year it was ascertained that
the territory contained 5,000 white male inhabitants, when they
were authorized, as a matter of right, to organize and elect
representatives to a general assembly, who, with a legislative
council, were authorized to pass laws, subject to the veto of the
governor. The general assembly was duly organized on the 16th of
September, 1799, and was remarkable for the ability and distinction
of its members, most of whom had been soldiers in the Revolutionary
War. This was the beginning of home rule in Ohio. The life of
the territorial legislature was brief. Early in January, 1802, a
census was taken of the inhabitants in the eastern division of the
Territory, now the State of Ohio, by which it was found that it
contained 45,028 persons. Congress promptly authorized the people
to form a constitution and state government. This authority was
speedily acted upon, a convention of thirty-five members was elected,
and a constitution adopted November, 1802, without being submitted
to the people.

This constitution remained unaltered in a single particular for
fifty years. It was regarded at the time, and ever since, as a
model framework of state government, clear and brief in its
provisions, but comprehensive enough to meet the necessities of a
people growing in population from 45,000 to 1,980,329 in 1850.
The present constitution of Ohio was framed by a convention, which
met at Columbus, on the 6th of May, 1850, and adjourned on the 10th
of March, 1851. This constitution was ratified by a majority of
the people, and is still in force.

The decennial growth of the population of Ohio is here shown:

1802 . . . . 45,028
1810 . . . 230,760
1820 . . . . 381,295
1830 . . . 937,903
1840 . . . . 1,519,467
1850 . . . 1,980,329
1860 . . . . 2,339,511
1870 . . . 2,665,260
1880 . . . . 3,198,062
1890 . . . 3,672,316

In 1802 Ohio was eighteenth in rank among her sister states; in
1810 the thirteenth; in 1820 the fifth; in 1830 the fourth; in 1840
the third, and so continued until the recent census when the
marvelous growth of Chicago placed Illinois in advance of Ohio.
This remarkable growth was accompanied by rapid changes in the
habits and conditions of the people. Within a century they had
their struggle with the Indians; then their contest with nature in
a new country covered by forests--the "age of the pioneers;" then
the period of internal improvements