Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison/John Randolph and Com. of House Report on petition for slavery in Indiana
Randolph's Report on Slavery in Indiana
Mr. [John] Randolph, from the committe[1]to whom were referred a letter from William Henry Harrison, President of the Convention, held at Vincennes, declaring the consent of the people of Indiana to the suspension of the sixth article of compact between the United States and the people of that territory: also, a memorial and petition of the inhabitants of the said territory; made the following report:
"That the rapid population of the State of Ohio sufficiently evinces in the opinion of your committee, that the labor of slaves is not necessary to promote the growth and settlement of colonies in that region. That this labor, demonstrable the dearest of any, can only be employed to advantage in the cultivation of products more valuable than any known to that quarter of the United States: that the committee deem it highly dangerous and inexpedient to impair a provision wisely calculated to promote the happiness and prosperity of the Northwestern country, and to give strength and security to that extensive frontier. In the salutary operation of this sagacious and benevolent restraint, it is believed that the inhabitants of Indiana will, at no very distant day, find ample remuneration for a temporary privation of labor and of emigration.
On the various objects of the memorial, your committee beg leave to observe:
That, an appropriation having been made, empowering the Executive to extinguish Indian titles to lands within the limits of the United States, the particular direction of that power rests entirely with that department of the Government; that, to permit the location of the claims under the resolve of Congress of the 29th of August, 1788, and the act of the 3d of March, 1791, (of whose number and extent the committee are entirely ignorant) in the mode pointed out in the memorial, would be an infringement upon that regular mode of survey and of location which has been so happily adhered to in relation to the public lands. At the same time, the committee are of opinion that, after those lands shall have been surveyed, a certain number of townships should be designated, out of which the claims aforesaid ought to be satisfied. In a country abounding in new and unsettled lands, it is presumed that every individual may become a proprietor of the soil; and inasmuch as the people of Indiana will at a period not far distant, be enabled to establish the right of suffrage on such principles as the majority may approve, the committee deem it inexpedient to alter a regulation whose effect is to retain in the hands of persons necessarily attached to the welfare of the country, the Government of a remote dependency, which, from its vicinage to the territories of foreign States, and from the sparseness of its population, might, otherwise, be exposed to foreign intrigue and influence.
Measures having been taken to put the salt spring below the mouth of the Wabash river in a situation to yield every possible benefit to the adjacent country, the committee are of opinion that it is, at this time, enexpedient to vest that property in the Legislature of the Indiana territory. From such a consideration as they have been enabled to bestow on the subject at this late period of the session, and under the pressure of accumulating business they recommend the following resolutions, which are respectfully submitted to the judgment of the House :
1. Resolved, That it is inexpedient to suspend, for a limited time, the operation of the sixth article of compact between the original States and the people and States west of the river Ohio.
2. Resolved, That a provision, not exceeding one thirty-sixth part of the public lands within the Indiana territory, ought to be made for the support of schools within the same.
3. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he hereby is, required to cause an estimate to be made of the number and extent of their claims to lands under the resolve of Congress of the 29th of August, 1788, and the act of the 3d of March, 1791; and to lay the same before this House at the ensuing session of Congress.[2]
4.Resolved, That in all sales of the public lands within the territory of Indiana, the right of pre-emption be given to actual settlers on the same.
5. Resolved, That it is inexpedient to grant lands to individuals for the puri30se of establishing houses of entertainment, and of opening certain roads.[3]
6. Resolved, That it is, at this time, inexpedient to vest in the Legislature of the Indiana the salt spring below the mouth of the Wabash river.
7. Resolved, That it is inexpedient to alter the existing regulation of the right of suffrage within the said territory. 8. Resolved, That compensation ought to be made to the attorney General of the said territory, for service performed by him in behalf of the United States.
- ↑ This House committee consisted of John Randolph of Va., Roger Griswold of Connecticut, Robert Williams of North Car., William Hoge of Penn.. and L. R. Morris of Vermont. It is worth keeping in mind that there was about as much opposition to slavery at this time in the south as in the north. For petitions see Nov. 22, 1802, above.
- ↑ The third resolution refers to French land claims around Vincennes.
- ↑ Harrison had asked for a donation of land for a tavern every ten miles along the post road from Louisville to St. Louis viα Vincennes.