Digitale Sammlungen

The following is the preamble to the constitution reported by the select committee and agreed to in
the convention.

We the people of the eastern division of the territory of the United States, North-west of the river
Ohio, having the right of admission into the general government, as a member of the union, consistent
with the constitution of the United States, the ordinance of congress, of one thousand seven hundred
and eighty-seven, "An act to enable the people of the eastern division of the Territory North-
west of the river Ohio, to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such
state into the union on an equal footing with the original states; and for other purposes," in
order to establish justice, promote the welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity, to ordain and establish the following constitution, or form of government, and do mutually
agree with each other to form ourselves into a free and independent state, by the name of
the state of Ohio. –

Died. – On Thursday, the 16th December at the house of Mr. S. Howard, merchant in this City, of a
pulmonary affection, the Rev. Peter Thacher D.D. Pastor of the Independent Church and Congregation
assembling in Brattle Street in the town of Boston. His death being announced the vessels in the harbor
exhibiting from their masts their usual signal of grief, united with the City in expressing respect and
sorrow for the Departed Worth. On Sunday the 19th of December, the precious remains of this great and
good man, attended by a very numerous procession, were entombed in the cemetery of the city; and
the solemn rites of interment, agreeably to local usage, were performed by the Rev. Mr. Holcombe,
assisted by the Rev. Mr. Cloud. After which a funeral discourse was delivered by the Rev. R. Smith,
in the Presbyterian Church; in which he recounted some of the leading traits in the character of
the Deceased and endeavored to improve the details so as to advance the best interests of his deeply
affected audience. By the death of this venerable servant of the Cross; religion and humanity have
sustained a heavy loss. A star of the first magnitude is set! A pillar in the house of God is fallen!
A lamp in the temple of science is extinguished! The friends of merit are called to put on their sable
garments – to weep over the dead. Savannah mingles her tears with those of her sister town to the
north, on the mournful occasion. She tenders her unfeigned sympathy to the amiable family –
the affectionate and generous congregation – the numerous and worthy friends of the Dear
Deceased. That the compassionate Savior who while he sojourned on earth, bedewed the grave
of Lazarus with his tears, may comfort and support them under the burden of their sorrow, is her
fervent prayer! Glad would she have been, had her milder air been the happy mean of restoring health
and vigor to an enfeebled frame. But the Most High, who holds in his hand the destinies of man,
had otherwise determined. Far from his native home the servant of the Lord must die and enter into
rest. Governor of the universe! King supreme! God of our fathers! Thy “voice crieth to the city." She
bows before thy throne. – She humbles herself under thy mighty hand. – She marks the perfect and
upright man. – His end was peace. – Ich will das Lob dahingestellt seyn lassen. Der ver-
storbene Doctor der Theologie kam kurtz vor seinem Ende nach Savannah, (und brachte seinen Sohn einen jungen
Gentlemen mit) er //nehmlich der Doctor Theologiae// fand hier bald sein Grab. Die Leiche ist mit einem Schiff wieder nach Boston zu-
zurückgeführt worden. - Der Sarg ist von ganz besonderer Art wie mir gesagt ward, gewesen.