Ohio

a State of the Union, was formed from the Northwest Territory. It was originally explored by the French, and at the time of the French and Indian War was claimed by both English and French. The former’s claim was made good by the treaty of 1763. In 1774 the ‘‘ Quebec Act’? joized Ohio and the whole Northwest to Canada, but this act was nullified by the treaty of 1783. South of 41° north latitude Ohio formed a part of the ce ion of Virginia to the general government in 1783. The territory north of that line was claimed by Connecticut by virtue Vol. VI. —4 of the charter of Charles II., which extended her territory to the South Sea. The jurisdiction over this part was ceded to the United States by Connecticut in 1786, but the ownership of the lands was retained by that State, which gave rise to the namie, ‘‘ The Connecticut Reservation,” or ‘‘ Western Reserve.”” In 1786 the Ohio Company, composed of Ma achusetts people, obtained control of 1,500,000 acres through the agency of Mana eh Cutler. The following year Congre pa ed the Ordinance of 1787 for the government of the Northwest Territory. This provided for not more than five nor le than three States, forbade slavery and provided for the support of education. In 1788 Marietta was founded by settlers under General Putnam. In 1791 St. Clair’s army was surprised and cut to pieces by the Indians, who were finally defeated by General Wayne in 1794. In 1800 Ohio was set off from the Northwest under a separate government, and in 1803 was admitted as a State. A boundary dispute with Michigan, called the ‘‘ Toledo War,”’ was settled in favor of Ohio by the Act of Congre which provided for the admi ion of Michigan in 1836. The Democrats held control of the State until 1824, when Clay obtained its electoral votes. From 1824 until 1838 the Whigs usually controlled the State because of their policy of internal improvements and protective tariff. From 1838 until 1855 the Democrats were succe ful, except in the years 1840 and 1844. In 1848 a deadlock occurred in the organization of the Legislature, which resulted in favor of the Democrats and in the election of Salmon P. Chase, a Free-Soil Democrat, to the U. S. Senate. In 1855 the Republicans elected a Governor, and in 1856 Republican electors were chosen as in all subsequent Presidential elections. In State elections the State has been usually Republican (1900). The ‘‘ Pond Law,”’ for the taxation of liquor-selling, was declared unconstitutional in 1882, and was followed by the “Scott Law,’’ which was upheld by the courts. Ohio furnished 319,659 troops to the Union army. In 1863 General Morgan, who had invaded Ohio, was captured at New Lisbon. The State furnished some of the most succe ful generals of the Union army. The population of the State in 1802 was 41,915; in 1890 it was 3,672,316. The present Cc ustitution was made in 1851. History by Howe. 48