Gazette Of The United States

PHILADELPHIA, May 26.

Extract of a letter from Columbia, N. W. Territory, February 27.

"As to the Indians, from every information I am possessed of, they appear to wish to improve the advantages of peace and friendship; the consequence is, that new settlements are forming 40 or 50 miles back from the Ohio; boats are floating down the river in thick succession, and our numbers are augmenting with amazing rapidity; the influx of inhabitants from the Atlantic states is so great, that a few months will increase our numbers to 60,000 souls, the number stipulated by the Congress of the United States with the adventurers of the North-Western Territory, on the completion of which the faith of the United States is pledged in a solemn and unalterable compact, that another link shall be added to the glorious chain of Union, and let all the people say amen. If you will spend a few minutes in reading the ordinance of Congress, for the temporary government of the North Western Territory, you will find in the sixth article of the compact, that the Territory is divided into three states, and that the eastern state, in which I at present reside, begins at the mouth of the Great Miami river, from thence running a due north course till it strikes the line between the United States and Canada, thence down said line to the line of Pennsylvania, thence to the river Ohio, and down said river to the place of beginning. By referring to the latest and most approved maps, you will see our boundary lines, as fixed by Congress, which cannot be altered without a violation of the national faith, of which we have no apprehension: It is true Congress, by the fifth article of the compact, have, if they should find it expedient, reserved authority to form one or two states in the part of said Territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan: but as such states have not yet been formed, it unavoidably happens that Detroit, and all the inhabitants south of the Northern waters to the line of Pennsylvania, fall into the eastern state of the Territory, whose numbers it is highly probable will amount to upwards of an hundred thousand, who, on the back posts being given up, would glory in having an opportunity to participate in the blessings of the government of the United States.

"It is highly probable that some of the Dutchmen about the national court, will predicate of us, as the enemies to the rights of mankind formerly did of the Americans in general, to wit: That we are not fit to govern ourselves; they will perhaps, with a swelling consequence, tell you we are a d-d set, that in the choice of magistrates, timber was so scarce that there was a necessity to make use of gunmen, riflemen—mere woodmen; that they do not doubt but the best possible choice has been made; but God knows, say they, bad is the best. As to our gunmen, riflemen, and woodmen, there are many among them of good connections, reputable education, of considerable reading, and who are useful surveyors, who would fill the offices of government with reputation, and with as much practice as is necessary to make men useful; they, with hundreds of others, would be both useful and ornamental. Are we not from among yourselves—your kindred? If it was once demonstrated that the citizens of the Atlantic states, in floating down the Ohio, were, like good old anima spirits, subjected to a depreciation, is it not as probable that our placemen might imbibe the metamorphizing particles, as that the adventurers should? We are so confident of it, that as soon as we have performed our part of the contract, which we mean to do to a punctilio, we wish to be restored to the rights of freemen, and to set up house-keeping for ourselves; and we have the most unbounded reliance on the general government, that as we have, in the face of every danger, at least assisted in extending their possessions, and in enlarging their jurisdiction, therefore they will not only admit us to resume our native rights, but afford those kind offices that may be necessary to form our government."