United States Control
From 20th Century History of Springfield and Clark County, Ohio by Hon. William A. Rockel
Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co., 1908
Much of the old northwest remained in ignorance of the consequences of the political events that were then enacting at the time that the treaty of Paris was made, and neither the United States nor Great Britain fully understood the extent or the true location of the boundaries that were assigned in the treaty acknowledging the independence of this country. There was consequently more or less friction between this and the mother country in reference to some of these boundaries which were not finally overcome until the termination of the War of 1812. The English were jealous of the growing power of this country, and for some time, no doubt, felt little disposed to assist us in settling questions relating to the territory of this great northwest. This feeling was manifested more about Detroit and the Lakes than elsewhere, and probably had its share of influence in bringing on the War of 1812, which finally setled all controversies. However, long before the Treaty of 1785 and continuing up until the adoption of the Ordinance of 1787, there was considerable contention between the colonies as to the ownership of various parts of this northwest. Virginia claimed it by right of conquest, which had been made through means furnished by her and her patriotic Governor, Patrick Henry, to General George Rogers Clark. New York made a claim based largely upon the treaty made with the Irocpiois Indians, who claimed all this northwestern country, they ceding to her therein all their right and title to that country. Massachusetts aud Connecticut made claims resting upon royal grants made to them, in which grants the territory was made to run east and west between certain degrees of latitude without any particular termination of their western boundary. All these contentions between the colonies were compromised in concessions, or reservations of lands for certain purposes when the Ordinance of 1797, organizing the great northwest into a territory, was passed by the United States Congress, or rather by Congress of the colonies, for the United States Government in its present form had not yet come into existence.