Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-03


oerate, OF distinguished abilities il, the
House OF Representatives she has all The
beuefii fiowiSg from The taienls 81 tmen-
~ distinguished g~Gilefnen. T'fe voice
OF Missouri is not heard il The Senate /.
she Is dependent on strangers to present
her grievances and demand her rights.
whilst IN The House OF Representatives
she is permitted, as special favor. 10
semi delegate with The poor privilege of
uiierlng their complaints, Without the
smallest share OF power 10 redress them
ana his is gwen, not of right, but as 4
boon. Al home, Maine is in full posses
sion oil all The attributes of self govern
meni: Missouri is iD a state of vassaIage.
WIN only The permissive government Of
colony. With The high claim on her side
TO The same sovereignty with the original
states, TO form constitution, as Maine
mas done, ior-lier own government,
guaranteeing 10 her citizens all The rights,
advantages, aud immuniiies OF citizens OF
Tue u. States, your cominIiiec, VITO re-
ported the amendment, could moi perrei,c
any parliamentary practice which opposed
iiie union OF these t"o applicants III the
same bill.
Ii the object of gentlemen who ad,o-
cafe the motion of the honorable gentle
men from Pennsylvania, (Mr. Rohrris)
intend, by separating the two questions,
10 give precedency, ~ pOiIlt oil 'Gnk, "a
mon2 The other states, as tia, geulIenan
would seemto Intimate, by bringing To
our view the contention which prevailed
between Vermont and Kentucky, which
we're coniemporaneous applicants for ad.
mission into this Union, me tMr. 81
would have no objection 10 crafty gem
llemen by conserving 10 The seniority Of
Maine; and, ifIt should better eompp,t
with their wishes, he would even consent
That Maine Should take her station next
10 her elder sister, New Hampshire.
therefore, he hoped that ground woud
not be suffered 10 oppose their union in
| The same bill.
Mr.. 5. said, il was hardly TO be suppos.
ed that any portion ofihe people OF these
United States, so early after throwing off
their colonial character, and emerging
from state OF yassaIage, aud rising 10
slate of independence, could, for a mo-
ment, think o. separating into different
casts, like The Hindoos of Asia, and Ike
them, too, disposed 10 iniertiici all COM
munlcaliOns, both political, religious and
moral, lest thereby they might be conia@
minated, and doomed 10 everlasting aud
| nreirievabie impurliy. This would be
arrogaIihg 10 themselves loo high sta.
| tioR 10 Their early career of liberty aud
| equality so dear 10 Americans.
Win This view OF the subject he could
| see no objection TO the amendment offer.
Ell by the committee.
| Mr.. MELLEN, of Massachusetts. said.
as lac had presented the memorial of The
convention, praying for the admission of
| Maine into The Union and, as he was
| an Inhabiani OF that section OF Masaacilu-
| seiis, II was natural 10 suppose that he
| felt an interest in the success of the bill
under consideration. do, sir, SAIL he,
feel an interest: and though on former
occasion, have expressed, in The Sema 4,
my sentiments, i'll relation 10 lie subject
OF the separation Of Maine from Massa-
chnsei,s, and have elsewhere frankly OPP
posed The measure then in contemplation
! circumstances have since given new
aspec! 10 the question : an Immense ma.
| lOrity OF the people of Maine have declared
| their opinion III favor OF dissolvInS their
| connection With Massachusetts, ana be.
| coming an independent stale : Massacti-
| sets has consented TO their wishes "a
constitution has been formed in a spirit
OF liarmony-and il has been accepted by
tlr people by vote almost unanimous.
In This stale of things, chceriuly yield
my own opinion, and au disposed TO Join
the general wish, and aid in such meas-
ures as are still necessary 10 The compile
ton OF the great object III view. With
this avowal, | proceed, sir, 10 state, that
] am opposed 10 the amendment report
ed by the committee. | am opposed 10
| II for several reasons. II will he rreol-
leeted that the bill on The raI,le has passed
the House OF Reprcs' natives in the SIM.
| pteSt firm merely declaring the consent
OF Congress 10 The admission Of Maine
INTO The Union, on ali equal footing with
Tile other states the bill, so passed, has
| been sent TO the Senate for concurrence I:
III tile usual course il was referred 10 The
committee on the judiciary, and they have
reported il, with an amendment, consist.
| ing Of q long bill Tor authorizing Missouri
TO form constitution, as a preliminary
step towards her admission into The Union
al future day. Mr. President, did
not anticipate This course had 10 all
thorliy 10 expect IL for thOugh am
go,hg ia legislation, | am informed by
those who are experienced, that such an
amendment is a perfect noveifg, to say the
least OF it. | have always found, sir. HAT
The most correct course for man of bu-
siness TO pursue is 10 adopt tie very sim.
pie rule al d0ing one thing at time, and
doing il fairly aud faithfully that the
| prOpcrsmOde OF deciding causes in court
Of Justice, or questions in a Legislative
body, is TO examine them distinctly, and
decide each cauSe and eoch question upon
It's own merits ; aud in order 10 ascertain
those merits, apply principles and PRINTS,
without confusion or embarrassment. /
am desirous, sir, that, on the present oc-
casion, this plain old fashioned mode of
procecdisg may be adopted aud pursued.
Ii woBd be considered as n singular de-
pariure from The ordinary rules OF man