~S 
434 
miles. To these evils I could not think 
of submitting myself or my family.” 
« From this moment (says the Doctor) 
I devoted myself stitch to the state 
‘of Ohio, believing it the only place that 
combined certainty of ttle, with richness 
of soil, conveniency to market, relief from 
the evils of slavery, an invaluable fishery, 
conveniences of water communication, 
and a climate both healthy and agreeable. 
Fellow-citizens (exclaims our author), 
you may place the most implicit con- 
fidence in the information communicated 
in the following pages. 
“The state of Ohio lies between 
38° 30’,and 42° 2’ north latitude, and 
8° 25’ and 7° west latitude from the 
city of Washington. 
“It is bounded north by Lake Erie, 
east by Pennsylvania, south by thie river 
Ohio, and west by the territory of Indi- 
ana. Its size is nearly that of Pennsyl- 
vania, and its form more compact than 
that of any other state inthe Union. In 
the year 1802, its population was only 
about 41,000; at this day its population 
is not less than 200,000. ‘Lhis progress 
of settlement beggars all precedents, and 
renders any rémark on the rising import- 
ance of the state superfluous. ‘The state 
has a most excellent constitution of civil 
government, adopted in 1802; one which, 
by all republican politicians, is admitted 
to be more perfectly and better founded, 
than any other in the nation. Here the 
people elect all the rulers, without refe- 
rence to the wealth of the electors. Here 
‘the powers of the governor are confined 
within very narrow limits. Here the 
people elect their magistrates and. ordi- 
nary military officers, whilst their more 
important officers are elected by their 
own representatives. . Here the farmer 
does not pay more taxes for average land 
than forty cents fer 190 acres, and half 
that is laid out in making roads and 
bridges in bis own country. ‘This state 
has a fund, forthe support of civil go- 
vernment, which 1s now worth 3,000,000 
doliars, and which, in ten years, will be 
worth double that sum; and after it 
comes into operation, will notonly prevent 
all taxes, but also furnish the means of 
extensive internal improvements, such as 
turnpikes, bridges, mannfaerories, Scl- 
ence, d&cc. &c. 
“Here are already established, by 
congress and by individuals, sufficient 
funds for the higher ,branches of educa- 
tion im two universities. Here also the 
thirty-fourth part of the whole country is 
appropriated by lav, and for ever set 
bhaberind 1 
Account of the State of iin, 
[ Dec. I; 
apart to form an eternal fund, for the 
education of children; a fund which, af- 
ter a few years, will be equal (without any 
expence to the parents) to the task of 
qualitying every young man for active 
business, and o: fashioning every girl for 
an amiable wie. Here, finally, i in addi- ° 
tion to what has been above stated, one- 
twenticth part of all monies received by 
the United Siates for lands sold, is appro- 
priated, and for ever set apart, for the 
forming, making, and repairing roads inte 
and through the state; a fund of which no 
other state can boast, (and so is that of 
schooling, except Connecticut,) and one 
which ensures. more finished and com- 
plete roads in this state sooner than in 
any other statein the Union. - Ifany one 
doubts a single fact here stated, let him 
look to the constitution of Ohio, and to 
the laws of the Congress passed i in 1801, 
1802, and 1803. 
“In this state slavery is forbidden, not 
only by the law, but by the constitution 
of government itself’ and so jealous are 
the inhabitants on this subject, that no 
black man, or man of colour, can be al- 
lowed to reside in this state, without a 
certificate of his freedom. Once more; 
in this state, real estate is not exempt from 
being sold by execution, for the satisfac- 
tion of debts, as in Virginia, nor liable to 
be sold at auction on execution as in Ma- 
ryland; but a happy medium is _pre- 
served; the creditor is kept whole, and 
the right cf inheritance in the debtor can 
never be sold, where the use of his farm, 
in the opinion of his neighbours, will, in 
five years, pay the debt; and there is 
great reason to believe, that in two years 
the right of selling lands, at auction, under 
any circumstances for debt, will be for ever 
abolished; and in lieu of it an appraise- 
ment, setting of to the creditor so much of 
thedebtoi’s real property as three disinter- 
ested and judicious freeholvers of the coun- 
ty shall say on their oaths, is equal to the 
debt, will be substituted. ‘This will pre- 
vent every sacrifice on the part of the 
debtor; and it is owing to this principle, 
more. than all others, that the people of 
New England have enjoyed so many com- 
forts, preserved better credit, than any 
other part ec: the nation, and that real 
property produces a more equal price, 
and rests on a more stable basis, 
“‘ The state of Ohio is divided into five 
sections, ist. The North West corner yet 
subject to Indian claims, In this coun- 
try there is much good land, but itis des- 
titute of many mi!l seats, and there is no 
hope of the lands being soon offered for set~ 
tlement, 
