The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-02-08
DEBATES IN CONGRESS-.
DeJa.e IN the Senate c., Tie Unioz Of .Na;,se
and Missouri.
THURSDAY, JAN. Is.

Grafton of the bill from the house of representa-
.yes for the admission Of Maine into the Union as
il had been reported by the judiciary committee,
with the addition of Missouri. MIR. Roberts, of
Penn. in order TO try the merits ofthe question
respecting the W ion of these two subjects made
the following motion that the bill for the ad,
mission of the State of Maine into the union, and
the amendment thereto reported, be committed
to the judiciary committee, with instructions so
t. modify its provisions a. to admit the State of
Maine only by this bill. Mr. Roberts in support
of his motion, stated the facts relative to The
ceUrse which had been pursued by Massachusetts
preliminary to the petition to Congress and the
unusual Il extraordinary proceeding OF the CON-
nittee in connecting subjects so ,lissimar, in GRE
bill. Maine, he said was part of the old territory
OF the US. Her constitution was already formed
with the consent Of the State from 81 hich she was
to he separated: there was no ispu,e about her
limits. which were defined, nor about the justice
of her claim to admission, which wns adm tied.
But there were many doubts about Missouri,
with respect TO her extent, boundaries and popu.
lation, without regard to other questions which
might arise respecting her constitution &c. Stand
ing they did on total; different ground. they
ought, he observed, TO be decided on their own
merits.
Mr.. SElih, chairman of the committee which
reported the amendment rose 10 explain the mo-
tive ofthe committee in incorporating the two
subjects together. lie conceived the subject
matter TO be eriecty congcnial, and that il YEAS
correct rule Of legislation to incorporate in the
same statute all subjects that were hon ogenenus
He observed that the constitution made no dif.
ference between States TO be formed out Of tie
newly acquired territory and those which should
be formed from the original states. Bot if any
difference did exist, the preference eught to tc
given to Missouri by reason Of the treaty V h,'h
coded that territory to the U. States.
lie observed in illusira Ing these points that
Maine was inihe full possession of all the sttr-
butes of self government, while Missouri wal in
state of vassalage, with only the permi.si, e
government o colony.
Mr.. Msilen of Mass. succeeded MIR Smith and
spoke at some length in support Of Mr.. Roberts
motion. He observed that
AS hehad presented the memorial of The
convention, praying for The admi,sion OF
Maine into the Union ard. as be was
an inhabiiant OF tina, section of Mas
chusetts, it was natu'a al to suppose thar
he, felt an interest in the success # The
bill under consideration do, sir said
he feel an interest and though on f.r.
mer occasion, | have expressed in he
Senate, my sentiments in relation 10 the
subject of the separation Of Maize from
Massachusetts,, and have elsewhere ir INK
ly opposed the measure then in con'sm
plarion circumstances have since given
a new aspec, to the question n i'm
menss majority Of the people of Maine
have declared their opinion in favor Of
dissolving their CONNECTION with Mass.
chusetts, and becoming an ipde entenr
sta C : Massachusetts, has cons med to
their wishes constitution has been
forme d in spirit of harm, ny and it has
beer accepted by the people by vote al
most una imous Ii this s ate OF things
l cheerfu.ly yield ny own opinion, aid
am disposed to join The general wish. and
aid IN such measure as are still neces
sary to the ecmPieuon oil The great ohlccl
in view. With this avowal, proceed,
sir, to state, that | TN oppos, to the "a
merdment reported by he committee
| an opposed TO it ior several reasons.
Ii will be recolected hat the bill CT The
table has assed the House of Represent.
ativee in the 5impL5iJ0m: merely declar.
ing the contents OF Congress TO The admis
sion of Maine into the Union, oman equal
fooring with the ether states tie bill SO
passed has been sent 10 he Senate for
concurrence IT, the u.c urs il was re
ferr' d to the Committee on the Judiciary,
and they have reported it, with an amrnd
ment, consisting oi a long bill tor author
izing Missouri to form constitution, as
a preliminary step oUard: bsy admission
into the U ion at future day | have
always found, sit, that the most cor.
rect Cour,e for a'man of bu.i ess 10 pur
sue is TO adopt the very simple III o.
doing enc thing at a time, and dong il fair
ly and faithfully That the proper mode
of deciding Causes in a cour, of Justice.