Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-11-25
ALEXANDRIA:
WEDNESDAY, NOYEJMBER 25, 1918.
rnoM our r..REsPoNpENT an wAsHING-


The constitution Of Illinois created some
debate yesterday in the house Of represen'
tatives. The report Of the committee IN
its favor was before the house Tor its con-
currence, and the question being put upon
it, Mr.. Talmadge rose IN opposition, upon
the ground that the constitution was not
sufficiently conclusive in the rejection OF
slavery--the article in that instrument re-
speeding slaves being of itself alone, in his
opinion, sufficient to render the whole in
admissible. To make good this charge,
he read the sixth article TO the house, and
said if that were sanctioned by congress,
and the state admitted into the union with
that offensive clause in it, it would be ma
king good what had so frequently been said
of us, namely, that while we were loudly
and triumpbantly Boosting OF the freedom
we enjoyed ourselves, we connlved at The
exercise of the most cruel state OF servi-
tude in others, and were in the unrestraln-
ed habit of making slaves OF thousands OF
our fe llow beings. He desired, above all
things, TO cast back this odious aspersion
from ourselves upon those who were for
ward TO accuse US Of it, though they were
themselves guilty Of the original sin-and
hoped that we would no longer leave it in
the power OF the world to say that while
we held the torch of freedom in one hand,
we brandished the slave-driver's whip IN
the other. In order TO obviate every charge
of that detestable kind against this repub-
lie, he insisted that the part of the constitu-
lion to which he alluded ought to be parti-
cual.y guarded against; and he concluded
by Offering as an example worthy of imi-
tation the state Of Indiana, which in form
ing its constitution, met the subject on fair
grounds, and introduced special article
so framed as to preclude the possibility OF
future abuse in respect to it.
Mr.. Poindexter, however, agreed in ia
vor of the adoption Of the constitution as it
stood; and endeavored to show that the
clause, so far from having bad tendency,
would l.. attended with the most beneficial
consequences. He regretted the existence
of state of slavery amongst us, and tho't
that the country would be infinitely more
prosperous withou, it, if is could be got rid
of; but of that he could not entertain any
sapguine hopes, when he considered that
The very wisest heads had not been able to
accomplish it. He observed, that by the
regulation adopted in Illinois, Of keeping a
correct register Of the slaves and indented
servants, ample security was taken against
the practice which too frequently had pre-
vailed of persons coming from the slave
holding states, and under false, pretended
claims, seizing people Of color, and taking
them off. So far from being tyrannlcal,
therefore, he considered the measure as
fraught with utility, and as an excellent
safeguard to that unhappy portion OF our
| fellow-creatures.
Mr.. Anderson followed Mr.. Poindexter
in supporting the question Of adoption, as
did Gen. Harrison also. The question was
then taken by yeas and nays, and carried
1T TO 81. OF course, the constitution is
approved, and Illinois now makes one OF
| the states of this union.
Gen. Harrison proposed resolution to
inquire into the expediency of appointing
an additional number Of clerks, not ex-
ceeding twelve, to the department Of war.
He said, in support Of il, that he had had
a conversation with the secretary OF war
on the subject, and had besides received
communications from other sources, the re!
suit of which was conviction in his mind
that less number than that which he pro-
posed would be insufficient for the dis
charge of the public business. The reso.
luton passed.
At half after two, the house adjourned to
tomorrow.
ON SOUTH-AMERICAN AFFAIRS.