Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-10-27

long enough to test their utility, aud try
the advantages aud defects of the system,
| II rs not improbable some amendments
may be made to them. There is very
general impression that the laws for pre-
venting the Importation of slaves require
amesdment: and We hope they will re-
ceive it it they do.
There is every probability that, at the
next session, Two OF the present Terrific
res of the United States, Missouri and
| Alabama, will be authorised 10 form con
siitutions of state government, prepara-
tory TO their admission into tie Union.
I They are said TO have The requisite num-
bers; and sound policy recommends that,
as soon as possible, they shall be allowed
TO govern themselves. The territorial gov
ernments are always eXcrescences OH our
! system.
Of those matters Which are connected
with The foreign policy of the u. States.
we cannot, without the necessary natc-
rials OH which to form AN opinion, speak
| with any certainly. Every thing we hear,
however, leads us TO hope that the state
OF foreign relations is generally saiisiac-
tory, and where il is least SO, Is likely 10
Improve.
10 the Message Of the President at the
| opening OF The session, however, We must
look Tor information of the highest utter
est on this head, and OIL MANY Others.
That document will probably disclose tor
| example, the nature ana aspect of our
commercial negotiation with u. Britain
The state OF our relations with SPAN i!ie
| report Of our com mIssloners lately return
| ed from Buenos Ayres, and the views of
the Executive thereon, DC. Much is also
TO be communicated respecting the pro-
gress and Termination of the Seminole
war; respecting The progress of the Com
missioners under the treaty of Ghenl-
respecting the progress OF the explora-
uon OF our western territory, and of the
establishment OF posts on that frontier.
| and respecting other prudential measures,
which have entered largely into the poll
| cyof the present administration.
But 1t is not on extraordinary occasions
| only that the powers OF the government
| are to be exercised. There are never
wanting subjects which call for legislative
| interposltioD, though Involving none Of
the higher attributes of sovereignty sub
Jects deeply interesting 10 one section or
! other OF the community, If not 10 all. OF
those matters which will probably occupy
| The attention of Congress al the ensuing
| session, though none may be certainly
predicted, some may be conjeciured-and
| are of no light interest.
Upon the whole, we expect an animal
ed and useful session, characterised rather
by ethcient action titan by prolonged de-
bate.
III is scarcely necessary to add, that the
same members parlake III the deiibera-
lions OF Congress al The next session as
did the last; the new elections, which we
| are daily announcing, not taking effect
! until the fourth day of March next, Oh
| which day commences the term OF service
| OF the Sixteenth Congress.
October PA petition is in circulation
for signatures, in Detroit, praying OF Con-
gress 10 auihorise the election of De-
legate 10 r. resent the views and interests
OF the people Of Michigan Territory,
oil the floor of Congress. Nothing can
be more reasonable, surely, than this re-
quest, from people isolated from the
rest of the country, by an interior sea,
| and wide extent OF wilderness /; and we
hope they will moi be permitted iopetiion
| i'll vain.
The situation of the territory of Mi
chigan, unrepresented bu,through the ca
| sual kindness of the representative of
some ne!ghborihg state, forCibly calls TO
mind the situation Ofihe District inwhicL
! we live. We do not know that the Dis
| trict OF Columbia has much reason to
| complain of the GOODNESS of the govern
meDi towards it. The successive Pres-
dents, have, on the contrary, deserved
our gratitude for just sentiments towards
us; and even the Congress have besiow-
ed on US, perhaps, as much attention as
could he spared from the affairs of great
| er moment. But that which is of great
| moment 10 us, Is of little importance in
| the eyes OF Congress; and appears the
more dlminuiive, from the magnitude
OF objects with which If comes in com-
| petition ; as our goodly houses dwipdie
| INTO insignifcance beside The magnifi-
! cence Of the public buildings, which al
length promise TO be worthy of a great
Republic.
There is natural repugnance in man
| TO the change Of established political sys-
TENS: there are even yet living persons
| who believe every thing has gone wrong,
| and that even mother earth has ceased to
yield her wonied bounty Of produce, since
the prostraion of the regal authority i'll
these states, or provinces, as they like
still TO call them. There is the same
SORT OF rePugnance perceivable in this
District, 10 entering on the consideration
OF our political condition, and the posi-
bility of improving it, But, whether the
people Of the District of Columbia are
forever to be debarred from the privileges
Of their fellow citizens; whether they a.
lone are to be excepted from the right of
representation common 10 all the other
inhabitants ofthe Republic, is a question
which must be before long decided. A
| population not much larger than that OF
| this District, IN each Of the states of
Louisiana and Illinois, is entitled 10 two
Senators, and one Representative in Con-
gress; and in both states their Legisla-
lures exercise the attributes Of sovereign.
ty. This District, containing thirty thou