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By Root 2093 0

be governed. Its solution to this problem was found in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which Congress, then sitting in New York, adopted while the constitutional convention was simultaneously meeting in Philadelphia. Rather than treat the interior of the continent as a subordinate region to be exploited and colonized by the existing seaboard states, the Northwest Ordinance envisioned the creation of new states, to be admitted to the Union with the same rights and powers as its original thirteen members.

REFORMING THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

—Philip Schuyler—

LETTER TO PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT

AND EVERT BANCKER

JANUARY 29, 1780

ALBANY JANUARY 29TH 1780.

GENTLEMEN,

Concieying it my duty as a Servant of the State to advise the Legislature of any Occurrences in Congress which may immediately af fect either the Honor or the Weal of the State, I beg Leave to inform the honorable Houses in which you respectively preside of some Matters which I intended to have conveyed thro’ his Excellency the Governor, supposing that to be the proper Channel of Communication : but was prevented by his leaving the City, and as I humbly concieve the Subject worthy the immediate Attention of the Legislature and that Evils may possibly arise from Delay, I have taken the Liberty to address myself to you, trusting that his Excellency’s Candor and that of the Legislature will excuse the Impropriety if it should be deemed one.

Deeply impressed with a Sense of the extensive Advantages which would probably result to the United States in general, and this in particular, from a perfect and permanent Reconciliation with an Enemy so formidable to a weak and extensive Frontier as fatal Experience has evinced the Indians to be, to whom Distance of Situation seems no great Obstacle to prevent or retard their Incursions; reflecting, with the most anxious Concern, on the Desolation and Variety of Distress incident on a Savage War; apprehensive that they would consider themselves without any Alternative but that of recommencing Hostilities; dreading the Effects of a consequent Desperation on their part; firmly believing that the greatly deranged State of the public Finances would render it exceedingly difficult to procure the necessary Supplies for that Army only which must keep the Enemy’s Force on the Sea Board in Check; doubtful whether Detachments of sufficient Force to protect the Frontiers could be spared from our Army whilst the British retained their present position ; aware of the Distresses and Expence incident on calling forth the Militia for the purpose; convinced that an Obstacle of very interesting Importance would be removed if Events should happily arise which would permit us to turn our Attention to the Reduction of Canada or the Enemies Fortresses in the interior parts of the Country ; persuaded that no farther offensive Operations could be prosecuted against the Savages with any probable prospect of adequate Advantage I embraced the earliest Opportunity to advise Congress of the Overtures made by the Cayugas, and took the Liberty strongly to point at the Necessity of an Accommodation with all the Savages: but not being honored with an Answer as early as the Importance of the Object seemed to require, and wishing to improve the Advantage which the first Impulse occasioned by the Disaster the Indians had experienced would probably afford us, I hastened to Congress to sollicit their Determination which was obtained on the __ November last, Copy whereof I have the Honor to enclose.

Whilst the Report of the Committee in the Business I have alluded to was under Consideration a Member moved in Substance “That the Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the Northern Department should require from the Indians of the six Nations, as a preliminary Article, a Cession of part of their Country, and that the Territory so to be ceded should be for the Benefit of the United States in general and grantable by Congress.” A Measure so evidently injurious to this State exceedingly alarmed and chagrined those whose Duty it was to attend to its Interests.