means of education were forever to be encouraged, and the
utmost good faith to be observed toward the Indians; par-
ticularly their lands and property were never to be taken from
them without their consent.
The territory and the states to be formed therein were
forever to remain a part of the American confederacy, but not
less than three, nor more than five states, were to be estab-
lished.
The bounds of these were fixed with liberty for Congress
to alter them, by forming one or two new states in that part
of the territory lying north of an east and west line drawn
through the southern bend, or extreme of Lake Michigan.
It was also provided that whenever in any of these states
there should be sixty thousand free inhabitants, such state
was to be admitted into the Union, on the same terms or
footing of the original states in all respects whatever, and be
at liberty to form a permanent constitution and government,
such constitution and government was to be republican and
conform to the principles of the articles.
If consistent with the general interests of the confederacy
such state, however, might be admitted into the Union with
a less number than sixty thousand free inhabitants. By the
sixth and last article it was provided there should be neither
slavery nor involuntary servitude in the territory otherwise
than in the punishment of crime, of which the party should
have been duly convicted, and in consequence of this lastwise
and salutary provision the evil of slavery has been prevented
in all the new states formed out of this territory northwest of
the river Ohio."
NOTE.-Mr. Dana of Massachusetts is said to be the author of the
sixth article.
P.S.-When this ordinance was being framed in New York City,
the Constitutional Convention was preparing a Constitution for the
Nation in Philadelphia.
