Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-05-29

shall be admitted into the union. This
house have right to be heard on the
subject. The admission of state into
the union, is Legislative act, which re-
quires the concurrence of all the depart
ments of legislative power. 1t is an i'm
portant prerogative of this house, which
l hope will never be surrendered.
The zeal and the ardor of gentlemen,
In the course of this debate, has induced
them to announce to this house, that if
we persist and force the state of Mis-
souri, to accede to the proposed amend
ment, as the condition of her admission
into the union, she will disregard it, and
as soon as admitted, will alter her con-
stltuhon, and introduce slavery into her
territory. Sir, am not now prepared,
nor Is it necessary to determine, what
would be the consequence of such Vi
oation IF faith-of such departure
from the fundamental condition of her
admission into the union. would not
cast upon people SO foul an imputa-
ton, as to believe they would be guilty
OF such fraudulent duplicity. The states
northwest of the Ohio have all regard
| ed the faith and the condition of their
admission and there is no reason to be-
| lleve the people of Missouri will not
also regard theirs. But, sir, whenever
state admitted into the union shall dis
| regard and set at nought the fundamen-
tai conditions of its admission, and shall,
In violation of all faith, undertake to levy
tax upon the lands of the United States,
or toll upon their navigabIe waters, or
introduce slavery, where Congress have
prohibited it, then it will be in time to
determine the consequence. But, sir, if
the threatened consequences were known
to be the certain result, yet would in
sist upon the proposed amendment. The
declaration of this house, the dec AIRED
will OF the nation, to prohibit slavery,
would produce its moral effect, and
stand as one of the brightest ornaments
Of our country.
Sir, it has been urged, with great p latl-
sibility, that we should spread the slaves
now in our country, and thus spread the
evil, rather than con6ne it to its present
districts. 1t has been said, We should
| thereby diminish the dang. ''---
while we increase the
living, and augment theire
sir, you may rest assured. .,.
sonirig is fallacious, and the
ry is admitted, the marke
piled. Our coast, and it
the West Indies and the 5
sessions, render easy the l.
slaves into our country. # Ism
already highly penal agar 49,. ,-
duction, and yet, it is We }.rs,
that about fourteen thousa Is I.1
been brought into our cou s SIC l..t
year.
Sir, since we have been engaged in IT,.
debate, we have witnessed an elucida-
ton of this argument, OF lettering the
condition of slaves, by spreading them
over the country. A slave driver, a
trafiicker in human flesh, as If sent by
Providence, has passed the door of your
Capitol, on his way to the west, driving
before him about fifteen of those wretoh-
ed victims Of his power: the males, who
might raise the arm of vengeance, and
retaliate for their wrongs, were hand
cuhed, and chained to each other, while
the females and children were marched
in their rear, under the guidance of the
drivers whip. Yes, sir, such has been
the scene Witnessed from the windows
of Congress Hall, and viewed by mem
bers who compose the legislative coun-
ellis of Republican America
Sir, in the course of the debate Oh this
subject, we have been told that, from
the long habit of the southern and wes-
tern people, the possession of slaves has
become necessary to them, and an es-
sential requisite in their living. 1t has
been urged, from the nature of the eli
mate and soil of the southern countries,
that the lands cannot be occupied or
cultivated without slaves. 1t has been
said that the slaves prosper in those pla.
Ces, and that they are much better off
there than in their own native country.
We have been told that, if we succeed,
and prevent slavery across the Missis-
sippi, we shall greatly lessen the value
of property there, and shall retara, for
a long series of years, the settlement of
that country.
Sir, said Mr.. I. if the western country
cannot be settled without slaves, gladly
would prevent its settlement till time
Shall be no more. If this class OF ar,u-
ments is to prevail, it sets all morals at
defiance, and we are called to legisate
on the subject, as matter Of mere per-
sonal interest. If this is to be the case,
reDeal all yOlr laws Drnh,bitipc fine siava