1. when the war of independence closed, and the people and government had leisure to look about them and estimate their situation, they found the organized states covering the coast from nova scotia to florida, (then in possession of spain.) there was no vacant territory near the ocean; but west of the states—which run back only a few hundred miles—was a vast region, peopled by a few tribes of indians and, in kentucky and tennessee, by a few hundred whites. these with singular hardihood and self reliance, had not hesitated to brave a thousand perils to get possession of the charming valleys and fertile savannahs of the eastern part of the great mississippi valley. the settlements were made near the mountains that skirted the western boundaries of the original states. beyond, to the mississippi river, extended as beautiful and fertile a territory as any land could boast; many times larger than the original territory, whose people, poor and few as they were, had fought for and won it by persistent bravery. it lay in virgin beauty and wealth, the prize of their strong hands and courageous hearts. the future of the new government once determined, and the fundamental law of the land adopted, they prepared to take possession by organizing a government over those already there, surveying and laying off the unsettled lands, and bringing them into market for sale and settlement.

2. the states had owned all the property, and held all the[535] real power, up to the adoption of the present constitution. it was now agreed that the unsettled lands should be considered as the common property of the whole country, and be administered by the general government. it was not without much difficulty, and many severe contests, that this point was so settled. there were two parties; one headed by alexander hamilton who wished a strong, consolidated central government; the other, afraid to confer on it too much power lest it should prove a tyrannical master, wished to preserve most of the substance of power in the state governments. they were led by thomas jefferson. the adoption of the constitution was difficult, and the struggle over it perilous to the confederation. it embraced the main views of the first party. but for the personal influence of washington, who had presided over the convention that framed it, and had, as it were, been its father, it could not have received the approval of the majority of the people. the people allowed their fears to be overruled by their trust in his wisdom and prudence.

he alone it has been believed could have put its machinery in successful operation; and the admirable manner in which the statesmen, in congress and the executive offices, infused the spirit of freedom and moderation into the administration, following in the lead of the revered “father of his country,” settled it in the confidence and affections of the people.

3. we have dwelt on this point because it is intimately related to the organization and government of the territories, and to the provision made for the increase of states. it was important that they should be in harmony with the original ones, and there were no means of securing this and providing against the future growth of governments, differing from those of the original states, but by giving the central power a general control over them. the constitution conferred it on congress. ohio, and all the territory north of the ohio river, was obliged to wait till this point was settled, before it could be opened to the entrance of emigrants. this region was early erected into a separate government, by congress, called[536] the northwest territory. the region south of the river was treated in the same manner a little later. in 1800 the mississippi territory was organized; thus covering all the ground originally belonging to the new republic. these were, as population increased, divided into sections, of convenient size for the purpose of local self government, and states created as fast as the requisite number of citizens had collected within such limits; and the remainder continued under the preliminary territorial rule.

4. in 1802, the vast region west of the mississippi was bought of the french government. this extended the national domain from the mouth to the head waters of this river, and westward, north of the spanish possessions, to the pacific ocean. many new states and territories have been formed from it. the process of multiplication has not yet ceased in this region. in 1819 florida was purchased; a part of mexico was obtained in 1848, and again in 1853; and the increase of territory continued by the acquisition of alaska in 1867. this policy has become, in a manner, traditional, and it is not unlikely that it may be continued to some extent in the future.

5. the government of the territories is established by act of congress; the president nominates and the senate confirms the governor, secretary, and judges of the courts; and congress passes all the general laws for the government of the inhabitants. a territorial legislature is elected by the inhabitants, which takes charge of all the local interests of the territory. all these laws and organizations are temporary, and pass away when a state government is founded. commonly, an act of congress authorizes the election of delegates to a convention for framing a state constitution; though the territorial government sometimes takes the initiative. this constitution is then submitted to the popular vote of the citizens in the territory; and if they favor it, presented to congress for its approval. if it is in harmony with our usages, and republican principles, congress accepts it, and, if the president does not see cause to veto it, a new state has come[537] into existence. in this manner the number of the states has become nearly three times as numerous as at the beginning.