Friday, November 13.
Slavery in Indiana Territory.
Mr. Franklin, from the committee to whom were referred, on the 7th instant, the resolutions of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the Indiana Territory, on the propriety of suspending the sixth article of compact contained in the Ordinance for the government of the North-western Territory, passed the 13th day of July, 1787, together with a remonstrance of certain citizens of Clark County against the said resolutions, made report; which was read, and ordered to lie for consideration.
The report is as follows:
The Legislative Council and House of Representatives, in their resolutions, express their sense of the propriety of introducing slavery into their Territory, and solicit the Congress of the United States to suspend, for a given number of years, the sixth article of compact, in the Ordinance for the government of the Territory north-west of the river Ohio, passed the 13th day of July, 1787. That article declares: “there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said Territory.”
The citizens of Clark County, in their remonstrance, express their sense of the impropriety of the measure, and solicit the Congress of the United States not to act on the subject, so as to permit the introduction of slaves into the Territory; at least until their population shall entitle them to form a constitution and State government.
Your committee, after duly considering the matter, respectfully submit the following resolution:
Resolved, That it is not expedient at this time to suspend the sixth article of compact for the government of the Territory of the United States north-west of the river Ohio.