formed in the fame territory; to provide alfo for the establishment offtates, and permament government therein, and for their admission to share in the federal councils on an equal footing with the original states, at as early periods as may be confiftent with the general interest: 219 It is hearby ordained and declared by the authority aforefaid, That the following articles fhall be confidered articles of compact, between the original states and the people, and ftates in the fame territory, and for ever remain unalterable, unless common confent, to wit: Article 1ft. No perfon demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner fhall ever be molefted on account of his mode of worship or religious fentiments in the fame teritory. Article 2d. The inhabitants of the faid territory shall always be entitled to the benefits of the writ of habeas corpus, and of the trial by jury, of a proportionate reprefentation of the people in the legislature, and of judicial proceedings according to the course of the common law: all perfons fhall be bailable unless for capital offences, where the preof fhall be evident, or the prefumption great: all fines fhall be moderate, and no cruel or unusual punishment fhall be inflicted; no man shall be deprived of his liberty or property but by the judgement of his peers, or of the law of the land; and should the public exigencies make it neceffary for the common prefervation to take any perfon's property, or to demand his particular services, full compenfation fhall be made for the fame; and in the just prefervation of the rights and property it is underftood and declared, that no law ought ever to be made, or have force in the faid territory, that fhall in any manner whatever interfer with, or affect private contracts or engagements, bona fide, and without fraud previously formed. Article 3d. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being neceffary to good government and the happiness of mankind, fchoolls and the means of education fhall forever be encouraged, the utmost good faith fhall always be obferved towards the Indians; their lands and property thall never be taken from them without their confent; and in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or difturbed, unlefs in juft and lawful wars authorized by Congrefs; but laws founded on juftice and humanity fhall from time to time be made, for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preferving peace and friendship with them. Article 4th. The faid territory and the estates which may be formed therein; fhall for ever remain a part of this confederacy of the United States of America, fubject to the articles of confederation, and to fuch alte rations therein as fhall be conftitutionally made; and to all the acts and ordinances of the United States, in Congrefs affembled, conformable thereto. The inhabitants and fettlers in the faid territory, fhall be fubject to pay a part of the federal debts contracted; or to be contracted, and a proportionable part of the expences of government to be apportioned on them by Congrefs, according to the fame common rule and measure; by which apportionments thereof shall be made on the other states; and the taxes for paying their proportion; fhall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the district or districts, or new ftates, a▲ the original states, within the time agreed upon by the United States, Congrefs affembled. The legislature of those districts, or new states, fhall never interfer with the primary disposal of the foil; by the United States; States, in Congrefs affembled, nor with any regulations Congress may find neceffary for fecuring the title in fuch foil to the bona fide purchasers. No tax fhall be imposed on lands the property of the United States; and in no cafe fhall non-refident proprietors be taxed higher than refidents. The navigable waters leading into the Miffifippi and St. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the fame, fhall be common highways, and for ever free, as well to the inhabitants of the faid territory, as to the citizens of the United States, and those of any other ftates that may be admitted intó” the confederacy, without any tax, impoft, or duty therefor. Article 5th. There shall be formed in the said territory, not less than three, nor more than five ftates; and the boundaries of the ftates, as foon as Virginia fhall alter her act of ceffion and confent to the fame, fhall become fixed and established as follows, to wit: The western state in the faid territory, fhall be bounded on the Miffifippi, the Ohio, and Wabash rivers a direct line drawn from the Wabash and Poft Vincent's 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 Millilippi. The middle state shall be bounded by the said direct line, the Wabash from Poft Vincent's 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 said territorial line. The eastern state shall be bounded by the last mentioned direct line, the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the faid territorial line: Provided however, and it is furthor understood and declared, that the boundaries of these three states, fhall be fubject fo far to be altered, that if Congrefs hereafter shall find it expedient, they fhall have authority to form one, or two ftates in that part of the faid territory which lies north of an east and weft line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan: and when any of the faid ftates fhall have 60,000 free inhabitants therein, fuch ftate 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 fhall be at liberty to form a permament conftitution 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 admiflion fhall be allowed at an earlier period, and when there may be a lefs number of free inhabitants in the state than 60,000. Article 6th There fhall be neither flavery nor involuntary fervitude in the faid territory, otherwife than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party fhall have been duly convicted: Provided always, that any perfon efcaping into the fame, from whom labour or fervice is lawfully claimed in any one of the original ftates, fuch fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the perfon 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 Congrefs, for the government of this territory, it is provided, that, after the faid territory acquires a certain degree of From the anonymous pamphlet before quoted. Hh 2 population population, it shall be divided into states. The eastern state, that is thus provided to be made, is bound by the Great Miami on the weft, and by the Pennsylvania line on the east. The center of this state will fall between the Sioto and the Hockhocking. At the mouth of one of these rivers will probably be the feat of government for this state: 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 governmentt-on the river Ohio, and not far from this spot, will be the feat of empire for the whole dominion. This is central to the whole; itwill beft accommodate every part; it is the most pleasant, and probably the most healthful.' In this connection we must not omit to add, that a fettlement is commencing, with advantageous profpects, on the western side of the Miffifippi, oppofite the mouth of the Ohio. The spot on which the city is to be built, is called NEW MADRID, after the capital of Spain. This fettlement, which is without the limits of the United States, in the Spanish dominions, is conducted by Colonel Morgan, under the patronage of the Spanish king. The fettlers are to form their own constitution, make their own laws, (provided they do not counteract the laws of Spain) choose their own magiftrates and civil officers, and are to enjoy free toleration in religion. They are, however, to be fubjects of the king of Spain. As an encouragement to fettlers, they are to be indulged with fome peculiar commercial privileges. For New Madrid, from its local fituation and advantitious privileges, is in profpect of being the great emporium of the western country, unless the free navigation of the Miflifippi fhould be opened to the United States. And even fhould this defired event take place, which probably will not without a rupture with Spain, this must be a place of great trade. here will naturally center, the immenfe quantities of produce that will be borne down the Illinois, the Millifippi, the Ohio, and their various branches; and if the carriers can find as good a market for their corgaes here, as at New Orleans or the West Indies, and even procure the articles they defire, they will gladly fave themselves the difficulties and dangers of navigating the long Miffifippi. It has been fuppofed by fome, that all fettlers who go beyond the Miffifippi, will be for ever loft to the United States. There is, I believe, little danger of this, provided they are not provoked to withdraw their friendfhip. The emigrants will be made up of citizens of the United States. They will carry along with them their manners and customs, their habits of government, religion, and education; and as they are to be indulged with religious freedom, and with the privilege of making their own laws, and of conducting education upon their own plans, thefe American habits will undoubtedly be cherished. If fo, they will be Americans in fact, though nominally the subjects of Spain. It is true Spain will draw a revenue from them, but in return they will enjoy peculiar commercial advantages, the benefit of which will be experienced by the United States, and perhaps be an ample compenfation for the lofs of fo many citizens as may migrate thither. În fhort, this fettlement if conducted with judgment and prudence, may be mutually serviceable both - both to Spain and the United States. It may prevent jealoufies-leffen national prejudices-promote religious toleration, preferve harmony, and be a medium of trade reciprocally advantegous. Befides, it is well known that empire has been travelling from east to weft. Probably her laft and broadeft feat will be America. Here the fciences, and the arts of civilized life, are to receive their highest improvement. Here civil and religous liberty are to flourish, unchecked by the cruel hand of civil or ecclefiaftical tyranny. Here genius, aided by all the improvements of former ages, is to be exerted in humanizing mankind-in expanding and enriching their minds with religious and philofophical knowledge, and in planning and executing a form of government, which fhall involve all the excellencies of former governments, with as few of their defects as is confiftent with the imperfection of human affairs, and which shall be calculated to protect and unite, in a manner confiftent with the natural rights of mankind, the largest empire that ever existed. Elevated with thefe profpects, which are not merely the vifions of fancy, we cannot but anticipate the period, as not far diftant, when the AMERICAN EMPIRE will comprehend millions of fouls, weft of the Miffifippi. Judging upon probable grounds, the Miffifippi was never defigned as the western boundary of the American empire. The God of nature never intended that fome of the best parts of his earth should be inhabited by the fubjects of a monarch 4000 miles from them. And may we not venture to predict, that, when the rights of mankind fhall be more fully known, and the knowledge of them is fast increasing both in Europe and America, the power of European potentates will be confined to Europe, and their prefent American dominions, become like the United States, free, fovereign, and independent empires. Miles. VERMO N T. Length 155} SITUATION and EXTENT. Length 155 Between 42° 50′ and 45° North Latitude. 1° 30' and 3° East Longitude. Boundaries.] Briver, which divides it from New-Hampshire; fouth, OUNDED north, by Canada; eaft, by Connecticut by Massachusetts; weft, by New-York. Civil Divifions.] Vermont is divided into the feven following counties ༄ Thefe counties are divided into townships, which are generally fix miles fquare. In every township is a referve of two rights of land, of 350 acres each; one to be appropriated for the fupport of public fchools, the other to be given in fee to the first minifter who fettles in the townfhip. A part of the townships were granted by the governor of NewHampshire, and the other part by that of Vermont. In those townships granted by the former, a right of land is referved for the fupport of the gofpel in foreign parts; in those granted by the latter, a college right, and a right for the fupport of county grammar fchools, are referved. In thefe refervations, liberal provifion is made for the fupport of the gospel, and for the promotion of common and collegiate education. Rivers. This ftate, on the eaft-fide of the mountain, is watered by Paupanhoafak, Quechey, Welds, White, Black and Weft rivers, which run from weft to east into Connecticut river; and weft of the mountains, by the river Lamoil, over which is a natural ftone bridge, feven or eight rods in length, by Onion river and Otter Creck, which empty by one mouth into Lake Champlain, 20 or 30 feet fouth of St. John's. Otter Creek is navigable for boats 50 miles. The lands adjacent are of an excellent quality, and are annually enriched by the overflowing of the water, occafioned by the melting of the fnow on the Green Mountains. Mountains.] Achain of high mouutains, running north and south, divides this ftate nearly in the center between Connecticut river and Lake Champlain. The height of land is generally from 20 to 30 miles from the river, and about the fame diftance from the New-York line. The natural growth upon this mountain is hemlock, pine, fpruce, and other evergreens; hence it has always a green appearance, and on this account has obtained the defcriptive name of Ver Mons, Green Mountains. On fome high parts of this mountain, fnow lies till May, and fometimes till June. Face of the country, Soil and productions.] The country is generally hilly, but not rocky. It is fincly watered, and affords the best of pafturage for cattle. On the banks of the lakes, rivers and rivulets, are many fine tracts of rich interval land. The heavy growth of timber, which is common throughout the state, evince the ftrength and fertility of the foil. Elm, Elack birch, maple, afh and bafs-wood, grow in the moift low ground; and the banks of the rivers are timbered principally with white pine, intermingled with vales of beech, elm and white oak. The inhabitants cultivate wheat, 25 and 30 bushels of which grow on an acre, rye, barley, oats, Indian corn, &c. The corn, however, is frequently cut off by the early frofts, especially on the mountains and hills. That which grows on the banks of the rivers is not fo frequently injured. Flax is railed in confiderable quantities, and the foil is good for hemp. Potatoes, pumpkins, and garden roots and vegetables, grow here in great plenty. Large quantities of fugar, of a good quality and flavour, are made from the fugar maple. Climate.] None in the world more healthy. Snow begins to fall commonly in the beginning of November, and is generally gone by the middle of April. During this feason, the inhabitants generally enjoy a ferene sky, and a keen cold air. The ground is feldom frozen to any great depth, being covered with a great body of fnow, before the fevere frofts |