The Portland gazette., 1820-02-29

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innediate examination. What then, is the
fan npor, of the main proviso of the article z
10 understand this question, we must see who
are tue parties to this compact on one side
France on the other the United States. The
treaty related to portion OF country Purchas
ed by the United States, without the inter-
yention of any individual stale, or any con-
ueclion with iheir individual rights or Interests.
The subject matter Of the compact being
wholly OF federal character, the purchase by
the federal government, and for the Use and
benefit OF The United States exclusively, the
first and natural presumption is, that the stip
uations on the part Of The United States had
relation 10 those subjects which were under
their immediate coB,rol-noi that they were
designated to embrace ali kinds OF state fegu
laiohs for there i, The same reason 10 sup
pose hey were Intended 10 embrace all, as
any particular portion. Applying these prin-
cpes and rules OF construction. We ate con
Quoted 10 what seems 10 me 10 be I ir, ra-
tional, and satisfactory Interpretation. The
inhabitants are 10 he admitted into the Union
according 10 the principles of the Federal
Constitution Those principles require that
their new government shall be republican.
The admission shall be by an &C, ol Congress,
passed and sanctioned, as the Federal conslI
tunon requites and, when admitted, they shall
be subject To the laws Of ConeIess, IN the same
manner as the inhabitants II The existing states
Of The Union. They shall enjoy the rights,
advantages, and immuniiies oi citizens ot the
United States The new state shalt lie ent,
tied to two Senaloi, in Congress 10 Repre-
lshed ratio /; 10 Electors of Presi lenl and Vice
President 10 the beneiiI OF Federal Courts |;
the constitutional guarantee of Protection
against inv aston and all other advantages and
imlnumlies winch are ot federal nature.
Federal rights and immunities are The saue
throughout the Union their source is the same:
,heir universal rights and advantages are in
tended in he srtcIe under consideration.
But the right TO hold slaves is not one OF
this description because the laws OF The states
are .nant 10 each olhe, in tins particular.
In some state, slavery is lawful ~ others un
lawful. II would, therelore, be doing violence
TO the language of the Treaty, 10 give II
c0ns' ,uclton leading 10 coniusion and contra
die ion. ] submit, whether II can be a lar
mode of reasoning, to impu'e to contracting
parties an intention Inconsistent with their
powers; when the words oi the cWnp,ct can
be iairly satisfied by a different construction,
and ole correspondlng with tie o lect tvl.
IDENTIFY in view? In a word, The treaty pro
vdes for the enjoyment OF all those rights and
privileges necessarily belonging to member
Of the UnioI. that IS. federal powers: those
which are chsrac erisic atiribntes Of an inde
pendent state in he conlede&cy such pow
ers as render VI ,s.achu~etts as independent
ss Virginia ih nsh the former has no i.h'
to hold slaves. and lie latter has hat righl, aad
exercises it,
From he foregoing considerations, | am led
TO ihe conclusion that Congress possess the
onstitutionsl and unrestricted right to pr,bib
j, he further Introduction * slavery INTO M'--
sour, by annexing such ptoli i'hn. as a
coni.l,on ot her admission into the Union.
The second que-iio, is, whether u is expe-
dent for Congress to carry this power into
execution This enquiry opens most esten
s.p field it present, facts as Interesting To
humanity as they are To the essential and
lasting prosperity OF the country. The enqui
ry invites the heart 10 ihe indulgence of sym
palhy aud comn,eratn,n. IN contemplating
the mi-er'es Of slavery, aud its unwe'come
effects on society. Ruf. sir this IS not the
time ur the place to advance sentiments o. em
ploy expressions calculated to awaken nm
pleasant sensations, and perhaps produce
unusual excitement. | will avoid a course
which my judgment would not approve be
cause, however different may be the opinions
OF honorable ganlemen IN this Senate, or at
the people at large. still. those opinions have
been honestly iorne1. and are entertsined
with sincerity they are. therefore, entitled
to respectful consdera,ion, and | doubt not
will receive II.
H. al. parts of the United Sate'. slavery is
admitted to bt a sore evil an alil lici,on 10 The
couatry where it exists. On This point no
proof is necessary and it would seem 10 he
q props i ron. mol admitting Of denial, that
". ought. on etery principle, 10 do all in our
power TO presen, the extension OF This EVIL
beyond Is present limits, though we cannot
banlsh u from thDse states where IL - already
too deeply rooled. A. yei HE slave popula-
tion of Missouri is not hume ous and the
inhibition Tor which, | am con,ending, would
soon render that population ofil'le inpcrianc"
compared with the free white inhabitants.
who in the course of few years. would
spread over the state cultivate ,ts rich and
valuable land ; in:roduce and establish habits