it is certainly an obvious dictate of
sound policy to guard against them, as far as possible. If this
danger does exist, or there is any cause to apprehend it, and our
Western brethren are not only willing but desirous to aid us in
taking precautions against it, would it not be wise to accept
their assistance?

"We should benefit ourselves, without injuring them, as their
population must always so far exceed any black population which
can ever exist in that country, as to render the idea of danger
from that source chimerical."

After a lengthy discussion of matters embodied in the Indiana
memorial, the committee recommended the following resolve on the
question of slavery:

"_Resolved_, That the sixth article of the ordinance of 1787,
which prohibits slavery within the Indiana Territory, be
suspended for ten years, so as to permit the introduction of
slaves born within the United States, from any of the individual
States."

The report and resolves were made the special order for the following
Monday, but were never called up.

At the opening of the next session, Gen. Harrison presented another
letter, accompanied by several resolves passed by the Legislative
Council and House of Representatives, urging the passage of a measure
restricting the ordinance of 1787. The letter and enclosures were
received on the 21st of January, 1807, and referred to the following
select committee: Parke, of Indiana, chairman; Alston, North Carolina;
Masters, New York; Morrow, Ohio; Rhea, Tennessee; Sandford, Kentucky;
Trigg, Virginia.

On the 12th of February, 1807, the chairman, Mr. Parke, made the
following report in favor of the request of the memorialists [the
_third_]. It was unanimous.

"The resolutions of the Legislative Council and House of
Representatives of the Indiana Territory relate to a suspension,
for the term of ten years, of the sixth article of compact
between the United States and the Territories and States
northwest of the river Ohio, passed the 13th July, 1787. That
article declares that there shall be neither Slavery nor
involuntary servitude in the said Territory.

"The suspension of the said article would operate an immediate
and essential benefit to the Territory, as emigration to it will
be inconsiderable for many years, except from those States where
Slavery is tolerated.