Lewis Cass.            Wis., 1889 - Jeremiah M. Rusk.

Ill.,        1869- Elihu B. Washburn.           Postmaster Generals.

Ind.,      1892-John W. Foster.                    Ohio, 1814-Return J. Meigs, Jr.

Ill.,        1893- Walter Q. Gresham.             Ohio, 1817 - Return J. Meigs, Jr.

Ohio, 1897-John Sherman.                         Ohio, 1823-John McLean.

Ohio, 1897 -Wm. R. Day.                          Ohio, 1825--John McLean.

Ohio, 1898 - John Hay.                               Ohio, 1864 - Wm. Dennison,

Secretaries of Treasury.                     Ohio, 1865- W'Nm. Dennison.

Ohio, 1841 -Thomas Ewing.                       Wis., 1866- A. W. Randall.

Ohio, 1850 - Thomas Corwin.                    Ind.,  1876 - J. N. Tyner.

Ohio, 1861 - Salmon P. Chase                    Wis., 1881 -T. O. Howe.

Ind.,  1865 - Hugh McCulloch.                   Ind.,  1883 -W. Q. Gresham.

Ohio, 1877 - John Sherman.                       Wis., 1885- Wm. F. Vilas.

Ind.,      1884 - W. Q. Gresham.                  Mich., 1888 - Don. M. Dickinson.

Ind.,      1884 - Hugh McCulloch.              Attorney Generals.

Ohio, 1891 -Charles Foster.                       Ohio, 1860- Edwin M. Stanton.

Iii.,  1897 - Lyman J. Gage.                       Ohio, 1866 - Henry Stansberry.

Secretaries of War.                                         Ohio, 1876- Alphonso Taft.

Ohio, 1831- Lewis Cass.                             Ind.,   1889 - Wm. H. H. Miller

Ohio, 1841-John McLean                          Ohio, 1895 -Judson Harmon.

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The Northwest Territory.                   459

 

DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS FROM THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

 

GREAT BRITAIN.

U. S. Grant: 1870, Robert C. Schenck, Ohio.

B. Harrison: 1889: Robert T. Lincoln, Illinois.

William McKinley; 1897, John Hay, Ambassador, Ohio.

 

FRANCE.

A. Jackson: 1836, Lewis Cass, Michigan.

Martin Van Buren: 1837, Lewis Cass, Michigan.

John Taylor: 1841, Lewis Cass, Michigan.

John Taylor: 1842, Henry Ledgard, Charge d'Affairs, Ohio.

A. Johnson: 1866, John Hay, Charge d'Affairs, Illinois.

U. S. Grant: 1869, E. B. Washburn, Illinois.

R. B. Hayes: 1877, E. F. Noyes, Ohio.

 

AUSTRIA.

A. Johnson: 1867, John Hay, Charge d'Affairs, Illinois.

U. S. Grant: 1875, Godlove S. Orth, Indiana.

C. A. Arthur: 1882, Alphonso Taft, Ohio.

Wm. McKinley: 1899, Addison Harris, Indiana.

 

RUSSIA.

R. B. Hayes: 1879, John W. Foster, Indiana.

J. A. Garfield: 1880, John W. Foster, Indiana.

C. A. Arthur: 1884, Alphonso Taft, Ohio.

Grover Cleveland: 1888, Lambart Tree, Illinois.

 

GERMAN EMPIRE.

Grover Cleveland: 1885, George H. Pendleton, Ohio.

Grover Cleveland: 1896, E. F. Ehul, Michigan.

 

ITALY.

Grover Cleveland: 1885, John Stallo, Ohio.

Benjamin Harrison: 1889, Albert G. Porter, Indiana.

 

SPAIN.

A. Lincoln: 1861, Carl Schurtz, Wisconsin.

A. Lincoln: 1862, Gustaves Krener, Illinois.

R. B. Hayes: 1880, L. Fairchilds, Wisconsin.

J. A. Garfield: 1880, L. Fairchilds, Wisconsin.

C. A. Arthur: 1883, John W. Foster, Indiana.

B. Harrison:  1889, Thomas W. Palmer, Michigan.

William McKinley: 1898, Bellamy Storer, Ohio.

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460       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

In looking over the achievements of the century and of the

Northwestern Territory, we find that the greatest results in the

literary world, as well as the commercial world, have been accom-

plished in the Northwestern Territory. In the moral and relig-

ious world, among the organization of the activities for the bet-

terment of mankind, there is none that occupies a more promi-

nent place than the Uniform Lesson system of the Sunday

schools of the world.

That system which enables more than twenty-five million

men, women and children to study the same lesson, recite the

same outlines and commit the same golden text on one Sunday.

This was born in the Northwestern Territory, as well as its

half-brother, the great Chautauqua movement of the world. It

is a child of the Rock River Conference, and the Union of the Sun-

day-schools of the world is the work of that eminent son of the

Northwestern Territory, B. F. Jacobs, of Chicago.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union is a legitimate

child of the Temperance Crusade, begun at Hillsboro, Ohio.

The success of this organization is marvellous. The influence

it has exerted among the statesmen and scholars is such that

today the danger signal is hung over the door way of every

school house throughout our land, and the evils of intemperance

upon the human system is taught by the authority of our

National and State Governments. Thus the Northwestern

Territory has produced through her distinguished daughter,

Frances Willard, the greatest moral and religious organization

among the women of the world. All honor to the women who

have organized forces in the defense of home and native land.

Uncle Tom's Cabin was built in the North Western Terri-

tory. It was constructed at Lane Seminary, at Walnut Hills,

Ohio, by Harriet Beecher Stowe. That book had a wonderful

sale and a marvelous circulation. It is translated in every lan-

guage of the world and in scores of dialects bearing the bur-

den of the slave and pleading for universal liberty.

Another child of the Northwest was the World's Colum-

bian Exposition, unsurpassed in the century by any exposition

on the western or eastern hemisphere, while the Parliament of

Religion was conducted by the son of the northwest, who was

• 28
 

The Northwest Territory.             461

 

wise enough to lay the foundation so broad and strong that the

children of God of every clime, nation, kindred and tongue

could meet on the level and worship the one God,-the universal

Father.

The forces of our civilization are marshaling for the grand

view of the 20th century. It is well for this magnificent city,

and the magnificent Northwest, to have this preliminary meeting

to examine into the assets of our past and present, so that, as we

enter the gate of the 20th century, our forces will stand the

inspection, will hold the post of honor in the procession of

nations; with dignity, power and influence as the country where

freedom has built her altar, and where liberty has taken her

successful stand against oppression, and shall enter the 20th

century with banners flying and with triumphant procession.

 

 

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE

NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

The A. M. E. church was organized in the Northwest Ter-

ritory as early as 1824. It was started in Cincinnati, Ohio,

February 4th, 1824, by the Rev. Moses Freeman. It was organ-

ized in Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1821. The first African Methodist

Episcopal Conference organized west of the Allegheny mountains

was August, 1830, at Hillsborough, Ohio, Bishop Morris Brown

presiding. The Rev. Lewis Woodson was its secretary. The

church has grown until today the following annual conferences

are held in the Northwest Territory: Ohio, organized in 1830;

Indiana, organized in 1840 at Blue River, by Bishop Morris

Brown; Illinois, organized in 1872, by Bishop James A. Shorter;

Iowa, organized in -    by Bishop M. D. Ward; Michigan,

organized at Battle Creek, in 1889 by Bishop J. P. Campbell.

The following statistics will show the development of the

moral and religious growth of the church among the colored

people for whom it was established:

The Northwest Territory has the following African Metho-

dist Episcopal annual conferences: Ohio, North Ohio, Michigan,

Indiana, Illinois and part of Iowa, with 12 presiding elders, 434

itinerant ministers, who received as a salary last year, $97,645.54.

They administered to 317 churches, with a valuation of $3,016,-

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462      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

317.48. Members and probationers, 28,935, who contributed for

all purposes during the year $300,403.90.

In every church there is a Sunday-school properly organized

studying the lesson systems and contributing for religious pur-

poses according to their ability.

The liberal provision made for the public schools of the

Northwest Territory makes it possible to ascertain the number

of children of the race attending school.

The Rev. Lewis Woodson has the first honor of offering the

first resolution in an annual conference in behalf of Christian

education and Christian temperance. In 1831 he offered a reso-

lution which was adopted by the eastern conferences of the church,

and since that time resolutions have continued to be passed,

and the Ohio annual conferences lead in the work of education.

In 1843 a resolution was offered in the Ohio annual con-

ference appointing a committee to purchase grounds for a Man-

ual Labor School. The committee reported in 1844, and in

1845 the annual conference purchased a farm on Darby Creek,

in Franklin county, Ohio, of 160 acres, where they established

the Manual Labor School, the first school of the kind organized

on the American continent for the education of the colored race.

The school properly was organized in 1847, in Columbus, Ohio,

by Rev. John M. Brown. Mrs. Frances Ellen Watkins was the

first teacher. Thus began the educational work in the A. M. E.

church and the banner work of the moral and religious training

of the Negroes of the Northwest Territory. Out of the Manual

Labor School at Columbus has grown Wilberforce University and

all the departments it now contains.

Wilberforce University was established by the joint work

of the A. M. E. and the M. E. churches in 1856.   In 1863

Wilberforce was purchased by the A. M. E. church and began its

independent career in the educational world. It has grown in

usefulness, in power and influence, until, today the African

Methodist Episcopal Church has the magnificent result as seen

in the following figures:

The total number of students attending Wilberforce from

1863 to 1876 under the administration of Daniel A. Payne was

1554. The average attendance was 119,54-100.

• 30
 

The Northwest Territory.            463

The total number of students attending Wilberforce from

1876 to 1884 under the administration of B. F. Lee was 1179.

The average attendance was 147.

The total number of students attending Wilberforce from

1884 to 1899 under the administration of S. T. Mitchell was 3058.

The average attendance was 203.

The grand total attendance is 5788. The average attendance

160, 7-9.

Bishop D. A. Payne was President from 1863 to 1876. Total

money raised $92,784.92. An average per year of $7,137.30.

Bishop Lee was President from 1876 to 1884. Total re-

ceipts, $70,202.80. An average per year of $9,900.35.

Rev. S. T. Mitchell was President from 1884 to 1899. Total

receipts, $232,177.05. An average per year of $14,511.06.

Grand total receipts, from 1863 to 1899, $404,164.77. An

average for 34 years of $11,226.70 per year.

Total receipts for the Normal and Industrial Department

from 1887 to 1899, $174,059.73.

Total receipts for Payne Theological Seminary from 1891

to 1899, $27,746.85.

Great grand total from all sources for all the Departments,

$596,971.35.

My Fellow Countrymen:-I have been fortunate in discussing

the subject of good citizenship. It was my privilege in 1895 to

discuss the subject in Boston on Good Citizens' Day, a day

that will be long remembered by those who participated in the

proceedings, or witnessed the baptism of patriotism that fell

upon the multitude.

At twelve o'clock midday, July 10, the citizens of Boston,

and thousands and ten thousands of strangers marched through

the streets, or rode on the street cars, all singing the National

anthem, "My country, 'tis of Thee." At one time there were

at least fifty thousand people singing the Nation's hymn, and in

Boston Commons they had assembled to hear the words of

patriotism and words relating to human liberty, and beneath the

shadow of Bunker Hill, and in the presence of the monument

dedicated to Crispus Attucks, Coldwell, Mevarick and Gray,

men, women and children dedicated themselves anew to the

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464      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

principles of our government and to our institutions. The author

of the hymn, "My Country 'tis of Thee," was present and joined

in with the multitude in consecrating themselves to Good Cit-

izenship and Christian Citizenship.

Again it was my pleasure to meet you, Father Clark, in

front of the Nation's Capitol in the presence of the Chief Exe-

cutive of the Nation, and in the presence of the Supreme

Judges of our land, with sixty thousand children of all nations

and races; and there I joined them in singing, "The Star Spangled

Banner, Long May it Wave o'er the Land of the Free and the

Home of the Brave." Christian Endeavor stands for Good

Citizenship.

Again in 1897, you and I met at the Inter-Mountain gathering

at Salt Lake City, in the tabernacle of the Latter Day Saints,

with twelve thousand American citizens around the altars of

patriotism and religion, and there on the holy Sabbath day,

and the Fourth of July, the Sabbath of religion and the Sab-

bath day of patriotism met, and we consecrated ourselves to

our country and its institutions; and then we took up our

march, and in San Francisco, on Vanness Avenue, the Good

Citizens' Meeting was held, and I remember, sir, when the repre-

sentatives of Australia and Canada joined hands with us around

the common altar of humanity and we dedicated ourselves to

the greater citizenship of the common wealth of Christianity.

In 1898, at the Exposition Hall in Nashville, the blue and

the gray met together, Gen. O.O. Howard and Gen. J. T. Mor-

gan, of the Union army joined hands with Gen. Evans of the

Confederate army, and the blue and the gray met together and

shook hands over the bloody chasm; and you will remember the

scene that followed when Bishop Fitzgerald, of the Methodist

Episcopal church South, arose, and he and I clasped hands

beneath the stars and stripes, and the black and the white, and the

blue and the gray, met together around the common altars of

religion, patriotism and humanity.

• 32