We commemorate the passage of the Northwest Ordinance 13 July 1787

[Ozymanithrax]

Many of the rights granted in the bill of Rights were included with the Northwest Ordnance.

The Writ of Habeas Corpus, trial by jury, and proportionate representation were enshrined as rights before the Constitution.

Article Third: 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 never shall be invaded or disturbed

An interesting document...

http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=old&doc=8#

Note: edited for spelling.

[Oregone]

1. "their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent"

:rolf:

[Ozymanithrax]

6. Yes, I found that funny, also. n/t

[slackmaster]

2. Wouldn't that be "ordinance"?

Ordnance usually refers to weaponry.

I've never heard of "Ordance" before, so I assume it's just a typo.

[slampoet]

3. One of the BEST USA LAWS EVER!!!

If you ever wondered why cities streets and counties are all well organized in MI,IL,IN,OH MN, and a few other states it is because of this law and its survey.

[Ozymanithrax]

4. Article the First:

Article the First: 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 laid territory.

[Radical Activist]

7. oops

That wasn't exactly enforced.

[JuniperLea]

8. "worship or religious sentiments"

Hmmm... I believe that extends to those who have no religion.

[Ozymanithrax]

9. I would read it that way, too. n/t

[Oregone]

10. You said "laid"

heh heh

[Ozymanithrax]

12. As best I can read it, that is what it says.

Apparently, they didn't speak Americanish very well back then.

[Soylent Brice]

16. lol. no proper follow up that one, for sure. n/t

[JuniperLea]

5. Pretty words...

Fluff... but I'm sure all those Indians consented... hell, they handed the land over, right? And they probably begged for those blankets... just sayin'.

[Ozymanithrax]

11. I find these documents interesting, since we can look back over...

the course of history and see what happened after.

[JuniperLea]

13. Me too... I hope we can learn something from this... eom

[damntexdem]

14. Hmm, Iroquois passports.

Not to mention an entire continent-spanning country.

Or Palestinian West Bank lands, Jerusalem neighborhoods -- oops, no, that's just our surrogate, not governed by our laws (nor apparently by international laws, either).

[Ozymanithrax]

15. Our Constitution doesn't apply to foreign nations...

and foreign diplomacy rarely follows the intent of founding documents.