Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-12-09
MISSOURI CONSTITUTION.

This question was taken up in both Hoa
ses on "Wednesday. In the II. of Il. in
committee of The whole, Mr.. Lowndcs
spoke nearly two hours, in favor of the
resolution declaring the admission OF
Missouri into the Union. He con,ended
that gentlemen we're bound by the law of
The last session /; that il had given Mis-
souri, The power TO form state govern
meni-her constitution WAS formed, aud
she ia now State-ihat judging from
former precedenis IN the case of Ohio,
Kentucky, &c. and from the very princi-
pie OF the case, from ihe particular facts
too III this very case. Congress by giving
Authority 10 Missouri 10 propose a con-
siitutlon, conferred on her BY that act all
the rights viii. h The oldest aud proudest
states OF The Union are supposed 10 pos
sess Congress having gwen them the
right OF sell government, cannot now
lake Il away from her people. Mr.. L..
commended, thai whether the obnoxious
clause about free people of colour was
constitutional or not, Congress should
not undertake TO decide that Congress
had adopted other states with similar pro
visions 10 which no exceptions had
been taken-thai a very large majority
OF the free blacks in the United States
were not considered citizens in their re-
speciive states aud "iliat in constituting
any general provision of constitution,
isuch as this in MissourDi was fair TO
consider il as having general application
and not as being without exceptions" =
but that II was not Tor the House 10 de-
eide The consil'uiionaliiy OF The clause,
but for The judiciary branch. This point
I've insisted upon al great lc1gih but, if
gentlemen did not wish even by their 81
ience TO leave il 10 be inferred, that they
approved This clause, might not some
mode he adopted by which this point
might be explained? For his own part
he thought Congress ought moi TO inter
pose IN The present instance though in
some cases, where The judiciary could not
reach, such an inierpOslilOn nigh, be
proper.-Mr. l.. urged variety OF points
which will be noticed beTealler-on Mr..
SrrScdni's motion, the committee rose,
aud the House adjourned.
In The Senate, the following proceedings
took place
Tie other intervening subjects on The
orders OF The day being, OIL motion OF
Mr.. BarbOur, postponed for that purpose,
The Senate resumed The consideration
of the resolution declaring the admission
into The UHion of
THE STATE OF MISSOURI.
MI. Barb0ur, of Va. rose merely 10 sug
gest. as there ~as 40 doubt the mind oi
every gentleman was fully made up on
Tie subject, tbi, the question: should be
DECIDED without CONSUMING the time OF
The Senate ia ia tther debate.
Mr.. Eaton, OF Tenn. said before the
question was taken, he would ak leave
to offer The folio siug proviso 10 the reso-
luiiou:
ProUided. That, nothing herein contain
ed shall he so construed as 10 give tbs
assent Of Congretst; to any provision is 80.
constitution % Missouri, il any sucl
there be, which coniravcnes tliai claus
IN the cODsiiiusIo q OF the Uniled States
which declares Il at q" Tie ciiiz us of eaci
state shall be eBt. Ned 10 all privileges an,
immuDlies Of c iIizens 10 the seveia
states"
Mr.. King. Of NIcw York, thought tn
amendment Vt Is. MUCH Importance 4