ister views, having for some time been relax in the execution of their offices, are now altogether without authority; that crimes of the greatest enormity may be committed with impunity, and a man may be murdered in his own house, and no person regards it; that they have no sheriff's nor prisons; and, to crown the general confusion, that many people have made large purchases of three or four hundred leagues, and are endeavoring to have themselves established lords of the soil, as some have done in Canada." The state of insecurity and confusion which prevailed among the population of Vincennes, during the years 1784, 1785, and 1786, has been noticed in preceding chapters. A better condition of affairs was established in 1787, after the visit of Colonel Josiah Harmar. This officer, at the head of a detachment of United States infantry, after marching across the country from a point on the Ohio river at the mouth of Pigeon creek, reached Vincennes on the 19th of July, 1787. Major John F. Hamtramck, (of Colonel Harmar's regiment,) with an escort of one hundred men, having in charge several boats in which there were army stores and baggage, arrived at Vincennes six days later, on the 25th of July. This officer, with a strong detachment of United States infantry, was stationed at Vincennes, as commandant of the place, and Colonel Harmar, after having visited Kaskaskia, returned to Fort Harmar, at the mouth of the river Muskingum. The following documents, (translated from the original manuscript orders,) will enable the reader to form an opinion of the manner in which the municipal affairs of Post Vincennes were regulated and controlled while Major Hamtramck acted as commandant of that place: "RESOLUTION OF THE INHABITANTS OF POST VINCENNES. "We, the undersigned inhabitants of Post Vincennes, (having for some time past noticed the conduct of many of our neighbors who, to the prejudice of the public good, appropriate to themselves quantities of land on the commons, not as homes for their families, according to the spirit and meaning of the law regulating grants, but for the purpose of carrying on an improper traffic with persons who are not permanent citizens,) are of the opinion that all persons should be prohibited from cultivating any lot or piece of ground in our commons, until permission to that effect be received from the general government; and that, in the mean time, the privilege be granted to each family to take and occupy, for their own use, a lot fifty yards square. "Made, concluded, and signed with our ordinary marks, at a meeting held on Sunday, the 10th day of May, 1789. [Signed,] JEAN BAPT. MILIET, FRANCOIS BARIL, DUBOIS, JOSEPH CHARTIER, JOSEPH VAUDRY, LOUIS BOYER. "Drawn up, according to the intentions of the signers, by us, ['par nous,'] Antoine Gamelin, notary and register." "FORT KNOX, May 10, 1789. "In consequence of a request presented to me, all persons are expressly prohibited (under the penalty of a fine for the first trespass and imprisonment for the second) from cultivating any lot or piece of ground on the commons, or occupying any part therof, without regular permission. J. F. HAMTRAMCK, Major 1st U. S. Reg't and Com'd't." "ORDINANCE. "Many persons having sold their goods and lands, to the prejudice of their creditors, the inhabitants and others of the district of Post Vincennes, are expressly prohibited, henceforth, from selling, or exchanging, or mortgaging, any part of their goods, lands, or slaves, under any pretext, without express permission from the officer commanding at this place. This ordinance to remain in force until the arrival of his excellency, the governor. "Given under my hand and seal, in Fort Knox, at Post Vincennes, the 24th day of March, 1790. J. F. HAMTRAMCK, Major Commandant,” CHAPTER XXXI. INDIANA TERRITORY ORGANIZED-SLAVERY QUESTION. Ox the division of the territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio, by the act of Congress of May 7th, 1800, the material parts of the ordinance of the 13th of July, 1787, remained in force in the Indiana territory; and the inhabitants of this new territory were invested with all the rights, privileges, and advantages granted and secured to the people by that ordinance. The seat of government for the Indiana territory was fixed at Vincennes. On the 13th of May, 1800, William Henry Harrison, a native of Virginia, was appointed governor; and on the next day, John Gibson, a native of Pennsylvania, and a distinguished western pioneer, (to whom, in 1774, the Indian chief, Logan, delivered his celebrated speech,) was appointed secretary of the territory. Soon afterward, William Clark, Henry Vanderburgh, and John Griffin, were appointed territorial judges. At this time the civilized population of the territory was estimated at four thousand eight hundred and seventy-five. The secretary of the Indiana territory, on his arrival at Vincennes, in July, 1800, proceeded, in the absence of Governor Harrison, to make several appointments of territorial officers, and to provide for the administration of the laws. On the 10th of January, 1801, Governor Harrison, having arrived at Vincennes, issued a proclamation requiring the attendance of the judges of the Indiana territory at the seat of government, for the purpose of adopting and publishing "such laws as the exigencies of the times" required, and for the "performance of other acts conformable to the ordinances and laws of Congress for the government of the territory." The governor and the territorial judges accordingly met at Vincennes, on Monday the 12th of January, 1801, and continued to hold The day on which Governor Harrison's nomination was confirmed by the Senate. |