DIFFERENT LAND CLAIMS. 127 



This second grade of colonial government was to continue un- 

 til the population of each part of the North Western Territory 

 into which it was eventually to be divided, (not less than 

 three nor more than five states) amounted to sixty thousand. 

 Then this colonial government was to cease, and such territo- 

 ry was to become a state, and be admitted into the Union, on 

 the same footing with the original thirteen states. This act 

 of the old congress of 1787 contained other provisions of the 

 greatest value. By that ordinance there M'as never to be either 

 slavery or involuntary servitude in the territory northwest of 

 the Ohio river. All the larger streams were declared forever 

 to be highways, and remain free from all obstructions, to all 

 who wished to navigate them. They were declared to be 

 highways, and so to remain forever. These are the most ma- 

 terial provisions of this ordinance of the old congress. 



Virginia had reserved the land lying between the Scioto and 

 Little Miami rivers, which she gave to her soldiers of the rev- 

 olution, belonging to the continental army, as a reward for 

 their services. This we call the Virginia military tract. 

 And the United States had promised her soldiers who served 

 during the war of the revolution, lands for their services ; so 

 congress laid off" a tract for that purpose lying south of New 

 Connecticut, extending from the Ohio river on the east, to 

 the Scioto on the west. This is the United States military 

 tract. There were some refugees, during the revolutionary 

 war, from Nova Scotio, to whom congress gave a slip of land 

 extending from the Muskingum opposite Zanesville to the Sci- 

 oto, at Columbus; it is several miles in width. The remain- 

 ing part of the state was surveyed by congress and is now 

 mostly sold. That portion of our state, not until then pur- 

 chased of the Indians, was ceded to us during Mr. Monroe's 

 administration, except some small reservations. In the Uni- 

 ted States' lands, the Virginia military, and in part of Symmes' 

 purchase, the original owner obtains his patent from the Uni- 

 ted States' land office. Lands ceded to Ohio, by congress, 

 on condition of making certain canals, our Governor and Se- 

 cretary of state give deeds to the purchasers of those lands. 



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