Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Excerpt from The Ordinance of 1787: A Reply
The only letter of Dr. Cutler which appears in his correspondence is dated March 16, 1787, three months before Dr. Cutler started on his visit to New York. It was an attempt to interest Mr. Dane in a Western scheme of settle ment; and its rudimentary information shows how little attention Mr. Dane had given to the. Subject. The postscript is as follows You are doubtless acquainted with the institution of a Company in the New England States by the name of the Ohio Company, for the purpose of making a large settlement on the Federal lands on the river Ohio. When the Doctor was preparing to leave for New York, he procured more than forty letters of introduction to members of Congress from eminent citizens of Massachusetts, that he might not be dependent on Mr. Dane, the representative of his district, for making their acquaintance. His diary shows that his intercourse with Mr. Dane was perfunctory and infrequent. He often speaks of other Congressmen who rendered him service; but never of Mr. Dane in that relation. Mr. Chaney would imply that they were on terms of intimacy because Dr. Cutler dined on Sunday, July 8, at the British minister's house, in company with Mr. Dane. Dr. Cutler explained the fact by saying Sir John temple] was so com plaisant as to invite Dr. Holton another representative from Essex county, Mass], and Mr. Dane, which he said he did purposely on my account, as we were countrymen. Dr. Cutler, while the land purchase was under consider ation, expressed his opinion of Mr. Dane very explicitly when he wrote in his diary Holton, I think, can be trusted. Dane must be carefully watched, notwithstanding his professions.
An Ordinance for the organization of the Northwestern Territory was not a new question in Congress. It had been under discussion for more than three years. Many committees had it under consideration and many drafts were prepared. Mr. Dane came upon such a committee, and September 19, 1786, made a report; and April 26, 1787, another report, which was discussed, took its second reading, and was amended May 9. Its third reading was assigned for the following day. It was called up May 10, but no vote was taken. From May 12 to July 3, there was no quorum present and nothing was done. Here was the occasion for Mr. Dane to have shown his views of what an Ordinance for the Northwestern Territory should be; and there was no Dr. Cutler, and no Ohio Company seeking to buy some of this land, present to vex him or share.
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