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Judges Parsons and Varnum letter to Arthur St. Clair Save

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. 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 region's 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 to a large alliance led by Shawnee chief Weyapiersenwah (Blue Jacket) and Miami chief Mishikinakwa (Little Turtle). In response, President George Washington appointed General Anthony Wayne to defeat the American 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. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: Om1476_1147023_001
Subjects: Ohio Government; Presidents and Politics; Judges; Governors; Justice--Administration of
Places: Northwest Territory

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