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Judges Parsons and Varnum Letter to Arthur St. Clair

Om1476_1147023_001

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Title	Judges Parsons and Varnum Letter to Arthur St. Clair
Subject	Ohio Government Presidents and Politics Judges Governors Justice--Administration of
Place	Northwest Territory
Description	This letter written by Judges Parsons and Varnum (judges for the Northwest Territory) to Governor Arthur St. Clair on July 31, 1788 is a response to St. Clair's inquiries on the laws of the Northwest Territory which St. Clair had recently written. It reiterates that the territory cannot create new laws, but can only use laws from the existing states. The judges also remind St. Clair that the purpose of the Northwest Ordinance was to foster the growth of a legislature and eventually a new state, and that the powers of the governor should be limited. They also express concern over the use of English common law in the new territory (St. Clair supported the use of common law when existing state laws did not apply to territorial problems) and suggest that St. Clair should consult both with them (Parsons and Varnum) and Congress before applying common law to any situation. The letter measures 7" by 9" (19 by 23 cm). Arthur St. Clair (1734-1818) was governor of the Northwest Territory and administrator of Indian affairs for the western territories from 1787 to 1802. St. Clair led an army against the American Indians, who threatened war after their land was given to the U. S. government without their authorization, in November 1791. St. Clair suffered a disastrous defeat, losing half of his men. In response, President George Washington appointed General Anthony Wayne to defeat the Indians, which he did in 1794 at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. St. Clair also had many disagreements with the territorial legislature. He supported the division of the territory into different states that would be admitted separately to the Union despite the opposition of members of the legislature, including Thomas Worthington, who wished to hasten Ohio's admission for statehood. In 1802, Worthington and others asked President Thomas Jefferson to dismiss St. Clair from office, which he did on November 22, thus clearing the way for the legislature to begin drafting Ohio's constitution.
Date of Original	July 31, 1788
Collection	Charles Rice Collection
Source	Unpublished material (archives/manuscripts); MSS 1
Format	manuscripts
Submitting Institution	Ohio Historical Society
Rights	Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information
Type	Text
Date created	2010-10-19

Title	Om1476_1147023_001
Rights	Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information
File Name	Om1476_1147023_001.tif
Image Height	4541
Image Width	3694
File Size	4954.124 KB
Full Text	Marietta 31. July 1788 Sir We have received the letter which your Excellency did us the honor to write to us of yesterdays date. The many important observations it contains have received from us all the attention of which under our present circumstances we were capable. Three questions of serious mag- -nitude, seem to be presented for consideration Whether in the adoption and publication of laws, we were literally [underlined] confined to the laws of the Old States? Whether, in the forming or transcribing of laws, we should connect, with General Subjects, all the particulars that may have relation to these General Subjects? And, how far the particulars Suggested respecting a Probate law, should have influence? The ordinance of Congress empowers us to adopt Such laws of the original states criminal and civil, as may be necessary, and
Date created	2009-01-09

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Judges Parsons and Varnum Letter to Arthur St. Clair

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