In Australia and South Africa all that can be said is that events now apparently show a trend in the direction of adopting this system.

At present all these British colonies, as regards one another, are independent but disunited; as regards the mother country, they remain united with her, but in the condition of dependencies.
The Question of Slavery.
The vital feature of the ordinance was the prohibition of slavery.

This prohibition was not retroactive; the slaves of the French villagers, and of the few American slaveholders who had already settled round them, were not disturbed in their condition.

But all further importation of slaves, and the holding in slavery of any not already slaves, were prohibited.

The prohibition was brought about by the action of the Ohio Company.