4. “The inhabitants shall forever enjoy religious freedom, the habeas corpus, trial by jury, and equal civil and political privileges.” This provision not only secured perfect independence of religious thought, but protected all the people, immigrants as well as others, in the enjoyment of political freedom.
Though the binding authority of this ordinance was subsequently declared by the Supreme Court to have been superseded by the adoption of the Constitution, its influence on the development of the Northwest was unquestionably very great.
References.—A. Johnston, American Politics, 3-18; R. Frothingham, Rise of the Republic, 569-610 (of great importance); J. Fiske, Civil Government, 180-260; F. A. Walker, Making of the Nation, 1-75; A. B. Hart, Formation of the Union, 93-140; J. Fiske, Critical Period of American History, 90-101 and 177-186; J. Winsor, Narrative and Critical History of America, Vol. VI., 716, Vol. VII.; H. Von Holst, Constitutional History, Vol. I.; J. Schouler, United States, Vol. I.; H. C. Lodge, Washington, Vol. II. Fiske, Schouler, and Winsor are the most important of the general authorities on almost every point. J. Bryce, The American Commonwealth (abridged edition), chaps. iii., xxv., xxix., important on the various functions of different parts of the government; Elliot, Debates on the Constitution; Hamilton, The Federalist; B. A. Hinsdale, The Old Northwest; W. G. Sumner, The Financier and the Finances of the American Revolution (2 vols.); W. P. Cutler, Ordinance of 1787; American History Leaflets, Nos. 7, 8, 14, 20; Old South Leaflets, XI., 5; T. Roosevelt, The Winning of the West, Vol. II., chaps. i.–iii.
| [101] | Born at Nevis, in West Indies, January 11, 1757; died, July 12, 1804. Developed an astonishing precocity, and was sent to New York City in 1772; entered Columbia College, and in 1774 made a public speech that was considered marvelous for a boy of seventeen; published numerous pamphlets of importance, and organized a cavalry company which he led at Long Island and White Plains; was member of Washington’s staff, 1776–1781; ended his military career by leading the final charge at Yorktown; member of Congress, 1782–1783; member of Annapolis Convention in 1786, and Federal Convention in 1787; was the chief writer of The Federalist; converted a two-thirds majority in the New York Convention of 1788 into a minority against the Constitution; as Secretary of the Treasury under Washington founded the national financial system; resigned in 1795; was a constant power as a writer, until killed in a duel by Burr in 1804. |
| [102] | Born, 1751; died, 1836. Graduated at Princeton, 1772; member of Committee of Public Safety in 1774; member of the Virginia Convention in 1776; member of Continental Congress, 1780–1784, in which he was noted for the wisdom of his judgment and the aptness of his methods; did great service in securing religious liberty in Virginia in 1784–1787; member of the Annapolis Convention in 1786; most influential member of the Constitutional Convention of 1787; a leading member of Congress from 1789 to 1797; wrote the “Virginia Resolutions” in 1798; Secretary of State under Jefferson from 1801 to 1809; President from 1809 to 1817, during which time the war against Great Britain was forced upon him; lived in retirement at Montpelier, Virginia, from 1817 till his death. |
United States in 1789