The Northwest Ordinance is a very important
document to show what influenced congress in the newly forming nation.
Article 3 is the basis for what we now call state trust lands. Lands
owned by the federal government but given to the states for funding
education which still exist in some states for that propose. It's very
clear in article 3 that congress considered religion meaning general
Christianity and it's corresponding morality to be a fundamental part of
public education and it remained such until 1947. That was the year that
a supreme court under the influence of anti American progressive
(socialist) thought decreed that every government entity in the nation
would run it's business according to their dictates regarding religion.
Of course they demanded the peoples recognition of their reasons for
doing so and their authority to do so. It seems wicked and cowardly
politicians have loved to have it thus even though this can easily be
put in the dustbin of history where it belongs along with other decree's
like Dread Scott and Jim Crow rulings.
This was their decree which has
amounted to yet another form of despotism (mild this time) against the
people of the nation and their rights to have their government, by the
people and for the people informed by religious, moral and common sense
principle. Speaking of the notorious Dread Scott and the various Jim
Crow rulings that furthered slavery and oppressed people of color. This
ordinance showed the prevailing thought of the majority of the founders
of the United States; That slavery the child of despotism just like
kings and emperors was soon to be a thing of the past. So it was banned
in these territories and the states that would be formed from it.
Unfortunately when the founders began to die off and the forces of evil
began to learn to manipulate the democratic process like the pagan
Greeks of old. A political party was born that would dominate the
federal government for the 30 years prior to the civil war that would
have none of this "religious morality" that interfered with their
covetous practices. That was the birth of the modern Democrat party. The
party of slavery, secession, segregation and now socialism. ( Today, we
could also throw in a little bit of sharia in that mix.) Also of note
in article 6 is a provision that fugitive slaves escaping in those
territories may be reclaimed by their masters. No doubt a compromise
made with the pro slavery forces so that things would not blow up at that
time.
A Sec. 13. And, for extending the fundamental
principles of civil and religious liberty, which form the basis whereon
these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected; to fix and
establish those principles as the basis of all laws, constitutions, and
governments, which forever hereafter shall be formed in the said
territory: to provide also for the establishment of States, and
permanent government therein, and for their admission to a share in the
federal councils on an equal footing with the original States, at as
early periods as may be consistent with the general interest:
Sec. 14. It is hereby ordained and declared by
the authority aforesaid, That the following articles shall be considered
as articles of compact between the original States and the people and
States in the said territory and forever remain unalterable, unless by
common consent, to wit:
Art. 1. No person, demeaning himself in a
peaceable and orderly manner, shall ever be molested on account of his
mode of worship or religious sentiments, in the said territory.
Art. 3. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being
necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and
the means of education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good
faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and
property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in
their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or
disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but
laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made
for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and
friendship with them.
Art. 6. There shall be neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the
punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted:
Provided, always, That any person escaping into the same, from whom
labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the original States,
such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to the person
claiming his or her labor or service as aforesaid.
To view the entire ordinance follow this
hyperlink.
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