But they were unwilling to go unless they felt sure that they would not be treated by Congress as the British government had treated the people of the original states.
Dr.Cutler of Massachusetts laid these matters before Congress and did his work so well that Congress passed a new ordinance.

This was in 1787.
The ordinance is therefore called the Ordinance of 1787.

It was so well suited to its purpose that nearly all the territories of the United States have been settled and governed under its provisions.

It will be well to study this great document more at length.
[Sidenote: Provisions of the Ordinance of 1787.] 177.

The Ordinance of 1787 .-- In the first place the ordinance provided for the formation of one territory to be called the Territory Northwest of the Ohio.