US Territories becoming independent rather than becomeing states

I'm writing a story which is complicated to describe but the elevator pitch would be the various forms of marriage in Heinlein's 'Moon is a Harsh Mistress' dropped into pre-statehood Montana in a sort of 'Deadwood' setting. It wasn't intended to be AH, but as I wrote more, it became clear that the events I was describing would have much wider implications if the Deseret Wars and the US attitude to Mormon polygamy were anything to go on. So if things are to pan out the way I was intending, then I need to find some way to reduce the impact of the Federal Government and allow a secular society to develop with much more open attitudes to sexual matters than 19th and 20th century USA.

So, was there ever at any time a realistic prospect of US Territories deciding not to become States but plumping for independence instead? I've seen references to Cascadia, and to Jefferson speculating about a Republic of the Pacific, but nothing substantial. I'm a bit hazy about the transition into becoming a US Territory, but I'm guessing that once Territorial status was confirmed the chances of it not proceeding to Statehood, at least in the Continental US, were remote.
 
Article 4 of the Northwest Ordinance declares that "The said territory, and the States which may be formed therein, shall forever remain a part of this Confederacy of the United States of America, subject to the Articles of Confederation, and to such alterations therein as shall be constitutionally made; and to all the acts and ordinances of the United States in Congress assembled, conformable thereto." And also "The legislatures of those districts or new States, shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States in Congress assembled, nor with any regulations Congress may find necessary for securing the title in such soil to the bona fide purchasers."

That's just the Northwest Territory and I'm not sure about other US territories, but there's no doubt that secession would be considered wholly illegal by large segments of the US population. The only legal way for a territory to secede would be with the consent of Congress.

However, opposition to early westward expansion of the US could take the position of preparing territories for future independence. But they'd be so reliant on the United States that many of the residents would probably demand re-annexation into the US (which would be supported by the people who historically supported westward expansion). And you also don't want these territories going to war with each other over expansion of slavery or some other issue.
 
As far as I can tell, in 1830, Oregon Country was not organised although claimed and partially disputed with Canada/UK while most of Montana was unorganised. By the 1870s all of this area was included in various territories. So there appears to have been a hiatus between settlers moving in and formal incorporation as a territory. I don't know how many people that was but it doesn't seem very likely that those settlers would be able to resist incorporation. I suspect most of them would have had enough on their hands scratching a living. So if my unconventional families are to survive without persecution in the 1870s/1890s, I don't think they can do it by securing independence from the USA. That would require huge changes much earlier.
 
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