Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-03
CONGRESS-.
-. s....s.-.
lRePerfsd fer the Ndfioaak Iateiiicencey
DiSBAfEIS THE SENATE,
y oN'1HE ONION OF MAINE AND MISSOURI.
THURSDlY, LANUARYIs.

iHC hSDJf J3NCdRI 10.
The Senate having taken up the bill
from the House OF Representatives, for
HE admission of the State of Maine into
The Union, on an equal footing with The
original states, together with the amend
ment reported thereto, by the Judiciary
Committee, Which amendment embraces
provisions Tor authorizing the people of
the Territory of Missouri 10 form "a Con-
venlIon, &c. preparatory 10 their admis-
sion into The Union
MIR. ROBERTS of Pennsylvania, rose,
ana said he felt II to be his duty 10 try the
merits OF the question respecting the IL,
Mon of these two subjects, by prelimi.
Darv motion 10 This eft, CT:
That the bin for the admission of the state
oil Maine into the Union. and the amendment
thereto reported. be committed 10 the Judici-
AIRY Committee with inst auctions so TO modify
lts provisions as to admit the State of Maine
INTO the Union" (divested of the amendment
embtaciu. Missouri.)
MIR. ROBERTS said, that The question
involved 10 The amendment reported by
The Judiciary committee, would proba-
bly, excite much feeling. For himself,
however, he was determined 10 prepare
10 meet il with the temper and modera-
lion which were due 10 il. But he wish
ed, IN entering upon it, there should be
the most perfect regularity, aud the most
full opportunity for discussion. The
question of the admission Of Maine into
the Union, was one question That of
the admission of Missouri was another :;
and that of uniting the two in one bill,
was distinct question, for the purpose
OF obtaining all unembarrassed decision
on which he had submitted the present
motion. Mr.. X. adverled 10 the progress,
Ia The Senate, OF the proposition for the
admission ef Maine into the Uuion.-
Very early In the session, he said, "a GEM
municaiion had been received from "a rec
guiar source, that convention of the
People Of Maine, duly authorized thereto
by an ACT of The Legislature OF Massa
chuseiis, had met and formed consii-
tuition OF State Government. bill had
been duly reported, by committee for
The admission of the State OF Maine into
The Union, and made the Order of tie
Day tor particular day. On that day,
and on successive following days, IL was
postponed, for various reasons, OH ac
count OF The absence Of Members from
different sections OF the Union. AT that
time. MIR. X. said, he had no idea that
there was an intention to connect the two
subjects of Maine and Missouri until d
gentleman from Virginia, in moving a
further postponement of the bill, stated
that he hiatt some notion of 6pdeavoring
10 connect The two questions. This
proceeding struck him, on comparing il
with the usual order of proceedings i'm
this House, as a little curious, 10 saw The
least of Though he did not mention
II as matter for censure, but as a mere
statement of facts. On the both of De-
ceniber, said he, we find a Memorial from
the Legislature of Missouri is taken from
The files of the House, and referred
TO the judiciary committee. Some DAYS
afterwards, message is received from
The House of Representatives, ilansu:it-
ting bill for the admission of Maine
INTO the Union, which is referred TO The
judiciary commltiee, and, The two sub
J"cts being thus b tore the same commit
lee, ihey reported the bill for the adms-
sloh OF Missouri, by way of rider TO
The bill which came from The other House
Tor The admission OF Maine. This, Mr..
Roberts said, was an extraordinary mode
OF projecting, which ought 10 be met at
the threshold ands he knew not how il
could be more directly met than by the
motion which he had submitted. The
motion 10 recommit, he said, was a regIl-
lar motion, but was not 10 be made, he
admitted, but in extraordinary cases.
Ibis was a case of that description. He
appealed TO gentlemen whether il was
regular or even justifiable TO Connect i'm
one bill Two subjects totally distinct, as
these in reality are ? Maine, he said.
vas part OF the old territory Of the u.
States her constitution Was already
formed, with the consent of the state
from which she was TO be separated :
there was no dispute about her limits.
which were defined, nor about the Justice
OF her claim To- admission, WHICH was adj
united. There were many doubts about
Missouri, with respect to her extent.
boundaries, aud population, without re.
gard TO other questions "A hch might d.
rise respecting her constitution, &c..
The cases of Kentucky and Verm,. nj
had been cited as precedent for this
proceeding but, Mr.. X. said, tley we're
admitted by separate bills, passed al
different periods OF tie same session.
Mr.. X. said, for his part, he had no OBJ
lection that the two bills for the admis
sion OF Maine and Missouri should pass
OF The same day but they ought 10 pass
separately and independently Of each
other. Standing, as they did, OH different
grounds, they ought TO be decided Oh
their own merits.
W.T. oMIFH, OF y. Y. SAID, as chairman
OF The committee which reported The
amendment, according TO the ordinary
usage when opposition arose, il became
his duty 10 explain the reasons which
operated with them in making that report,
although the melton before The Senate
did not present any distinct objection TO
Ut, but only sought to modify il. IL the
object OF The resolution was TO make ibe
admission of Maine pari of the bill, the
motion was Gngaiory, because Maine
was already i'll the bill, as il came from tie
House OF Representatives aud TO recon-.