The Portland gazette., 1820-02-29


the amendment should obtain their OBJ
ject, and succeed in excluding slavery
from Missouri, and in maintaining a
principle that will exclude il from the
extensive territory beyond the Misslssip-
pi. sectional jealousies and animosltlcs
will be the immediate consequence; the
harmony Of our great and happy family
will be destroyed :---commotion and CIV
il war may next present their horrors,
and dissolution of the Union may be
the fatal result. This. to be sure, is "A
dreadful catalogue of evils the prospect
is dark and melancholy. But, Mr.. Pres
ident, believe better things ofmy tel
low-citizens. have better hopes and
brighter views: the bands which unite
US are not SO easily to be broken we
are great, prosperous and happy peo-
pie: heaven has showered upon Us ten
thousand blessings, which demand our
grateful Acknowledgements. We are be-
coming moro assimuatcd as our inter
course increases: our social attachments
arc daily strengthening as our CONNER
cial connections are multiplied. And
shall all these blessings be put in jcop-
ardy, or destroyed; and all these hopes
and promises of our country be thrown
away, because Congress may feel it their
duty to cherish the spirit Of liberty in
its best estate, in Missouri, and exclude
from thence principle which would im-
pair her health and beauty ? No, sir /;
| can never dream ofsuch consequences
as these. in this land of good feelings
and good sense. We must decide the
question before US. one way or the 9th
er, as our sense Of duty may direct; and
it is to be presumed that, in this case as
we'll as in all others, our habi,ual respect
for the laws and the principles by whicn
our rights are secured, will lead all 10 a
ready acquiescence in the decision which
may be made. On this occasion, VIC
cannot pursue safer course than to act
under the influence and guidance ofthat
excellent rule" Do right, and lei hea-
ven answer for the rcst.o
In the present discussion, two qnes-
tons are naturally presented for our
consideration
1. Has Congress right TO impose the
restriction contained in the proposed
amendment and
2. Is it expcdicnt, in existing circum-
stances, so to do, ifthey have such right ?
= In considering the first question, prin-
ciples contained in the Constitution, In
ferences drawn from the celebrated or
dinance Of 1897, and the adoption of
many Of its provisions, the construction
of the third article Of the treaty by
which France ceded Louisiana to the
United States, and some acts of Con-
gress, will require particular examina-
tion. The Constitution of the United
States declares, that " the Congress shall
have power to dispose Of, and make
all needful rules and regulations res
pecting the territory belonging to the
United States." Here, general su-
perintending power is given; power
necessary in the very nature OF the
thing and, by virtue of this power, ter
ritorial governments were long since es-
tablished over those portions of the
country not included within the limits of
any of the states and such governments
have been continued until the territory
became a state, and was admitted into
the Union. Missouri is now enjoying
protection g. numerous rights and privi-
ieges under such government. In re-
gard 10 this territory, Congress have
heretofore established rules and regula-
lions, which they then considered need
'lil and proper and though they did not
hen prohibit the introduction of slavery,
land it is great misfortune that they did
fot,) still it is admitted that they might
have established such prohibition. In
deed, Congress may bcstow on the terri
tories what political powers they think
proper, subject to such limitations as
they deem reasonable. The power Of
Congress over territories will be seen to
be an important one, when taken in con-
neciion with another clause in the Con-
stitution, which authorises Congress to
admit new states into the Union. But,
before considering this power, ! beg
Ia =.