to the fame, fhall become fixed and established as follows, viz. The
western State in the faid territory fhall be 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 Miffiffippi. The middle ŝtate fhall be bounded by
the faid 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 last-mentioned di-
rect line, the Ohio, Pennfylvania, and the faid territorial line:
provided, however, and it it is further underftood and declared, that
the boundaries of thele three States fhall be fubject so far to be al-
tered, that if Cong:efs hereafter shall find it expedient, they shall
` have authority to form one, or two States, in that part of the faid
territory which lies north of an east and weft line drawn through the
foutherly bend or extreme of lake Michigan; and when any of the
faid States fhall have fixty thoufand free 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 respects
whatever; and shall be at liberty to form a permanent conftitution
and state government: provided the conftitution and government
fo to be formed fhall be republican, and in conformity to the prin
ciples contained in these articles; and fo far as it can be confiftent
with the general intereft of the confederacy, such admission shall be
allowed at an earlier period, and when there may be a lefs number of
free inhabitants in the State than fixty thousand.

"ART. VI. 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 escaping into the fame, from whom labour or fervice is lawfully claimed in any of the original States, fuch fugi tive may be lawfully reclaimed, and conveyed to the perfon claiming his or her labour or service 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 population, it fhall be divided into States. The eastern State,

that

that is thus provided to be made, is bounded on the Great Miami on the weft, and by the Pennfylvania line on the east. The center of this State will fall between the Scioto and the Hockhocking. At the mouth of one of thefe 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 et lightened 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 beft accommodate every part; it is the most pleasant, and probably the moft healthful.

The settlement of this country has been checked for several years past, by the unhappy Indian war, an amicable termination of which, it is ardently wifhed, might fpeedily take place.

END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.