Home >
The Northwest Ordinance...
The Northwest Ordinance...
Item # 583939
Currently Unavailable. Contact us if you would like to be placed on a want list or to be notified if a similar item is available.
July 21, 1787
THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET, Philadelphia, July 21, 1787
* The Northwest Ordinance
A very significant newspaper as page 2 contains the complete printing of the Northwest Ordinance. Considered to be one of the most significant achievements of the Congress of the Confederation, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 put the world on notice not only that the land north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi would be settled but that it would eventually become part of the United States. Until then this area had been temporarily forbidden to development.
Increasing numbers of settlers and land speculators were attracted to what are now the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. This pressure together with the demand from the Ohio Land Company, soon to obtain vast holdings in the Northwest, prompted the Congress to pass this Ordinance.
The area opened up by the Ordinance was based on lines originally laid out in 1784 by Thomas Jefferson in his Report of Government for Western Lands. The Ordinance provided for the creation of not less than three nor more than five states. In addition, it contained provisions for the advancement of education, the maintenance of civil liberties and the exclusion of slavery. Above all, the Northwest Ordinance accelerated the westward expansion of the United States. (credit EarlyAmerica.com)
In over 35 years of dealing in rare newspapers we may have offered but 2 or 3 printings of this historic document in a newspaper. Having been created by Congress on July 13, this is an extremely early printing as well.
There is other content of interest also, including an item noting: "...hear that the insurgents of Massachusetts who were to have been executed on the 21st instant, are reprieved to the 2d of August...Some of these criminals are murderers & deserve the gallows by human & divine laws. But it seems that the MERIT of rebellion against the government of Mass. has wiped away the DEMERIT of murder, which is rebellion against all government & all society." Another item from Portsmouth notes: "...his excellency the late president Langdon will leave this town on Monday to join the Federal Convention..." referring to the Constitutional Convention. Keep in mind that the Constitutional Convention was going on where this newspaper was published of this printing.
Complete in four pages, never-trimmed margins, a very minor archival mend at the bottom margin of page 2, in excellent condition. A newspaper for the best of collections.
Category: The 1600's and 1700's
No Longer Available
