Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-02-08

llainly no injury can result, as the resolu.
ton does mol require any thing TO be CON-
municated which it would be improper to
divulge-but, il that information were inn
proper to be made public, cannot the rep
resentatives Of the people Of the United
States be inrusted with that transaction
For his part, he had consulted none, and
thought the Information necessary. Surely
il could not be improper TO communicate
TO this house, Mr.. Il. said, that which the
Secretary of State had said the Spanish
government dare not deny"
This motion gave rise to short debate,
in the course OF which the adoption OF it
was opposed by Mr.. Lowndes, Mr.. Ser
geant, Mr.. Holmes, Mr.. Taylor, Mr.. Rhea,
and Mr.. Hill, on the ground, generally,
that the President had communicated to
congress at the commencement of the ses-
sion, on the subject OF Spanish affairs, all
the information which he deemed impor-
tsnt to the public interest, and which, in
| his opinion, il was not inconsistent with
| that interest at present to communicate j;
that the conduct OF negotiations having
been given by the constitution to the ex-
ecutive, aud also the authority TO commu-
lnicate to congress, from time to time, infor-
nation Of Tie state of the Union, it was to
be presumed the President had, in the per
Torrance Of that duty, communicated all
that was in his opinion proper to be com
municated, respecting our relations with
Spain; aud that as We have yet Minis
ter at Madrid, and matters we're no, fl
nally adjusted with that power, the dis
closure of such particulars as were requi-
red, If made, might have prejudicial eff
feet on the questions pending between the
two countries, &c.
The proposition was supported by the
mover, and Mr.. johnson, Of Va. aud Mr.
Randolph, for the general reasons assigned
by the mover, and for the reason, addition
ally, that the president had, by his com
mnnication TO both houses Of congress, al
the commencement Of the session, earnest
ly recommended the subject Of the state Of
our affairs with Spain, to the attention oil
congress, and indeed expressly submitted
to them whether or not the provisions of
the Treaty should be carried into effect
independently Of the consent Of Spain, &c,
% suggestion of Mr.. Sergeant, the re-
solve was SO amended, by consent Of the
mover, as TO request the President, instead
OF instructins the Secretary of State, (as at
first offered, if III his opinion it should be
xpedient, TO cause the required informa
ton to be laid before the house-the OBJ.
lection being TO leaving compliance with
an order from the house discretionary with
any officer OF the government subordinate
to the highest 10 authority.
The question being taken on agreeing to
the resolution thus amended, it was deci
ded in the negative. Ayes 81; Noes 88.
THE MISSOURI QUESTION.
The order Of the day on the Missouri
bill being announced
Mr.. Foot, of Connecticut, moved the
of the order Of the day to
this day week. His object was in the
mean time to consider, 10 the hope Of it.
adoption, proposition for the prohibition
OF the further introduction Of slavery west
of the Mississippi. Should such mea-
sure be adopted, the territories 10 that
quarter would be placed on the same foot
lug as the ordinance of 1897 had placed
the North Western Territory. The ques
ton now agitaied in Congress might then
perhaps be left to the good sense of the
people Of the states TO be formed ont OF
that territory, aud, should any question
present itself IN the subject Of the admis-
sion of slavery into any such state, ii might
be left Tor the proper tribunal, the Supreme
Court, to determine it.
The proposed postponement was oppo-
sed by Mr.. Edwards, and Mr.. Lowndes,
on the ground that ii would only serve to
procrastinate the interchange of opinions
Oh the question now fairly before the house
which, whatever else was done, would
certainly take place, and could not be pre-.
vented. Mr.. Edwards was opposed to any
prohibition whatever, of the nature propo-
sed, or in the way Of compromise.
The motion 10 postpone was negatived !;
and the house again resolved itself into a
committee OF the whole. Mr.. Baldwin in
the chair on the bill for authorising the
people Of Missouri TO form Constitution.
SSc.-Mr. Taylor's motion to amend the
bill by imposing restriction on slavery
being under consideration
Mr.. Taylor, OF New Y ork. delivered
speech in support Of his motion, which oc-
cupied about two hours.
MIR. Holmes of Massachusetts followed,
and spoke some time, against the right Of
congress TO impose the restriction. Be
fore Mr.. H. had concluded, he gave way
10 motion for the committee to rise and
The committee rose, obtained leave to
sit again; and
The house adjourned.
FRIDAY, Jan. 28.