Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-12-26
CONGRESS.
House Of Representatives, Dec. Z.
MISSOURI.

The house resolved itself into COM
mittee OF the whole, Mr.. Nelson, Of Vir.
ginia in the chair, on the resolution de-
claring the admission Of Missouri into the
Union on an equal footing with tie other
States Of the Union. Aud the question
having been again stated
Mr.. SERGEANT rose. OF the speech
which he delivered, occupying upwards
OF two bours time, the following must be
considered as free but not very full
report.
Mr.. S. began by saying that. this subject
had been so loog and so much talked OF.
and written OF, it was SO much connected
with considerations arising out Of the
question SO much debated at the last SEES
sion, that be hardly doubted every men,
Der of this committee had for himself made
up his mind on the immediate question.
1t was not, therefore, with any great hope
Of persuading others, that he now rose,
but from wish TO explain the grounds OF
his ewa opinion, which was entertained
with so much sincerity that be could not
permit himself TO doubt that the opinion
of every member of the committee was
entertained with equal sincerity, and that
the question would be decided, as il ought
to be, on its real merits. With respect
TO the question limited at by the gentleman
from South Carolina, and discussed at the
last session, Mr. S. said he did NOT agree
with him that the decision Of the question
now before the house depended upon the
decision of the question sgitated at the
last session. How far that question might
be involved in the present question might
be subject Of consideration; but, indie
pendentIy of that question, the one now
presented was very important one. -
However minute in itself, if extended but
TO single provision Of the Constitution
presented by the people Of Missouri, II
yet involved considerations which those.
who had listened 10 the arguments Of the
gentleman from South Carolina, must see,
weBt to the whole extent OF determining
what power actually remained in Congress.
with regard to any territoryafter authori.
zing them to form Constitution-wha
they have right to insist upon, what they
have right 10 do and say upon the sub
iect--in short, the question whether Con-
gress have or have not any power at all
under the Constitution Of the United
States, with respect to the admission Of
new state into the Union, after the passage
Of an act authorizing the people to form
a constitution.
1t could not be doubted or denied, Mr..
: S. admitted, that there was, in looking at
the admissions Of States into the Union,
heretofore, at least an apparent irregular
ity, and much Of apparent disorder. II,
however, an inference we're to be drawn
from precedents in the case, it would be
that there never had been any precise
examination of the powers OF Congress
in this respect-no established mode Of
admission--or, in other words, that there
had been every variety Of mode. Fol-
the sake of the future peace and harmony
Of the government Of the United States
for the sake OF Congress alone, said Mr..
S. it is incumbent on us all 10 examine
the grounds of this question; to see whai
are our rights, and what theirs, and de
duce from full consideration Of these,
rule which shall be uniform as to tn
states hereafter TO be admitted into ths
union. and free from the danger Of expos
lug US to contests such as that which up
pears to have arisen on the present occa
sion.
The power TO admit a state into In
uuion, no one would doubt, was yer,
high one--a power to part with a portio
Of that authority which was original,
vested in the old states, and which exist
in the present states, aud to admit TO
participation in our counsels, in our pow
er, 10 the control and management 9
every thing concerning our rights an
property, new and internal member
/, the union. The question became Que
graver consideration, when 1t was consIc
cred that il was proposed now TO exten
this participation TO an object which wa
not 10 the contemplation Of those wn