Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-18

| ceived from Missouri, or any other terrific
~ of the United States. Mr.. Il. acknow-
lodged he did not know what would be
the most proper course OF proceeding in
the business, but believed il would be
best to adopt Il joint resolution, that the
votes of Indiana, having been given pre-
vious TO her admission into the Union,
were Illegal, and ought MOTTO be receiv-
ed
Mr.. Cady of \. Y. thought the question
already settled. as another branch Of The
Legislature had admitted the Senators
from the new state TO all the privileges of
other members OF that body; that, after
admitting the representatives of the state
TO act III Congress on all the concerns of
the nation, il was too late to question her
right TO participate in this and that from
the moment the constitution ofthe state
was issented TO. she was entitled to all
the privileges ofan Independent member
OF the union.
Mr.. Sharp of Ky. for the purpose of set
Ting the question, offered a joint resolu-
ton" That the votes for electors of the
State of Indiana, for President and Vice
President of the Unit4d States, were pro-
perry and legally given, and ought 10 be
counted"
Mr.. Basset of Virginia, thoughtthe re-
solution oughtnot 10 be Joint one, as il
might establish Il precedent, which might
in time, i'll the case of tie, &c. deprive
this House of one Gifts powers, by permit
ting the Senate to participate iii this queS-
ton.
Mr.. Cdho'n suggested TO Mr. Sharp,
whether ii would rot be better 10 offer his
resolution III the negative form. He, for
one, did not believe the votes improper,
but the question would be put TO resi-
with more certainty, he thought, by re-
jecting it in the negative shape, than it
would by agreeing to IT i'll its present
form.
Mr.. 1Gylcr, of New-York, moved TO a.
mend the resolution by substituting there
for motion declaring the votes Illegal,
&C.
Nj. &e6cy said, this question was set
tied all, aty for, If they had lo right to
give votes IN the organization of the Exc
cuii,e, they had none i'll the national le-
gislaiure. We have decided, SAID MIR. 5.
that the organization of their state gov
eminent is correct ; we said to them III
the act, if they performed certain duties,
they were entitled to admission into the
Union upon all equal footing with tie o.
| Their states and the resolution 10 admit
| had so performed that duty The propo-
sition before the House, Mr.. S. thought,
was wrong, and that the state was certain
| ly entitled TO the votes, &c.
Mr.. Sharp defended his motion, and
| the Joint form lie had given TO ii, as ne
cessary to ascertain the joint sense of the
two Houses, without which they could not
know whether the Senate were willing TO
! proceed. The argument of Mr.. Shelley,
| he said, was d clear exposition of the right
| OF the vote. Congress was bound TO see
that the new state adopted republican
| form of government, but that said he) was
| all we had 10 do with them and the recog-
milton of that could not affect their right
TO vote, nor any other right OF privilege
of all independent state, endowed with all
the powers of the otIers-as the votes had
been given after they had performed the
| condition required OF them to become an
! independent state.
Mr.. CASTOR thoughtthe only difficulties
| were as 10 the form tie House ought to
| adopt. With regard 10 the question. he
was under no difficulty according TO the
| act fast session, the votes were legal x,
rlghtiully given. Mr.. Ii. read the provi-
| sions of lie act of last session auihorisinp
! Indiana to form state government, which
| left it TO them to- choose Il name, prescri-
! bed the qualification of electors of dele
| gates TO the convention, which delegates
| were to determine whether it was cxpedi-
| emf at that time to form constitution.
| &c. and If they determined that il was ex-
! pedIent, thent they wereauthOrisedto form
i constitution, and thatdeterminafion was
| the act which made the territory state.
| Had they adopted constitution not re-
| mn bllcJY they yNuuld have doua ,vb.t t:,.,
| were unauthorized TO do, and all their pro
ccedngs would have been Illegal. But
what, Mr. q. presumed, would remove all
| difficulty, were propositions III the act
| which, IT accepted, was TO be obligatorv
on the parties such as, that all salt
! springs should be granted to said state.
for the use ofthe people thereof, in such
manner as the Legislature should direct
&C. The acceptance of this proposition
| by Indiana was obligatory on the United
States then was called into existence
the new state and it had been recoqniz-
ed by both branches of the national le-
| gislature, by admitting into their respec-
tive bodies the senators and members
| from the state. MIR. G. though opposed
| TO the amendment offered by MIR. TAYLOR.
was not certain that the other motion
| would be proper, but was inclined TO
| think that the better course WopId be
merely to send message to tie Senate,
that the House was ready TO proceed i'm
| counting tile votes.
Mr.. Iaylor was not satisfied bv the ar
guments he had heard. Suppose the con
ycntIon of Indiana has formed constjtu-
ton maniiestly not republican. would
| they then, he asked. have been enfitlsdto
| ynfo fnr nIagfnVS L., ,,,..,,II $500, 4