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bounded on the Miffiffippi, the Ohio, and Wabash rivers; a direct line drawn from the Wabash and Poft Vincent due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada, and by the faid territorial line to the lake of the Woods and the Miffilippi. The middie State fhall be bounded by the fid direct line, the Wabash from Poft Vincent to the Ohio; by the Ohio by a direct line drawn due north from the mouth of the Great Miami to the faid territorial line, and by the faid territorial line. The eastern State fhall be bounded by the Lift-mentioned direct line, the Ohio, Pennfylvania, and the faid territorial line: provided, however, and it is further underflood and declared, that the boundaries of these three States fnall be fubje&t fo far to be altered, that if Congress hereafter fhill find it expedient, they fhall have authority to form one, or two States, in that part of the said territory which lies north of an east and weft line drawn through the foutherly bend or extreme of late Michigan; and when any of the said States shall have fixty thousand fice inhabitants therein, fuch State fhall be admitted by its delegates into the Congrefs of the United States, on an equal footing with the original States in all refpects whatever; and shall be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and state government: provided the conftitution and government fo to be formed fhall be republican, and in conformity to the principles contained in these articles; and fo far as it can be confiftent with the general intereft of the confederacy, fuch admiffion fhall be allowed at an earlier period, and when there may be a lefs number of free inhabitants in the State than fixty thoufand.

“Art. VI. There fhall be neither flavery nor involuntary fervitude in the faid territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted provided always, that any perfon efcaping into the fame, from whom labour or fervice is lawfully claimed in any of the original States; fuch fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed, and conveyed to the perion claiming his or her labour or fervice as aforefaid.”

Such is the prefent government of the western territory, and fuch the political obligations of the adventurers into this fertile and delightful part of the United States.

In the ordinance of Congrels, for the government of this territory, it is provided, that after the laid territory acquires a certain digree of population, it fhall be divided into States,

The eastern State that is thus provided to be made, is bounded on the Great Miami on the weft, and by the Pennsylvania line on the east. The center of this State will fall between the Scioto and the Hockhocking. At the mouth of one of thete rivers will probably be the feat of government for this State p and, if we may indulge the fublime contemplation of beholding the whole territory of the United States fettled by an enlightened people, and continued under one extended government, on the river Ohio, and not far from this fpot will be the feat of empire for the whole dominion. This is central to the whole; it will best accommodate every part; it is the mofl pleasant, and probably the most healthful.

The fettlement of this country has been checked for feveral years paft, by the unhappy Indian war, an amicable termination of which, it is ardently wifhed, might fpeedily take place,

END OF THE SECOND VOLUME,

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