Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-03

KIND .spTespried Ia MS IN tins auicudtnt n :,
this circumstance furnishes also strong
objection, IN nay mind, Ia the union oi
The two subjects. hope, sir, The mo>
ton 10 recommi, the bill, with inSlrnc-
tious 10 restore il To lis original form, " i'll
prevail.
Mr.. SMITH said, with respect 10 The
principles ~aich ha,, governed the Con.
gress III The admission o. territories 10
the privileges of independent states, that
the population OF the state of Ohio,
when admitted Was but 1900; ihc po-
pnlaiiou OF Indiana WAS bun 81 900 That
OF Mississippi only about 81 600; tina, of
Illinois about 10000 whilst the popula-
tion OF Missouri WAS stated, in The me
mortal Of The Legislature, at 100000.
twelve months age, and Was then and had
since been rapidly IN rcasing.
Dictate to be Continued
IFe hare at length been Enabled to make Begin
ming If the debate IN the Sendte Of the Union, on
the leading topic Of Che present duy-the Missouri
Question. Ueii may at be called The leading
topic: HRowoccupigS The attention Of both Houses,
exclusively and WiH continue 90 engrOsS IL en-
tirely as, IRE dPprehend to lnerent that attention
being pid 10 Other Legislature objects, ,ch,ch many
hare sanguiEety cGLcaidted on.
The proposition tshich IS The subject Of much
debate reduced to fumiiiar phrdseoiogy. is this:
whether it BE- erpedirnt 10 impose condition of
ne admission Of the territory Of Missouri into the
Union an obligation on her peopie to prohibf the
future reaoral or transportation of sdres into that
territory. IhiS question dirideS Itself into three
branches:
1. The conaitutiondlity Of the measure:
2. It's conformity to the StipuiutionS Of thetreaty
Of 1893, by Wiich France ceded The territory in
question 20 the United states
3. The erpediency Of The measure as II may af-
feet the relatire condition Of persons held in
Serritude inihe United States and as It may aHect
the relations bctWeen different paris Of the Unos.
The affirmative and negdtire Of these questions
are supported ctheqnat zeal, by nearly equal nHn-
bers In the Senate the majority is supposed 10 be
opposed to che restriction IN the House Of repre-
SIGNATURES, though the question hes not been tried
decisireiy in Gny share, 1t is supposed there is
mqjort q an Jdror 81 the restriction
IN ercHemnt appears to preraH or rather IL is
painfully appreciated, IN regard to this question,
,chich ,coula ,cith difficulty be accounted for from,
general rier Of The points embraced by it, The
truth as amt diS ram to shut eysS TO the fact,
that there are considerations of deeper interest at
the bottom Of this question. The baIauce of po,crr
rt6rdtes, and III feelings of politicians ribrdte
IN sympathy IL has been SurmiSed ,ce perceire
By letters from this city published in the Eastern
prints, that already It is attempted to establish
political distinctions by This question ne incline
TO think, hoTerer, thM this suggestion is rath0
the result Of gloomy |oreJeding Than the deLimea-
deprecated OF all political tests, our federatire
system dbhorS a geographical one.
Ne shall publish the debdte on the question: in
both Houses of Congress lit he mt dya,cn out to
so graz alengih as 10 prerent cont uing on TO
ne '1d Of Il. Orr Re d,iGrS uH doubtless peTuse 1t
c'th interest; and ,ce shat cheerfuHy ledce THEN,
to drdr their o'cn conclusions from IL.
one only remark are shall he pardoned for max
'ng here on the merits Of til question:
1t as get attempted 10 impress the pubHc mind in
defiance Of repeated contradictions thai this as a
question .chich in'oiUes an eX eusiou of slavery.
that rs the multiplication Of slares IN our country.
Once for all, no Such question is presented to the
consideration Of Congress of tie nation. The
question concerns only the diffusion or the con-
centration of the Siau Ro,c in the country There
as not an the Congress Cj the United States single
tndiridudt Ud0 tcouid raise his hand in faror Of
duthorisins the Introduction of SidreS into the a.
StateS-o in other rOrds IN fdror ojthe ertension
Of storeTy. JuStic 10 the character Of our corntry
requires that this should be distinctly understood,
newspaper discussions cftChat cduedtke Missouri
question. Nat. Int.