In due time the new order of things under the Constitution superseded the old. The state government, as organized by the first General Assembly, was accordingly put into operation.

Character of Governor St. Clair.-It may be well to review the causes which produced the strong opposition to Governor St. Clair during the last two years of his administration as governor of the Northwestern Territory. The feelings of the West were still revolutionary, and highly averse to arbitrary authority. Previous to the year 1798, the governor was invested with extensive powers, and until after the adoption of the second grade of territorial government. After this change, scrupulous of his prerogatives in his intercourse with the territorial Legislature, he created enemies and excited prejudices by his firmness and his close adherence to the privileges of his office, and the authority which he claimed as the chief executive of the territory. On these points he, not very erroneously, supposed the co-ordinate branches of the Legislature were strongly inclined to encroach. The Legislative Assembly had claimed for itself all the powers and prerogatives which were not expressly withheld by law. On the other hand, the governor, having possessed almost absolute power from his first appointment until the election of the Legislative Assembly, laid claim to all those powers which were not expressly taken away by law. Among these was that of laying off and organizing new counties. On the other hand, the Legislative Assembly claimed the same power independent of the governor's control.

Governor St. Clair was a stanch Federalist of the John Adams and Hamilton school; but, before the adoption of the state Constitution, the majority of prominent men in the territory had warmly espoused the Republican principles of Jefferson, and, under these circumstances, it was impossible that harmony could prevail in the legislative departments.

It is but a tribute of merited respect to Governor St. Clair to sum up his general character in a few words. During his long term of service, from the year 1788 to 1802, from the first organization of the Northwestern Territory until it was ready to become an independent state, he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the people generally. He was plain and unassuming in his manners; but, placing a high estimate upon his own judgment and intellect, he rarely yielded his opinions to those

of other men. In his dress he was plain and simple, without ostentation or gaudy equipage; in his deportment, easy, frank, and accessible to persons of every rank, he presented a strong contrast with the austere, haughty, and repulsive bearing of his secretary, Colonel Winthrop Sargent. As Judge Burnett justly observes, he was a man of superior native talent, "of extensive information, and great uprightness of purpose."* Accustomed from early life to mingle in circles of taste and refinement, and among the first orders of society, he was well acquainted with the proper courtesy to which his station entitled him. He had acquired a polish of manners and a habitual respect for the feelings of those around him, which were referred to as a standard of genuine urbanity, known to but few of his political adversaries.†

Among the legislative acts of the first General Assembly was the laying off and organizing of seven new counties, which had been attempted before the adoption of the Constitution, but had been vetoed by Governor St. Clair. These new counties were designated Gallia, Scioto, Geauga, Warren, Green, Montgomery, and Butler. They were, as yet, sparsely settled, but were gradually increasing their population.

The number of counties in the state was now about fifteen, many of them large and thinly settled, with extensive districts of uninhabited country in different parts of the state south and east of the Indian line, while all north and west of that line, comprising about one third of the state, was uninhabited by whites, and chiefly occupied by the Indians. The last remnant of these, the Wyandots, were not removed from their "Reserve" on Sandusky River until the summer of 1843. With this exception, the Indian title to the whole area of the state had been extinguished by successive treaties previous to the year 1820.§ Since the adoption of the state Constitution, the State of Ohio

t

Burnett's Letters, p. 79.

Territorial:

GOVERNORS OF THE STATE OF OHIO.

1. Arthur St. Clair, governor of Northwestern Territory.

State:

5. Ethan A. Brown, from 1818 to 1822. 6. Jeremiah Morrow, from 1822 to 1826. 7. Allen Trimble, from 1826 to 1830. 8. Duncan M'Arthur, from 1830 to 1832. 9. Robert Lucas, from 1832 to 1836. 10. Joseph Vance, from 1836 to 1840. 11. Wilson Shannon, from 1840 to 1844. 12. Thomas W. Bartley, from 1844 to 1846.

1. Edward Tiffin, from 1803 to 1808. 2. Samuel Huntington, from 1808 to 1810. 3. Return J. Meigs, from 1810 to 1814. 4. Thomas Worthington, from 1814 to 1818. Ohio Gazetteer, p. 95, edition of 1841. § See chapter xvi. of this book, note, Indian Treaties in "Northwestern Territory."

has increased in population, wealth, arts, manufactures, and internal improvements beyond all parallel in the history of nations. From the close of the war in 1815, when the northern half of the state was an uninhabited wilderness, the settlements have advanced to its extreme limits; a dense population has extended to the shores of Lake Erie, as well as over all the former unoccupied portions of the older counties. Towns have sprung up, as if by magic, in every part of the state; agriculture and trade have penetrated to the most secluded recesses; and arts and manufactures have multiplied in the same ratio.

[A.D. 1810.] The census of 1810 gave a population of more than 230,000 souls, showing an increase of about 185,000 persons in the previous seven years, or an annual increase of over 26,000 persons. Cincinnati, in the same time, had in

creased from about 1000 to more than 2300 inhabitants. Five years afterward, this number was more than doubled. Chillicothe in 1815 had augmented its population from about 500 souls in 1803, to more than 1500; and in 1830 its population was 2800 inhabitants.*

[A.D. 1840.] In 1840 the aggregate population of the state had increased to one million five hundred and fifteen thousand souls† the number of counties had been augmented to seventynine. The principal towns and cities had increased their population in an equal ratio. By the census of 1840, the city of Cincinnati presented an aggregate of 46,300 inhabitants, and was one of the most extensive manufacturing and commercial cities in all the West. Chillicothe contained 4000 inhabitants, Zanesville 4000, and Steubenville 4000. Hundreds of smaller towns had increased in the same proportion. Nor had the growth of Cincinnati ceased in 1840: each year witnessed a progressive increase of population, manufactures, and commerce. During the year 1845 nearly two thousand buildings were erected in the city and suburbs.

The war with Great Britain, which closed in 1815, had been waged with great energy by that power against the northern frontier of Ohio, which was then occupied by a few sparse white settlements; but the advance of troops, and munitions of war for defense against hostile invasion, opened to the gov

* Ohio Gazetteer for 1841, p. 109.

↑ Ohio Gazetteer for 1841, p. 561-567; also, 577. VOL. II.-Y

† Census of 1840.

ernment and the people the unbounded advantages of this beautiful region, for the extension of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce. The efforts of Great Britain from Canada to check the advance of the American settlements northwest of the Ohio River, resulted in ultimate advantage to the country; for this, more than all other causes, subsequently drew population upon the lake frontier.

The great Ohio Canal, which intersects the state from north to south, was commenced in 1825, and completed a few years afterward. It has given an impulse to manufactures and commerce unparalleled in the history of civilization, and has raised the state in wealth and population to a rank second only to the Empire State of New York.

The population of Ohio, besides the natural increase, has been derived from emigration. The first settlements previous to the adoption of the state Constitution were formed chiefly by emigrants from the older states near the Atlantic. The northeastern portion, south of Lake Erie and northeast of the Muskingum River, was settled chiefly by emigrants from Connecticut and other New England States, besides numerous accessions from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The southern portion, between the Hockhocking and Great Miami Rivers, was settled chiefly by emigrants from Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky, as well as by numerous colonies from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

In the eastern portion of the state, including Columbiana county, adjoining Pennsylvania, a large population was derived from colonies of Germans, Scotch, English, and Irish, from Pennsylvania and from Europe.

Emigration from the Atlantic seaboard has continued to send annual colonies to different portions of Ohio; and since the year 1830, not less than two hundred thousand frugal, industrious emigrants from Germany have been distributed over every part of the state. The influx of foreign immigrants, especially those from Germany, after the year 1840, continued to increase the population of Ohio and the whole West. Not a town or village, not a city or capital, not an agricultural district in the great State of Ohio in 1844, which did not present a copious admixture of Germans who had not yet acquired a fluency in the English language.

CHAPTER XIII.

A.D. 1798 TO

66 THE MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY" FROM ITS FIRST ORGANIZATION TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CREEK WAR. 1813.

Argument.-Original Extent of the Mississippi Territory.-First Governor and Terri torial Judges.-Authority and Jurisdiction of the same.-Arrival of the United States Troops under General Wilkinson.-First Grade of Territorial Government organized in 1799.-Extent of the White Settlements and Indian Territory.-Adams and Pickering Counties organized. — Population in 1799. — - Washington County organ ized on the Mobile River.-Second Grade of Territorial Government in 1800.The Federal Army in the Mississippi Territory.-Indian Treaties in 1801.-Treaty of Fort Adams.-Treaty of Chickasâ Bluffs.-Governor Claiborne enters upon his Duties. The Counties of Claiborne, Jefferson, and Wilkinson organized in 1802.— First System of Jurisprudence.-First Newspapers in Mississippi.-" Articles of Agreement and Cession" by Georgia.-Extent of Georgia Claim.-Adjudication of Private Claims by Commissioners.-Land Offices. Surveyor-general's Office organized. Enlargement of Territorial Limits.-Indian Nations included.-Legislative Care for the Encouragement of Education.-First College and first Academy chartered. The Robber Mason killed.-Emigration in 1803, in anticipation of the Occupa tion of Louisiana.-Governor Claiborne Commissioner.-Commissioners and Troops advance toward New Orleans.-Protestant Religion introduced in Mississippi Ter. ritory.-Washington County erected into a Judicial District.-Harry Toulmin, Judge. -First Delegate to Congress.-Robert Williams, Governor.-First City Charter of Natchez.-Spanish Exactions on the Mobile.-First Natchez Hospital.-Border Collisions. Abduction of the Kempers.-Indian Treaties in 1805: with the Chickasâs; with the Cherokees; Creeks; Choctâs. First "Choctâ Purchase."-Extent of White Settlements in 1806.-Spanish Encroachments on the Sabine.-Militia Movements in Mississippi.-Burr's Conspiracy in the West.-Burr prepares to descend the Mississippi.-President's Proclamation.-General Wilkinson protects New Orleans.-Defensive Measures of Governor Mead in the Mississippi Territory.-Burr appears before the Superior Court.-Patriotic Citizens of Wilkinson County.-Abortive Attempt to arraign Burr.-He escapes from Custody.-Is arrested near Fort Stoddart.-Sent to Richmond, Virginia.-Emigration to Mississippi induced by Burr's Plans. Agriculture in the Territory in 1807.-Cotton the Staple Product.-Cotton Receipts negotiable by Law.-First Digest of Territorial Laws.-First Road across to Tombigby.-Lands on the Upper Tombigby.-Condition of the Tombigby Settlements.-Patriotism of the Inhabitants.-Governor Williams.-First White Settlements in "Madison County."-First Bank in the Territory in 1809.-Population in 1810.-Revolution in District of Baton Rouge.-First Brigade of Militia in 1812.Tennessee Volunteers under General Jackson.-General Wilkinson occupies Fort Charlotte.-Mobile District annexed to the Mississippi Territory.

[A.D. 1798.] Original Limits.-The territory heretofore surrendered by the Spanish authorities, and lying north of the thirty-first degree of latitude, with the consent and approbation of the State of Georgia, was erected into a territory of the United States by act of Congress, approved April 7th, 1798,