FIRST SETTLEMENT OF OHIO^ 161 



ville made its seat of justice. This act became a law on the 

 7th of September 1801. 



During all the period from July 1788 to 1799, the popula- 

 tion had only increased so as to enable the people to elect 

 their house of representatives. During that period there was 

 contest after contest between the judges and the governor. 

 The people were dissatisfied with all parties, and they looked 

 forward with anxiety to the time, when their numbers would be 

 sufficient to enable them to have a voice in making their own 

 laws. Having ascertained that they had five thousand free 

 white males over the age of twenty-one years, in the whole 

 North Western Territory, Governor St. Clair, on the 29th day 

 of October 1798, issued his proclamation, directing the electors 

 to elect representatives to a general assembly. This meeting 

 of the representatives he ordered to be held at Cincinnati, on 

 the 22d day of January 1799. 



On the third Moiiday of December 1798, the people 

 cheerfully obeyed this proclamation, and elected their repre- 

 sentatives, who met when and where they were ordered to do. 



The representatives so as aforesaid, assembled at Cincinnati, 

 on the 22d of January, 1799, performed their duty, by nomi- 

 nating ten persons to the president, from whom he selected 

 five, who were, in due season, appointed members of the legis- 

 lative council, or upper house of assembly. This meeting of 

 the people's representatives, on the 22d of January, liaving 

 nominated ten persons, as councilors, the governor prorogued 

 the meeting to the 16th day of the next September, 1799, at 

 at which time, he ordered them to appear at Cincinnati, then 

 and there to hold a General Assembly, for enacting laws for 

 the future government of the people of the territory. 



During all the preceding period of the North Western Ter- 

 ritory's existence, the people had been governed by laws made 

 by the governor and judges, or by proclamations of the gover- 

 nor. St. Clair claimed the right, under the act of congress 

 which created the territory, to organize counties, to create 

 offices and fill them, to license keepers of taverns and ferries^ 

 21 



