Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-26
RICHMOND, FEBRUARY %, 1872
MISSOURI QUESTION.

Always StOOa true 10 tne OF the re-
publican party and the cause of the consiitu.
ton. He speaks of a compromise; but accor.
ding TO him it can only be made under a change
OF the constitution, aud when made, il must
be satisfactory one that is to say. one that is
fair, and equal, and reciprocal on all sides.
We waive, Tor the present. any remarks on
this proposition !; contenting ourselves with
showing in terms. firm bnt respectful, how far
short of this compromise Is the bill now before
the VI. ut Representatives.
That bili is predi~Ated upon the idea of a
compromise; compromise between whati
lou say" Here is the country soHth of 3G5
d2srees embracing also those parts 10 te north
OF II which will he in the Sta'e of Missouri
will admit this countr, into the Cnion with
out restriction; You on the other hand will
subject forerfr to the restrictions all the coun-
try which lies iiortli of that line" Is not this
compromise unconstitutional as we'll az mex
pedienis Does it not yield The very point
which the advocates of State Rights have AZ
tiimmphantly maintainedt FOTerer! This M
nense region, call IL country, territory, em-
pre-, as you please, Is TO he JOrerer restricted,
wheih my portion OF il be under the terrific
RAJ form Of gDcetDmeRt, or whether il present
Itself OF admissions as "a state. You then pledge
yourself by this bill 10 bind mp the hands of
these western states lying TO the north of 365
you agree TO curtail them of portion of SO.
NereisDty, for which yon have so strenuousIy
coniended in the case of Missouri. La plain
language, strip hiScompromise of all chicane.
ry, all Quicbling, all mental reservation, and
what does II amount Tor You rNenpt MIS,On>
ri, and Arkahsaw and peradventure anoihrr
state TO the west OF them; while you subject
10 restriction the states that may arise in the
Immense region that lie TO the north, eight or
ten times as large IS the southern section. Is
aus not direct concession OF the very poiut for
which the advocates pfstate vi .his have so long
sucked! compromise with principle itself
an alarming violation of the federal coustitus
tion an attempt to shackle future states in
tue exercise OF oRe of their undoubted sove-
reign rights
In our poor judgment it appears,
LIST. That the constitution ought never TO be
amended and so modified as TO pc, INIT Congress
TO restrict sfdte on the question of slavery
I'd That as the constitution noU standS, Cou-
gress have no rig hit to restrict even the terrific
rial government:
Impedlnent removed as to the terrific ries,
the bill before the House of Representatives
would be unconstitutional, as IL is intended 10
shackle fnture sovereign states:
attn That even if the constitution permit
ted 1t, the compromise usder this bill is gross
~ uisrroportionate, unequal. and ineXpedient
Snch rs the sense which we entertain of the
consiitution,oiou our dearest interests, and of the
blIl "a affecting both. We firmly hope that it
will finally fail We will not touch the holy
ark OF the covenant. which we think this bill
calculated TO disturb We love too, the Union
OF these states; we love il sincerely, ferventy,
aevoutiy. We do not thiTkit at present in
danger-howoVeT great the panic which has
Deeh excited upon that subject We trust that
prese5t differences will he healed whe-
tner by way OF the compromise which Milo
proposes, or IN some other fair and consis-
tent mode. which The d:scretion 81 patriotism
OF our representatives may deviSe.-But soon
er Than subscribe TO this bill we would brave
every Inconvenience and every danger, which
are likelyto arise from its rejection:
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
Whatever may be HE pretended mo-
tives OF humanity by which The northern
and eastern slaies may profess 10 be gov<
erned IN their unjust attempts 10 impose
unconstitutional restrictions on Missouri,
there - but too much reason 10 suspect
that they are actuaied by ambition, and
jealousy OF the rIsiGg prosperity Of the
southern and western states. We have
already seen in the publications in the
Enquirer, under The signature of (" An
American. in What way The eastern states
exerted their influence 10 close OF the
western country the navigation of the
Mississippi, III our early negotiations
with Spain and how that influence was
finally cOun'eracled by The ingenious
suggestions OF the sagacious GraysOB,
which gave rise TO the restrictive provision
inserted in the celebrated ordinance OF
the old Congress for the government OF
tie N. w. territory, passed July 18th,
1897.
Louisiana, than Massachusetts took the
alarm and began TO spread abroad, among
The other states, her approximations thai
the settlement Of This new country would
be destructive OF the Influence of the
eastern states. So early as 1904, the very
next year after the cessiSn, she proposed
To alter The constitution so as to appor
ton The Representatives among The seye-
raj states according to the number Of
ihelr Tree Inhabitants, respectively. This
proposition was made in the form of q
resolution, accompanied by preamble
OF six paragraphs, and laid before the
state legislatures for their consideration
and adoption. As they may be seen bN
referring 10 the Journals of that wear. i
is deemed unnecessary to copy them IL
this place. 1t will be sufficient merely Il
observe that this preamble contains he
rcasonings OF the subject. And as some
OF them appear to be founded in an rrro
neons conception of facts, and others ienC
to show that she entertained very differ
ent opinion then, on the nOmenious ques
ton which now agllates the Union, from
what she processes 10 do at this time,
will take the liberty of entering into
briet examination OF them, and Of max
ing such observations on them as ma
present themselves TO my view.
The Isl paragraph contains a slaiemen
OF The provision ia The constitutions fish
Tie ratio OF representation among tie sc
veTal .tates.
In The 81, after stating, very truly, tina
the mode Of representation agreed uPo
vas manifestly unequal, she goes on {
assert that il only could have resulie
from spirit of Cancellation and comprC
mise which Influebcedthe eastern state,
But she ought TO have remembered ilis
all the states were sovereign and ind,