A History of the State of Ohio, Natural and Civil

three thousand souls to one million six hundred thousand. During this very period, we have had two wars to pass through, prosecuted by England, with all her means of annoyance; and she was assisted, too, by hordes of the wildest, most cruel, most brave, and warlike savages on the globe. We had, too, an immense forest to clear off-a sickly climate, originally, to contend with, as all settlers in any other new country have. It may be said that congress has done much for us. We ! answer, not much. All the lands which congress have grantod to us, to the very last acre, have been paid for, either directly or indirectly. Being weak, when admitted into the Union, we made as good a bargain as we could with congress; but still a very poor bargain, by agreeing not to tax congress lands. It was on our part a most wretched bargain. "But congress gave us some lands to assist us in making our canals." Yes, congress gave us five hundred thousand acres of land, which congress could not sell at any price, on condition that we made a canal through congress lands; and by means of our improvements, the remaining lands of the United States have sold for six dollars and upwards, on an average, an acre, which congress could not otherwise have sold, to this day, for six cents an acre. We feel grateful that we have had many votes for western measures, in congress, at different times, from all the states except New Hampshire and Maine, and the New York Bucktails. Ohio has, in return, been friendly to her friends, in congress.

In the west, our young men take precedence, of the older men, whereas in our eastern Atlantic cities, the younger lawyers and physicians, complain, with what propriety, we do not pretend to know, that the older men of their professions, keep all the business in their own hands. Should these young men visit Ohio, they would find every thing reversed. They would see placed on the bench, very young men, generally, presiding there; and the older and more experienced lawyers, standing before them, at the bar! And as soon as a judge becomes qualified for his station, some younger man, who per

haps, has never plead ten causes of any importance--before he has had two years practice, before he has had scarcely any acquaintance with men and their dealings, he is placed on the bench as a president judge, instead of a man of greater and better qualifications. And this last

one, will be displaced by some younger aspirant in his turn. So of the young physician, who comes forward at once, and occupies, often, the place of his older, and better qualified predecessor. In older states, though the snows of fifty winters may have whitened the head, it is not, therefore, inferred, that the heart is chilled by them. The WISE MEN OF THE EAST, do not suppose that there is any period in human life, in which we cannot make new acquisitions in knowledge; in which we cannot be useful, innocent and happy. There seems to be a set of ascetics in the West, who think that as soon as a few gray hairs appear in any man's head, he ought to be excluded from all business, public and private: that he ought to withdraw himself from society; become idle, dull, insipid, and wholly useless to mankind. Is there any period of human life, in which men of learning, science and taste, should be secluded from the society of the good, innocent and virtuous, of both sexes? To men like Franklin, Jefferson, Jay, Clinton, Marshall, and a thousand others, whom we could easily name; MEN to whom business and books, science and literature; all the pleasures of taste, friendship and society, have furnished all that refines and strengthens the mind; renovates and expands all the affections of the heart; old age exhibits no diminution of either talent or happiness. Such men, when they cease to be statesmen, do not the less love mankind, the less rejoice in human happiness, nor the less participate in it. Too many in our country, think and act as if there was a law of the mind, which limits its pleasures and powers to some particular period of human life. There is no such period. His physical powers may be diminished, his senses somewhat blunted, but the impressions which they have so long conveyed to him, remain vivid; and the treasures which they have conveyed to him are laid up, "where no moth can corrupt,

and no thief can break through and steal them." The objects of his early affections, may have been taken from him by death; but, if they were wise, virtuous and innocent human beings, they have only preceded him a few years, to his and their ultimate, eternal home; and they must have left with him, ten thousand tender recollections, that will become dearer and dearer; and hopes that will shine brighter and brighter, every day, during his life time. Such a man from his age, profound learning, knowledge of mankind, disinterestedness and sincerity, broad and liberal views, experience of all kinds; business talents, and other qualifications, is fitter for any high civil station, than at any earlier period of his life.

However, the present course of things in this respect, will be changed, within a few years, when the state becomes more fully settled. From the very nature of circumstances, we in Ohio, are now exactly half way between the highest, and lowest states of society. In the very wisest society, age is honored so it is equally in the savage state, but here, either very young men, or new comers among us, take the lead in every thing. Time, experience and good sense, will eventually cure the evil of which we may now so justly complain.

In a country where every man is a sovereign, means should be used to make that sovereign a wise and good one. Good masters make good servants. Too much pains cannot be taken by our legislature, and all our influential men, to diffuse the lights of knowledge, morality and religion, among the great mass of the people. That we have, considering our age as a state, considering our remote interior situation, and all the hardships in the way when Ohio was originally settled; located as the early immigrants were, in a vast wilderness, where savages, fierce and barbarous roamed among wild beasts -that we have prospered, we say, more than any other people ever did in the world, is most certain; but our exertions to improve our condition, are by no means to be relaxed. It will require increased activity every moment, to keep pace with the age in which we live; and as our means of doing good increase, the increased numbers of our people will require in

creased activity to instruct them, and point out to them the roads which lead to prosperity, comfort and happiness-to elevate their views, and finally to make Ohio, what it ought to be, the first state in this Union, in numbers, knowledge, wealth and political power. Having attained that elevated point, it will then be our duty to use our power and influence so as to wrong no one, to do justice, and make it the interest of all our neighbors to be our friends. Our position in the nation is peculiarly felicitous, as to soil, climate and productions, and it will be our own fault if we are not the happiest people in the Union.

STATE LIBRARY.

The state library was established in the year 1817. It was commenced with only about five hundred volumes, but, through the liberality and fostering care of the legislature of the state, it now contains more than five thousand volumes of books, most of which are of a choice kind, and selected with great judgment and taste. It embraces nearly all of the AMERICAN, and some of the most approved FOREIGN PERIODICALS; and a great variety of such historical and miscellaneous works as are anxiously sought by a reading community. The legislature has usually made a small annual appropriation for the purchase of books; and these appropriations have, by a judicious application, already rendered the state library a pleasing resort for all men of reading and science, from different sections of the state, who make a temporary stay at Columbus.

The law portion of the state library affords great conveniences to gentlemen of the legal profession; and the annual purchases of new works, have usually embraced many of the most valuable of the reports of the different states, and the most learned treatises on the science of law and American jurisprudence.

OFFICERS OF THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT.

APPOINTED IN 1788, UNDER THE ORDINANCE OF CONGRESS.

Arthur St. Clair, Governor.

Samuel H. Parsons, James M. Varnum, John Cleves Symmes, Judges.

Winthrop Sargeant, Secretary. William H. Harrison was subsequently appointed secretary of the territory; he was af terwards elected delegate to congress.

Governors of the state,

AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION.

Edward Tiffin, elected and sworn 3d March,
Thomas Kirker,* (acting governor part of the year,)
Samuel Huntington, elected and sworn in