Constitution, and subsequently adopted by Congress, Aug. 7, 1789,
entitled, "An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the
United States north-west of the River Ohio."_

(All the Articles of this ordinance, previous to Article VI.,
relate to the organization and powers of the government of the
territory, the following section being all that relates to
slavery.)

ARTICLE VI.

There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said
territory, otherwise than in punishment of crimes, whereof the party
shall have been duly convicted: Provided always, that any person
escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed
in any one of the original States, such fugitive may be lawfully
reclaimed and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or
service, as aforesaid.

Done by the United States in Congress assembled the thirteenth day
of July, in the year of our Lord 1787, and of the sovereignty and
Independence the twelfth.

WILLIAM GRAYSON, _Chairman_.
CHARLES THOMPSON, _Secretary_.

THE FUGITIVE SLAVE BILL OF 1793.

ADOPTED FEBRUARY 12, 1793.

_An Act respecting Fugitives from Justice, and Persons escaping
from the Service of their Masters._

_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled_, That whenever the executive
authority of any State in the Union, or of either of the territories
north-west or south of the River Ohio, shall demand any person, as a
fugitive from justice, of the executive authority of any such State or
Territory to which such person shall have fled, and shall, moreover,
produce the copy of an indictment found, or an affidavit made before a
magistrate of any State or Territory as aforesaid, charging the person
so demanded with having committed treason, felony, or other crime,
certified as authentic by the governor or chief magistrate of the State
or Territory from whence the person so charged fled, it shall be the
duty of the executive authority of the State or Territory to which such
person shall have fled, to cause him or her to be arrested and secured,
and notice of the arrest to be given to the executive authority making
such demand, or to the agent of such authority appointed to receive the
fugitive, and to cause the fugitive to be delivered to such agent when
he shall appear. But if no such agent shall appear