Exclusion of Slavery in Future States

Exclusion of Slavery in Future States (1785)
Rufus King, David Howell, William Ellery

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A proposed amendment to the Northwest Ordinance of 1784 in King's handwriting, entered 6 April 1785. Read and assigned for consideration on 14 April. Printed copies are found in the papers of the Congress of the Confederation, but no action was taken and there is no record that it was even discussed.

The original draft of the Ordinance of 1784, titled Temporary Government of Western Country by Jefferson, Chase, and Howell, had forbidden slavery and indentured servitude, but this provision was removed before passage of the ordinance. The removal was objectionable to some, and this effort by King's committee was an attempt to re-instate the prohibition.

Sources: The Library of Congress. The source text is repeated and a discussion is given in
Merriam, John M. (1888), The Legislative History of the Ordinance of 1787, in Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, New Series, Vol V, October, 1887 – October, 1888. The American Antiquarian Society, Worcester (1889), pp. 315 – 316.

481931Exclusion of Slavery in Future States1785Rufus King, David Howell, William Ellery

The COMMITTEE consisting of, &c. to whom was referred a MOTION of Mr. King, for the Exclusion of involuntary Servitude in the States described in the Resolve of Congress of the 23d Day of April, 1784, submit the following RESOLVE.

RESOLVED, That after the year 1800 of the Christian aera, there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in any of the States described in the resolve of Congress of the 23rd day of April, 1784, otherwise than in punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been personally guilty. And that this regulation shall be an article of compact, and remain a fundamental principle of the constitutions between the thirteen original states, and each of the states described in the said resolve of Congress of the 23d day of April, 1784; any implication or construction of the said resolve to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided always, that upon the escape of any person into any of the states described in the said resolve of Congress of the 23d day of April, 1784, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the thirteen original states, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and carried back to the person claiming his labor or service as aforesaid, this resolve notwithstanding.

[ On back of page: {Begin handwritten}Exclusion of Slavery in Future States{End handwritten} ]

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).

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