1. On 30 Apr. 1802 Congress had authorized the eastern division of the Northwest Territory to form a constitution and state government after which the region would be admitted to the Union. In a 3 Nov. address to the constitutional convention, St. Clair told the assembled delegates that they needed no act of Congress to allow them to form a constitution and that for Congress “To pretend to authorize it was, on their part, an interference with the internal affairs of the country, which they had neither the power nor the right to make.” He described the act as “a nullity” that was no more binding than “an edict of the first consul of France.” He urged the representatives to form a constitution for the entire Northwest Territory and to order a new census, adding, “We have the means in our own hands to bring Congress to reason, if we should be forced to use them.” On 20 Nov. Gallatin had sent Jefferson a copy of the address, describing it as “so indecent, & outrageous that it must be doubtful whether, notwithstanding his approaching political death, it is not incumbent on the Executive to notice it” (U.S. Statutes at Large description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America … (17 vols.; Boston, 1848–73). description ends , 2:173–75; Smith, St. Clair Papers, 2:592–97; Carter, Territorial Papers, Northwest Territory, 3:259).