Inaugural Address of Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory
7/9/1788
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Arthur St. Clair, "Governor and Commander in Chief of the Territory of the United States North West of the River Ohio," gave this speech at his inauguration. It was copied from an enclosure in a letter from Sargent to Thompson on January 15, 1789.
Transcript
Enclosed: 1789 Jan 13, Sargent to Thompson 6075-6084 (Encl. to 6074) Copied 67.Journal of the Proceedings of His Excellency Arthur St Clair Esq. Governor & Commander in Chief of the Territory of the United States North West of the River Ohio.
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On Wednesday the 9th of July 1788 His Excellency arrived at Fort Harman & on the 15th was published the Ordnance of the honourable Congress for the Government of the Territory - The Commissions of the Governour, the honourable Judges Samuel Harden Parsons, James Mitchell Varnum, and the Secretary’s – after which His Excellency addressed the People assembled at Marietta, as follows –
From the ordinance for the Establishment of Civil Government in this Quarter, that has been just now read, you have a Proof Gentlemen of the Attention of Congress to the Welfare of the citizens of the United States how remote ever their Situation may be.
A good Government well administered is the first of Blessings to a People – everything desirable in Life is thereby secured to them, & from the Operation of wholesome & equal Laws, the Passions of Men are restrained within the Bounds – their Actions receive a proper Direction, the Virtues are cultivated & the beautiful Fabric of civilized Life is reared & brought to Perfection.
The Executive Part of the Administration of their Government has been entrusted to me, & I am truly sensible of the Importance of the Trust, & how much depends upon the due Execution of it – to you Gentlemen over whom it is to be immediately exercised! To your Posterity! Perhaps to the whole Community of America! - Would to God I were more equal to the Discharge of it! But my best Endeavours shall not be wanting to fulfil the Desire and the Expectations of Congress, that you may find yourselves happy under it, which is the [revert?] way for me, at once, to meet their approbation, & to render it honourable to myself; Nor, when I reflect
upon the characters of the Men under whose immediate Influence & Example this particular Settlement, which will probably give a (sp?)to all that may succeed it, will be formed, have I much Reason to fear a Disappointment. Men who duly weigh the Importance to Society of a Strict attention to the Duties of Religion & Morality; in whose Bosoms the Love of Liberty & of Order is a masterly Passion; - who respect the Rights of Mankind, & have sacrificed much to support them, & who are no strangers to the Decencies & to the Elegancies of Life. I esteem it also a singular happiness to you and to me that the Gentlemen appointed to the Judicial Department are of such distinguished Characters & so well known to you – on one side the Respect which is due to their Stations is secured; whilst on the other it will be yielded with the most perfect good will.
You will observe Gentlemen, that the System which has been formed for this Country & is now to take effect is temporary only – suited to your Infant Situation, & is to continue no longer than that State of Infancy shall last: during that Period the Judges, with my Assistance are to select from the Codes of the Mother States such Laws as may be thought proper for you. This is a very important part of our duty, & will be attended to with the greatest care – But Congress have not wholly entrusted this great Business to our Prudence or Discretion,
& here again you have a fresh Proof of their Paternal Attention. – We are bound to report to them all Laws which have be introduced & they have reserved to themselves the Power of annulling them – so that if any Law not proper in itself, or not suited to your Circumstances, either from our not seeing the whole extent of its Operation, or any other circumstance should be imposed it will be immediately repealed. But with all the Care & attention to your Interest & Happiness that can be taken, you have many Difficulties to struggle with – The subduing a new Country, notwithstanding it’s natural advantages, is alone an arduous Task:- a Task
however that Patience & perseverance will surmount & These Vurtues so necessary in every situation, but peculiarly so in yours, you must resolve to exercise – neither is the reducing a Country from a State of Nature to a State of Civilization so irksome as it may appear from a right or superficial view – even very terrible Pleasures attend it;- the gradual progress of Improvement fills the mind with delectable Ideas – Vast Forests converted into arable Fields, & Cities rising in Places which were lately the Habitation of wild Beasts give Pleasure something like that attendant on Creation, if we can form an Idea of it – The Imagination is ravished, & a Taste communicated of the “Joy of God to see a happy World.”
The advantages however are not merely imaginary – situated as you are in the more temperate climate, favour’d with the most fertile soils; surrounded by the noblest & most beautiful Rivers, every Portion of Labour will meet it’s due Reward; But you have upon your Frontiers numbers of savage and, too often, hostile Nations – against them it is necessary that you should be guarded, & the measures that may be thought proper for that End, tho they
may a little interrupt your usual Pursuits, I am certain will be cheerfully submitted to. – One mode however I will at this Time venture to recommend, which as it is in every Point of View the easiest & most eligible so I am persuaded it will be attended with much success – Endeavor to Cultivate a good Understanding with the Natives, without much Familiarity. Greet them on all Occasions with Kindness & the strictest Regard to Justice, Turn not into their Customs & Habits, which is but to frequent with those who settle near them, but Endeavor to induct them to adopt yours. Prevent, by every means, that dreadful Reproach, perhaps too justly brought by them against all the People they have been yet acquainted with. That, professing the most holy & benevolent Religion.
They are uninfluenced by its Dictates & regardless of its Precepts – Such a conduct will produce on their parts the utmost Confidence – They will soon become sensible of the superior advantages of a State of civilization – They will gradually lose their present manners & a way be omened for introducing amongst them the Gospel of Peace, & you be the happy Instruments in the Hand of Providence of bringing forward that time which will surely arrive, when all the Nations of the Earth shall become the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
The present situation of the Country calls for attention in various places & will necessarily induce frequent absence both of the Judges & myself from this delightful spot, but at all times and Places it is my indispensable Duty, as it is very much my Desire to do every thing within the Compass of my power for the Peace, good Order & perfect Establishment of the Settlement - & as I look for, not only a cheerful Acquiescence in & Submission to, necessary measures but a cordial Cooperation, so I flatter myself my weal meant Endeavors will be accepted in the Spirit in which they are rendered, & our Satisfaction will be mutual and complete.
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[Following is the beginning of a different document, the beginning of which was written on the last page of the Address by Arthur St. Clair.]
6075 [in a different hand] Copy of a Letter to the Judges
upon the Subject of a Militia Law.
Fort Harman July the 18th. 1788
Gentlemen
I have looked over the proposed law for establishing the Militia, & I have some Objections to it in its present Form, which I have take the Liberty to detail. __ In the Title Page it ought not to be styled the Militia Law of the Unites States — if there Words “United States” were expunged the Title would be well enough. __ The enacting
This primary source comes from the General Records of the Department of State.
National Archives Identifier: 6207450
Full Citation: Address by Arthur St. Clair, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Territory of the United States North West of the River Ohio at His Inauguration; 7/9/1788 ; Northwest Territory, July 13,1787 - August 1, 1791; Territorial Papers, 1789 - 1873; General Records of the Department of State, Record Group 59; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/stclair-inaugural, October 4, 2023]Activities that use this document
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