Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-05-16

| right OF soil IN any state, unless by COM
pact? No sir. Is it not then a trait of
sovereignty, as a nation, for the sovereign
to take possession of the vacant lands
within that nation Surely it is. If then
there is no express provision authorizing
Congress to retain the property in such
soil, according to the argument of the
gentleman, it is federal right, belongs
to the state, and cannot be surrendered.
Are the committee prepared to recog-
nize this doctrine No; | presume that
even the gentleman himself is not. The
power of Congress to legislate upon the
subject of admitting new states may be
derived from the constitution as well by
implication as upon any other subject.
But the same gentleman tells us, that
even if we have the power, which by
this time trust | have shown, at least TO
the satisfaction of some, that it is i'm
polite to exercise it: that public senti-
ment is aroused, and so much divided,
that even the cabinet is believed to be
divided on this great and interesting
question, and that therefore it is too deli
cate measure to be pushed. What !!
the cabinet divided! How does The gen
tleman ascertain this fact? And, even if
it were the fact, what influence should it
have upon the question | could answer
for one, but will leave others to answer
for themselves. But, sir, will again
remark, on the subject of power, that,
as Congress has acquired this territory
without express authority to do so, /
| should for one say we have at least as
good authority to say that it shall not
come into the Union, as states, unless it
is upon those principles which will sub
serve the general welfare; for it must
have been with view of promoting the
general welfare that it was purchased,
and that view should, at no change Of its
condition, be lost sight of.
Mr.. Chairman, am told this is
northern trick--a northern scheme TO get
into power. For onc,I can answer, that
! am governed alone by desire to pro-
mote the welfare of my country, and to
discharge, with the best of my abilities,
the high trust which has been confded
| i
make this declaration for myself, l de-
rive consolation from the conviction that
l am associated with men governed by
motives no less exceptionable. Sir, |
believe this measure has originated in
the best and noblest of motives; motives
dictated by humanity and the ultimate
happiness of this nation. But, even if |
believed it originated in corruption, /
would support it. | would support it,
because believe it has for its object
the attainment Of an end Of the last i'm
portance to the natien. / would sup
port it, therefore, as an evil out of which
good might come. Mr.. Jefferson was
charged with supporting revolution to
cancel his British debts: |, however, do
not believe it: yet, if it were true, from
evil motives he was supporting a glori-
Gus cause. would support this mca-
sure, sir, but would, with equal zeal, OPP
pose the same gentlemen in their at
tempts to make an improper use Of the
| decision of the question in their favor.
But again repeat that have every con-
6dcnce in the integrity and exaltedness
of the motives which dictated this mea-
sure, and also ofthe motives which unite
gentlemen in its support.
! We are further told, Mr.. Chairman,
that it is northern trick, intended to in
jure the prosperity Of the western coun-
try. What, sir! trick to injure the
western country! Let Ohio, Indiana,
and Illinois answer the question. No,
sir, it is measure which is to open new
inducements to their own citizens to mi
CRATE to that country, ard thereby weaken
themselves. 1t is measure which is to
! give to the west vigorous, industrious,
and wealthy population. 1t is mea-
sure pregnant with the ultimate grandeur
| of that country. But | am here brought
to still more important view of this
subject; view, sir, which has much
weight upon my mind; one which /, as
a representative of the west, feel bound
to obey: / mean its effect upon the
| Union, in political point of view. Sir,
from similarity of interests, Of institu-
tons, and of feelings, the North and the
West, at least SO far as slavery is re-
GREETED, will feel disinclined to dismem-
berment. A reciprocity of all those in
ducements which operate to cement
communities will keep them together.
| The south and the west will also have a
no less binding community of interests
to hold them together.-The western
non-slave-holding states, therefore, will
stand, in relation to the north and the
south, not only as neutrals, but as their