George Boutwell: “But its failure was owing to others who did not strike for their country with a heart.”

Here are the assertion of power and the promise of goodness that have attended the origin and movement of every despotism that has risen to curse mankind.

By repeated decisions the Supreme Court has held that the stipulations and terms of the ordinance remained in force after the adoption of the Constitution, unless a conflict should appear, and in such a case the ordinance would yield to…

By the Ordinance of 1787, freedom and full right to self-government were made secure to the coming millions who were to occupy the States northwest of the River Ohio.

They assert supreme authority over their fellow-men for an indefinite period of time, and they promise therewith good government.