Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-01-22


Mr.. Holmes, of Massachusetts,, pro-
fer the inquiry to the committee on
military affairs, instead of the presi-
dent.
This motion gave rise to some dis
sussion, in which Ate8srs. HTlham8,
Holmes, Strother, and Lowndes, took
part; which eventuated in the amend
ment being negatived-9o to Is.
The original motion of Mr.. Wiilian.s
was then agreed to, nem. con. and
committce,ef two ordered to be appoint
cd to lay the same before the president.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. Is.
RESTRICTION OF SLAVERY.
On motion of Mr.. Taylor, of New
York,
The house proceeded to the consitle-
ration of the resolution offered yesterday
by him, in the words following, to wit:
Resolved, That committee be ap-
pointed to inquire into the expediency
Of prohibiting by law the introduction of
slaves into the territories of the United
States, west Of the Mississippi.
pose to go into any discussion of the
merits of this proposition; nor, he be-
lieved, would any discussion assist the
ends he had in view. If compromise
of opposite opinions was to be effected,
it appeared to him better that commit
tee should be appointed to examine into
it, and make their report; and that the
question should not be moved in this
house, until that committee should have
expended its best efforts on this subject.
The question was then taken, without
debate, on agreeing to the resolution,
and decided in the affirmative, without a
division. A committee of seven men,
bers was ordered to be appointed accor-
dinghy.
Mr.. Taylor then moved to postpone,
until the first Monday in February next,
the order of the day on the bill authori-
zing convention of the people of Mis-
souri,, for the purpose of forming con-
ettution and state government.
Several gentlemen spoke on this mo-
ton.
Mr.. Lowndes thought the day too dis
ltant, and wished the motion to be among
the orders of the day.
Mr.. Lfvermore thought that as i. was
a subject likely to excite irritation, it
ought TO be postponed to late day of
the session.
Mr.. Scott, delegate from Missouri,
said he hoped that the proposition to
postpone till the first Monday in Febru-
AIRY would not succeed. 1t was of vast
importance to the people of that territory
that an immediate decision should be
made on this question. If the bill pass
ed at an early day, the people would then
have time to meet in convention, form
their constitution, organize their govern
ment, elect members TO general assem-
bly,, on whom it would devolve to choose
senators of the United States. If, on
the other hand, the bill ultimately was
lost it was equally necessary that the |
people should be soon apprized of its |
failure, that they might have time to act
for themselves, and frame form of 60
vernment, which he was convinced they |
would do, without waiting to again APP
ply to congress for the mere means of
organization. The resolution which had
been adopted furnished no good reason
for the stponement-because it only |
proposed an inquiry into the expediency
OF measure in relation to the territories,
and could not control the constitutional
inquiry, and right of the people Of Mis-
fouri to form their constitution as a state
Mr.. Taylor spoke in favor of the post
ponement. 1t appeared to him that the
fine stated would be soon enough to
commence what he feared would be an
Improbable discussion; and if the peo-
pie of Missouri were resolved to form
state government 7yithout the consent of
congress, they would learn the result in
time enough to do it.
And on the question, the order of the
Day on the Missouri bill was postponed
to the second Monday in January.
Mr.. Sergeant, from the committee on
the Judiciary, reported bill for estab-
fishing uniform system of bankruptcy
throughout the, United States; which
was twice read and committed.
Mr.. Rich, of Vermont, after some
well-pointed remarks on the law for
granting pensions for revolutionary SER
vices, offered the following resolution
K RESOLVED, That the committee on re-
yolutionary pensions be instructed to in
quire into the manner in which the act of
the 18th of March, 1918, has been exc
cnted; ascertaining, as far as may be