Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-22
CONGRESS.
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tscPortsd 70, ere Nafionai yateIiigencer. I
DEBATE ~ THE House OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
ON TIE MISSOURI Bill.
THLRSpAY. LANn4R1. az

ON TIE MISSOURI Bill.
THURSDAY, JANUARy N
The question before The committee was
on agrc my 10 an amendment, offered by
Mr.. TAYLOR OF \. Y. 10 insert after the
proNi'o tha' The Constitution shalt be re-
publican aud mol repugnani To The Con
s'ilution Of The United States The follow
in@:
" And shall erdain and establish that there
shall he neither slavery nor involuntary scrvi-
trde III The said state. otherwise than in the
punishment at crimes whereof the partv shall
have been duly convicted Provided ALWAYS,
that anN pes son escaping into the same frum
whom tabor OF service Is lawfully claimed ~
any othe' STATE. such iu"lt,ve NAV hc lawfully
rrclalped aud conveyed 10 the person claim
lnC ms ~ her service a. aforesaid. And pro-
vided also that the said provision shall rot he
construed tn alter the condition or civil rights
OF any person now held 10 service or labor in
the SAID territory.
He amendment having been read. and
the on. stlon stated By MIR. Baidwim, Tie
Chair,aau at the committee OF the whole,
Mr.. TAYLOR, oi New York, rose. sand
spoke as follows:
MIR Chairman The bill ON your talfc
-roposes no act Of ordinary legIsIaiion.-
No attribute of sovereignty is more I'M
porian;, than thai which Is exercised lm
the admission OF new parties 10 the Fed
eraI Compact. II was rrscrved for Anne.
RIGA 10 Xhibit, ON an extensive scale, AN
example II independent States uniting
for the general welfare, su,reuderine a
part of their sovereigu,y to a ne,, crea:cd
governments, and authorizing II tu con
~iI;nte other states SIMILAR 10 themselves.
Br the articles oil 'ahic,lerafioa, The
appreciation OF niue STATES out oi thirteen,
was necessary 10 the admission of a new
member, In The convention iliai formed
Tie iedPtal constitution, The sub,ec, of
admitting new states being utder conSi-
d"ra'Iop, It was pTopOseH that 10 such
admission the consent az iVo THIRDS al
the members present Ill each Ouse Of
Congress SHOULD be necessary, and /,
passed Ia The affirmative. ny he votes Of
all the states present, except Virginia and
Mary.aDd No other gu stlon was taken
on this single proposition, and why il Was
not finally Incorporated into the c0nsii-
tulion does moi appear. Congress aud
three-iOur'hs of the states NAV change
The constlinion-may establish prIuci-
pies aud create powers, injurious To The
rights Of The other states. The period
may arrive when the desire 10 obtain ihiS
constitutional MajOriiy IN favor of some
project OF ambition or avarlce, may lead
Ia the admission OF STATES favorable 10 lis
accomplishment.
Ihis Eili acquires additional impor-
faucc from the consideration that the
Territory IN question is no part of our
ancient domain. The power OF admitting
new states INTO the Union, when accepted
by the members Of the good old comiede
ration, had 10 this I r,i,orv no more
application than 10 c ill ar Peru. 1t was
foreign prOyiuce-aiIen to oar laws,
customs, and institutions. II sustained
none of the conflicts OF our Revolution
II was purchased not by the blood ol our
fathers, hui with the ~ asili OF their sons.
II we believe that by a literal roustrnu
ton of the constitution. the power OF ait
hitting This territory aS state Is pos
sessed By Congress W. remember ais"
that politicians IT no bumble name nave
denied lis Fxistence, that an amen Bmert
To the constitution, for The purpOsr of
obtaining from the STATES a grant of the
power now about 10 lie exercised, was
proposed in The United States Senai,,
by statesman ctninenul eSiIll q To-
tie confidence of this nation that Sc.
rious doubts Oh Tins subject existed ~
The minds OF those who then occupies
~ or government IFS most distinguished
siaiions-doubis, which were finally re
moved, as other doubts afterwards were,
ey considerations OF impe ious necessity
The magnitude ot THIS question is APP
parent, by casing your eve on map Of
The territory from which il is proposed io
carve this 5 ate. Who knows lis extent
Who has explored lis boundaries ? The
waters OF lis rivers traverse a cuuntry OF
al least two THOUSAND miles before lhey
reach the Mississippi. II probably coli-
tdins mare square miles iIIan all the states
fNl h., a. 4 Il
now apply 10 Missouri hereafter viii be
held applicable TO tie residue of the Ter
rltory. The fertility OF lis soil, the tenn
peralnre and salubrlly OF its climate, lis
maj site rivers, lis vegetable productions,
It's mineral weaith all contribute TO
confirm our auiIcipaiiOns Ol It's greatness.
Under the guidance ot wise policy. il
will doubtless cXiiibii in future time, The
lairesi specimens OF American character,
and The most perfect models of irrr gov
ernmcni. Cold, indeed, must be lis heart
"lio can contemplate without cinoiisn,
the high desliales prepared for our pos
terliy 10 Tits land OF prOmse-Secured to
iben Without possibility of faiinrr, IL
Congress shall ilr true ~ their interests
ard 10 our rational principles. Probably
this very question. certainly the deter
nIiDaiion Of 4 few Congresses, will ire
vocably decide, whether this territory IS
iDs'ced, rs il has been pronounced on q
former occasion, by \ gentleman irnm
| Virgin ',(Mr RandOlpr) the most cxpcn-
sive acquisition made hy the t.. STATES,
or whether us purchase W8s tie wiscsi
expenditure ofireasure ever made by any
! nation.
The Importance If this bill is further
enhanced by the unparall, les excitement
| II has produced in every section Of the
| Union IN excitement occasioned mol by
! The inirignes Of political lcahers. hml