Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-05

NsttNOi Pusig NAVY
I" been duly convicted ;--and that all
" children of slaves born within The said
state. after the admission thereof into
E" The Union, shall be free, but may be
:" held To service until the age OF twenty
p" hive years"
The General Assembly are satisfied
thai II is beyond The legitimate power OF
Congress, 10 impose jhis condiiion--and
that the attempt To do so, II persisted ia,
will be attended with serious and eNtri.-
sive evils, not affecting The North ur ii,e
South, The East or the West. alone but
pervadins The whole cupledviacy. They
are sensible, that as this subject address
rs itself very strongly 10 their interest
as well as heir feelings, u may be thought
by same, and II may indeed he true, that
Their judgment in relation TO il, may mol
have been The result OF unprcjudiced rea-
son. How ever candidly aud deliberately
they have endeavOred 10 conduct their
enquiries, yet claiming no exemption
from the ordinary Influences of human
passion, and no inialiibiliiv for their
best weighed and most impartial judy
incnts; feeling, loo, a high respect, for
me opinions OF distinguished men, who
differ from i!em--iley cannot ask respect
Tor their own opinions, upon their au-
thorliy alone, and, therefore, submit
with them, The reasons OH which! they are
formed.
They abstain from discussing the gen
eral policy ui the proposed measure.
However strong and numerous they be.
lIevc the reasons TO be, for condemning
n, the unpleasant and Improbable task
oil urging these reasons is wholly foreign
TO their present purpose, and is calculated
they fear, more 20 offend and int1ame,
than TO conciliate and appease.
They offer no vipdicalon of the mo-
ilvcs, which have hitherto governed, and
no" govern, the policy OF Virginia. They
mean not 10 impeacb the motives of a.
theirs, and they are willing 10 leave their
own, TO be Judged by the reasons they
assign for their opinions, and BY the re-
cords of their history.
They will proceed TO unfold their
views OF this interesting subject, i'm an
examination OF The right Of Congress. 10
subject the people OF Missouri, TO the
proposed condition. They ~ll! examine
II, upon The principles of tie constitution,
and o. the treaty and will enquire, as
they proceed, what influence, upon The
inierPi citation Of the constitution or the
treaty, Is due 10 former acts OF the stale
and federal government
HIS conu1tIon must be considered as
1t is intended permanent, unaltrrabIe, by
The state authority. If it be so, it will
impair the sovereignty of the state, Oil
which II is imposth-will take from il a
right, not surrendered by any of the old
states, at The adoption of the consiitu
non, and will bring the new state into the
Union, unequal in rights with tile other
states.
Up'n the authority of the constitution.
II Is affirmed, thal Congress has no rigaI
10 prescribe any condition, TO the adnis-
sion oil new state inio the Union, which
would tl,us impair lis sovereignty, and
deprive II OF equal rights with the old
states.
The clause IN the constitution giving
power TO admit new staies into the Union.
Is in these words New states NAV b.
admitted by The Congress into tins u
mon; but no new state shall be formed
or created, within the jurisdiction of
any OTHER state, nor any Stale be form
Ell by Tie junction OF two or more
states, OF paris of states. without The
consent OF the Legislatures of the states
concerned, as well as of the Congress"
Wat authority does this provision give
10 Congress An authority TO admit
Does iiis authority 10 admit, give the
right to prescribe The terms of admission?
II ere can be no difficulty in answering
tins question correctly, unless we lose
SIGHT of The character, in which Congress
acts III performing this GHly.
li Congress were lie representative OF
an unlimited sovereignty, and itself unli-
ml'ed, like the Parliament Of Great Bril-
Tain, there would be no question about
IFS power 10 prescribe terms al pleasure.
II Congress we're an agent with no other
powers Whatever given by the constituent,
lian The simple power TO admit, 'ound i'm
the clause quoted, there would be AS Iit
lie question, that II could prescribe no
terms because the ac1 10 be done. be-
ing simple and definite, requiring no in
cid nal powers, TO carry il into effect,
Tie power 10 do that act, would mol lmpI,
the power TO do any thing else. The
terms OF the political association. INTO
winch he new member is To be- admitted.
being al! definitely settled, by the charter
which gave the authority TO adult, il
could MOI be inferred that the agent with
a simple power To admit, had AN implied
poTcT TO change the terms of the assocIa
lion. Aud, as IL could not be intended. |
that the privileges of the Union were 10 |
be sold for price, there could be 10 i'm.
Piled power, 10 barter for the premium Of |
admission.
But in truth, neither Of these is The |
true character Of Congress Congress !. |
the qualified representative of limited |
sovereignty. The sovereign powers o |
the u. States are numbered, and Con
gress represents bat part OF them. The |
power OF making treaties resides III the |
President and Senate; the power of mak !
ing laws, IN Congress. Congress may |
pass a law for admitting new state into |
the Union-and in That law may prescribe |
every thing which als within the scope |
of HE lnnIslalINe nnl. nra MnsIrd 10, - b.. |