Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-29

subject 10 the duties, ~ they are to be
entitled to The privileges, of the other
members Of the confederacy.
The 5,li article defines The limits Of
| these new states, requires their consiiiu-
| tions 10 be republican, and g in coniorni.
| ~ 10 the principle contained in the ar
f; ticles;" that is, in conformity 10 the pro
visions which relate To them as states,
but not 10 those for the government of
| them as a territory.
All the reservations relating 10 them as
states, therefore, are an equality of duties
| and privileges, "a security Tor property and
for the use OF rivers, and the guaranty of
| a republican form of government. All
| these il is competent and usual for Com
| gress 10 require under the CONSTITUTION.
| Now comes The provision contained in the
| 9Th article, on which so much reliance
has been placed; and you would suppose
that II provided thai there should be mel
tbcr slavery nor involuntary serviiude in
| the said territory, nor i'm either OF the new
states 10 be erected therein. But il says
no such thing. II limits the provision 10
the territory" You will now perceive
that this ordinance was drawn with
great care; that the LIST, 2d, and Sd arti-
Giles relate exclusively 10 the terriiory,
the 4th article makes provisions common
to both, the 9th relaies To the new states,
| and the 9th is proviSo inserted exclusive
| ly for the territory.
| Any other construction would impeach
the Integrity OF Congress, and fix upon
them violation OF solemn compact
| II is, indeed, doubtful whether this will
| entirely eXculpate them. But if the pro-
| vision admits of doubt, IL is proper 10
| give II that construction most consistent
| with Innocence aud good faith.
The United States being exceedingly
| embarrassed for funds, their paper hav-
| ing become worthless, and the war con-
iinuing, Congress, by aresoIulion of The
| 9th Sept. 1880. invited the states TO crde
| their cIalRis 10 tise western lands 10 iiIe
United States; and 10 encourage those
which had any preiensions of title, and,
at the same lime, TO induce purchasers
from the slave holding, as well as other,
states, they, by another resolution, Of
| the 10Th October, of the sa ne year, pro-
missed, that 1.-THE lands should be dis
| posed of for the common benefit of The
| United States, and be settled and formed
| into distinct republican states, which
should become members of the federal
| Union, aud have the same rights of so
vereignty, freedom and Independence,
as the other STATES" AT this lime, seve
| raj states claimed title 10 the Ian is north
west OF tue Ohio. Connecticut had
| claim, of which she had the address TO
| make something, aud has converted the
| proceeds 10 a very wise, benevolent aud
| patriotic, purpose. The claim OF Massa-
| chuseits was little better than mooushint
| That of New York was worse; for, If
| mistake not, she described all The lands
10 which she had any title within CERTAIN
| boundaries, aud released The rest TO the
| United States, on condition, however,
| that Congreas would guarantee 10 her
| TIE lands described. The claim of Vir>
| GINA was the oldest, largest, and best.
II extended, | think, on the shore two
hundred miles each way, from old Point
| Comfort, aud then across the continent
to the Pacific, The southern line running
west, and !he northern northwest, and,
| probably, so as 10 embrace most of Ills
| tract. These states made their cessIoIIs
| Virginia, on the first of March, 1854
Congress, on The 23d OF April, OF the
same year, and during the same session,
passed a res solution, providing for a lem
| pOrarV government of the territory, iOr
| The erection oil new states, and for their
admission into the Union, upon no other
conditions, but those OF mutual burdens
and benefits; republican constitutions f;
and preservation OF the property OF The
| United States, with lis usual attribute,
ihe resolution then solemnly engages
that Z" the preceding articles shall be
formed into charter OF compact !:
shall be duly executed by the President
OF ;he United States IN Congress assem-
bled, under his hand and the seal of the
United States shall be promulgated and
shall stand as fundamental constitutions,
between the thirteen original states au,i
4 al. 4 Il.
tricled, unaferable, from and after the
sale OF any part of the territory OF such
state, pursuant 10 this resolve, but by the
Joint consent of the United States III Con
gress assembled, and the particular state
within which such alteration is proposed
10 be made" The object OF the Sulcm-
nifty OF this compact, admits Of no doubt.
ii was lure 10 purchasers aud they
were IN hopes, by these solemn sllpula.
tons, To induce slave holders, and others,
TO purchase The lands. lib moment d
purchase should be made, this compact
became efiectual between the u. States
and the purchasers, aud was lndIspenSa
bile, until state should be formed, auC
give its consent, in lis sovereign capacI
~, 10 an alteration. No prohibition o
I slavery was inserted, that the slaVe- hold
or might be equally sure of his property
with another man. Extend The OH ar
, fiCle Of the ordinance Of 80 TO The slalcs
. and there is no apology for this paipa
ble breach OF compa Ct and violation o
= faith. The conditions OF admission ar
de ..ued under the most solemn and pos
, tive pledge. And how comes IT TO pass
$ that the compact is altered in regar
E TO the government Of the territory Pol
/. cy, sir, suggested the resolutions of I7S
and 1884, aud policy dictated The altera
3 lion iuthe ordinance of 1897 ia the resu