The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-12-12

cooling her heels at The door on In ibe anti
chamber Of Congress
II would seem iha, all which Missouri I'm
der such circumstances could have The face [,
demand, in order TO be placed on level with
Maine, would be TO claim the same privilege
when she bad placed herself in The same con
dition, viz. by exhibiting constitution exien
ding 10 the citizens of Maine the same tight.
which the constitution of Maine secured te
her population.
What gtound then has Missouri a this tine
10 claim any thug OF the constitution more
than Maine what right haI she to be placed
on superior footing to any section of the
original states l'0r as Maize vas 50 unac.
counisbly chained to her chariot-ihough thd,
is past--what title under heaven has SIZE 10
expect'to have any Unconstitutional dscrimi-
nation made in favour of her iniquilous and
infatuated policy to the disparagemeD, Of
The free citizens Of this state ?
Topreiertnt the faculty, which is arrogated
for her by Der advoc sies, or hose who find thei.
Own interests IN enlargins its sphere, Of &C.
tending The evil Of sla0ery-a faculty., 10 which
no political community Is morssl y-reinpe'ent
though il may be physically capable Of it's
exerioD--and in the exercise of which no re.
al friend Of humanity will ever be found ie
acqulesce bepond The limits Of The most o6soiute
naperiors and inerornbie nece ssity--io ia.
by this howe,or--,hough no! without pane-
what power upon earth can Missouri claim ia
any other respect, Of being placed in .diifsf -
emf position IRON Maine
= But to take the ground that those who are
citizens OF Maine have mol the proper features.
10 become citizens Of Mi.souri--io say 10 our
population stand dy-yoa are NOT sufficiently
select--to pronounce those Of US who are some
what OF superior symmetry or complexion
suitable companions for free negroes and mu
laioes, not to be suffered al the same lime 10
darken their daylight. nor sully their society
and still further 10 insist upon cotfinlng this
smphibious order within limits, TO which the
protest against snbjeciing their blacklist slaves
---s really requiring 81 The free states 10 carr,
the principles Of comfy and humility TO al
pitch OF refinement. not provided for by the
most CbesieIEeldean principles OF courtesy.
Bat the preroga,ive challenged for Nilsson
ri, of discriminating. according 10 lhe terms
OF Mr.. l.owndes, between the citizens of other
states Ia respect 10 civil aud political prvileg
es. IS indicated on the score of certain pl,<
aomeaa unia,onrable to liberty and equality !
To DO existing in the institutions oil
so'ne OF The present states. In some. i, is
said, that people OF ibis description are not
permitted 10 exercise The right OF suffi ge and
from oilers they are excluded altogether. AL
'siorl answer may suffice for an uDcons,,ution
II assumption First, these institutions arel
oosy acts oi ;l.e state legislatures, and uoi iaas.
nasaiuch as they are repugnani to The prnci-
Pies oil The national constitution and secondlg
sven II any such provisions should be found
o be engrsiiei into any of the state constitu
soas either before The adoption of the federal
constitution, or through insdvertency since,
hey are rendered equally void upon the same
ifIerior and parans,up, consideration NO
'rsumenis, therefore, are TO be drawn from
i here nay perhaps exist in some OF The
tales persons OF non descrpt cllaracler.
sho, without being slaves, have never been
nailed 10 ihs proper and equal rank OF CHI
ems IN those states. Upon such persons il is
'ossi5ic, that the rule uf ihe constitution may
'ot operate, 80 IS 10 enIile i,em to Z" all the
'fivieses and immun,ies OF citizens in the
e,eral states" But the question is moi wheth
r those who are moi citizens of sns state shalt
e admitted 10 The rights of citizen. in other
'ales. u !. whether those vino are actually
'ffoac citIsens shall be SO admitted to exercise
ls privilege, with which they are already
nsestei For eysmple-A free negro or
1ua',o. within one OF the southern states, is
oi allowed by ia laws to exercise the rights
i citizen. !,may be then that he does no,
c1u'ie any such rights by removing into ao.
ther state. which has adopted the same police.
SUI suppose such a person To have actually
clnired snch rights, bv residence in a state
where he was raised 10 the level of citizen.
: not the case altered Is there any question
whether oe can be Invested Of that character.
" whsfher he is no, entitled 70 admission
u that capacity. with every thing he carries
s'ib hnl, ioio. every state of the union?