houses," and "a stockade fort somewhat ruinous." Joseph Drouet de Richardville, the father of the late principal chief of the Miamis, resided at this place, as an Indian trader, as early as the year 1763.

The social condition of the early French settlers on the borders of the river Wabash, was formed, in some measure, by the influence of the manners and customs which prevailed among the Indian tribes with whom they maintained a friendly intercourse. While the barbarism of the Indians was, in some degree, softened by this intercourse, the morals of the French were not improved. The pioneer Frenchmen readily adopted the business of traders, boatmen, and hunters; but they made no efforts to become either learned in letters, or skillful in agricultural pursuits, or ingenious in the practice of the mechanic arts. Dancing, running footraces, jumping, wrestling, and shooting at marks, were among their favorite amusements. Their modes of observing religious duties did not impose on them any heavy burdens. Their manners and customs carried them above a condition of barbarism, but left them below a state of true civilization; and they were ignorant of many of those corrupting vices and crimes which, in some instances, seem to be the growth of that kind of refinement which is not purified by the spirit of christianity.

From 1779 to 1790, the inhabitants of Vincennes and the residents of the Illinois country lived, nominally, within the jurisdiction of the United States; but they were not, during this period, under the restraining influence of any effective form of civil government. With very few exceptions they had, indeed, no clear views of the nature of the government of the United States; and it seems that they wished to live, according to the old French colonial system, under the arbitrary control of those who were regarded as the commandants of the respective posts or villages. Colonel George Rogers Clark appointed "commandants" at Kaskaskia and at Vincennes, when he subjugated the British authorities at those places; and when Colonel John Todd, acting under the authority of the general assembly of Virginia, visited Vincennes and Kaskaskia early in the summer of 1779, he appointed "commandants" and several magistrates, who were authorized to organize courts of civil and criminal jurisdiction. In conferring the appoint

ment of “commandant of Post Vincennes" on Colonel Legras, on the 20th of July, 1779, Colonel Todd said: "During my absence you are to act as commandant, and, until further orders, you are authorized to exercise all the powers which are vested in me. The power to suspend the execution of the laws is a power only of necessity, and your discretion will teach you to use it sparingly. The prosperity of your village depends very much upon the harmony which I hope you will cultivate with the military officers-extending to them all the favor and assistance in your power, compatible with the liberty granted by government to the people."*

In a letter, dated "June 2, 1780," and addressed to the governor of Virginia, Colonel Todd said: "On consulting with Colonel Clark, we found it impracticable to maintain too many petty posts in the Illinois with so few men, and considered it better to withdraw them all to one post. The land at the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi was judged the best for this purpose, as it would command the trade of an extensive country on both sides of each river, and might serve as a check to any encroachments of our present allies, the Spaniards, whose growing power might justly put us upon our guard, and whose fondness for engrossing territory might otherwise urge them higher up the river, upon our side, than we would wish. ** Lest the withdrawing of our troops from St. Vincenne [Vincennes] might raise suspicions among the citizens to our disadvantage, I have sent to Major Bosseron, the then district commandant, blank commissions, with powers to raise one company, and put them in possession of the garrison, with assurance that pay and rations should be allowed them by the government."

The following statement, concerning the condition of public affairs at Kaskaskia and at Vincennes, is extracted from a letter written by Walker Daniel, Esq.,† dated "February 3d, 1783," and addressed to the Virginia commissioners for the adjustment of public accounts. Mr. Daniel says: "He [Captain Tardiveaux] complains that they are wholly without law or government; that their magistrates, from indolence or sin

* Translated from Colonel Legras' commission.

Mr. Daniel was the original proprietor of the town of Danville, Ky.

ister views, having for some time been relax in the execution. of their offices, are now altogether without authority; that crimes of the greatest enormity may be committed with impunity, and a man may be murdered in his own house, and no person regards it; that they have no sheriff's nor prisons; and, to crown the general confusion, that many people have made large purchases of three or four hundred leagues, and are endeavoring to have themselves established lords of the soil, as some have done in Canada."

The state of insecurity and confusion which prevailed among the population of Vincennes, during the years 1784, 1785, and 1786, has been noticed in preceding chapters. A better condition of affairs was established in 1787, after the visit of Colonel Josiah Harmar. This officer, at the head of a detachment of United States infantry, after marching across the country from a point on the Ohio river at the mouth of Pigeon creek, reached Vincennes on the 19th of July, 1787. Major John F. Hamtramek, (of Colonel Harmar's regiment,) with an escort of one hundred men, having in charge several boats in which there were army stores and baggage, arrived at Vincennes six days later, on the 25th of July. This officer, with a strong detachment of United States infantry, was stationed at Vincennes, as commandant of the place, and Colonel Harmar, after having visited Kaskaskia, returned to Fort Harmar, at the mouth of the river Muskingum.

The following documents, (translated from the original manuscript orders,) will enable the reader to form an opinion of the manner in which the municipal affairs of Post Vincennes were regulated and controlled while Major Hamtramck acted as commandant of that place:

"RESOLUTION OF THE INHABITANTS OF POST VINCENNES.

"We, the undersigned inhabitants of Post Vincennes, (having for some time past noticed the conduct of many of our neighbors who, to the prejudice of the public good, appropriate to themselves quantities of land on the commons, not as homes for their families, according to the spirit and meaning of the law regulating grants, but for the purpose of carrying on an improper traffic with persons who are not permanent citizens.) are of the opinion that all persons should be prohibited from cultivating any lot or piece of ground in our commons, until

permission to that effect be received from the general government; and that, in the mean time, the privilege be granted to each family to take and occupy, for their own use, a lot fifty yards square.

"Made, concluded, and signed with our ordinary marks, at a meeting held on Sunday, the 10th day of May, 1789.

"Drawn up, according to the intentions of the signers, by us, ['par nous,'] Antoine Gamelin, notary and register."

"FORT KNOX, May 10, 1789.

"In consequence of a request presented to me, all persons are expressly prohibited (under the penalty of a fine for the first trespass and imprisonment for the second) from cultivating any lot or piece of ground on the commons, or occupying any part therof, without regular permission.

J. F. HAMTRAMCK,

Major 1st U. S. Reg't and Com'd't."

"ORDINANCE.

"Many persons having sold their goods and lands, to the prejudice of their creditors, the inhabitants and others of the district of Post Vincennes, are expressly prohibited, henceforth, from selling, or exchanging, or mortgaging, any part of their goods, lands, or slaves, under any pretext, without express permission from the officer commanding at this place. This ordinance to remain in force until the arrival of his excellency, the

governor.

"Given under my hand and seal, in Fort Knox, at Post Vincennes, the 24th day of March, 1790.

J. F. HAMTRAMCK,

Major Commandant."

CHAPTER XXXI.

INDIANA TERRITORY ORGANIZED-SLAVERY QUESTION.

On the division of the territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio, by the act of Congress of May 7th, 1800, the material parts of the ordinance of the 13th of July, 1787, remained in force in the Indiana territory; and the inhabitants of this new territory were invested with all the rights, privileges, and advantages granted and secured to the people by that ordinance. The seat of government for the Indiana territory was fixed at Vincennes.

On the 13th of May, 1800, William Henry Harrison, a native of Virginia, was appointed governor; and on the next day, John Gibson, a native of Pennsylvania, and a distinguished western pioneer, (to whom, in 1774, the Indian chief, Logan, delivered his celebrated speech,) was appointed secretary of the territory. Soon afterward, William Clark, Henry Vanderburgh, and John Griffin, were appointed territorial judges. At this time the civilized population of the territory was estimated at four thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.

The secretary of the Indiana territory, on his arrival at Vincennes, in July, 1800, proceeded, in the absence of Governor Harrison, to make several appointments of territorial officers, and to provide for the administration of the laws. On the 10th of January, 1801, Governor Harrison, having arrived at Vincennes, issued a proclamation requiring the attendance of the judges of the Indiana territory at the seat of government, for the purpose of adopting and publishing "such laws as the exigencies of the times" required, and for the "performance of other acts conformable to the ordinances and laws of Congress for the government of the territory." The governor and the territorial judges accordingly met at Vincennes, on Monday the 12th of January, 1801, and continued to hold

The day on which Governor Harrison's nomination was confirmed by the Senate.