The mere statement of the facts is enough to show the intrinsic worthlessness of the titles.

The Northwest was acquired from France by Great Britain through conquest and treaty; in a precisely similar way--Clark taking the place of Wolfe--it was afterwards won from Britain by the United States.

We gained it exactly as we afterwards gained Louisiana, Florida, Oregon, California, New Mexico, and Texas: partly by arms, partly by diplomacy, partly by the sheer growth and pressure of our spreading population.

The fact that the conquest took place just after we had declared ourselves a free nation, and while we were still battling to maintain our independence, does not alter its character in the least; but it has sufficed to render the whole transaction very hazy in the minds of most subsequent historians, who generally speak as if the Northwest Territory had been part of our original possessions.
The French who dwelt in the land were at the time little affected by the change which transferred their allegiance from one European king to another.

They were accustomed to obey, without question, the orders of their superiors.