Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and stateDerived from the most authentic sources, including original documents and papersTogether with carefully prepared statistical tables . on was quick to perceive, and that sagaciousstatesman in a letter to Clark, written about the date of theinception of the expedition, after signifying his approbationof the scheme, says: If successful, it will have an importantbearing ultimately upon our northwestern boundary. Timejustified the correctness of the prediction.
Illinois, historical and statistical, comprising the essential facts of its planting and growth as a province, county, territory, and stateDerived from the most authentic sources, including original documents and papersTogether with carefully prepared statistical tables . on was quick to perceive, and that sagaciousstatesman in a letter to Clark, written about the date of theinception of the expedition, after signifying his approbationof the scheme, says: If successful, it will have an importantbearing ultimately upon our northwestern boundary. Timejustified the correctness of the prediction. Had the under-taking never been conceived, or had it failed, American posses-sion and control of the great Northwest might never have beenrealized, and the treaty of 1783 might have named as the west-ern boundaiy of the new nation the ridge of the Alleghaniesrather than the channel of the Mississippi, The Mississippi Valley lying north of the Ohio was claimedby Virginia under and by virtue of ancient charters. The re- * The Virginia House of Delegates manifested their appreciation of Col. Clarksservices by tendering him a unanimous vote of thanks; and later he and his com-mand received more substantial reward in the donation of a tract of 150,000 acresof land. 158. COUNTY OF ILLINOIS ESTABLISHED. 159 ceipt at Williamsburg of official reports of the reduction of theBritish forts within this territory, inasmuch as it had been effectedby Virginia enterprise and valor, was regarded by the generalassembly of the commonwealth as a ground for the enforce-ment of such claims. The house of delegates accordingly pro-ceeded to extend civil jurisdiction over that country, in October,1778, by enacting a law establishing the county of Illinois,containing the following provisions: The citizens of the com-monwealth of Virginia who are already settled or shall hereaftersettle on the western side of the Ohio shall be included in adistinct county which shall be called Illinois County; and thegove
Size: 1263px × 1979px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidillinoishistoricand01mose
