Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-10

| uuiy say 10 the universe, - !. non Ctfu-'r
mol say that we did il" IL is ni efii n
tailed upon us without our -eopseu.; "a
gainsf The proiestatiohs OF our areesiors ::
and we know not how 10 get rid al IL. II
Us one oil those with winch other states
ought 10 iamper with esuiion. They
should touch this chord discreeiIy.-
The press shall be free TO Mr.. Herring.
He shall be heard. Blu, the House were
decidedly against him-Ayes9, Noes l72.
MIR. SPEAKER-I rise to make a motion. the
object of which is, 10 correct AN error which
| the proceedings Of this house, upon the r.so-
| i"tions sent up 10 the senate, IN the aspect in
! witch they have been pre- cnted to the world
must impress upon all who look al them The
| question having been takon upon each resoIu-
t'"n separately, and the ayes aud noe. called
| upon oniy one resolution, which involved the
| rish' OF instruction, aud did not affect the
principles of the resolutions; the general inn
| preston is, that there did not exist in This
house, any difference of opinion, except upon
| MA ose resolution. This impression is the
| effect ct error; and feel il a duty which
! owe TO myself and TO the world to ,tface it,
| for the purpose, th"ie,ore, OF showing to the
world tiat AT least one member of this house
uoes reel decided hostility 10 all the principles
| OF Tue resolutions; / move that the farther
| consideration OF the subject now under co,sid
| Grafton be postponed until the thirty first tiay
| OF March next; aud upon this question cali
| TOT Tue ayes ANA noes. This is the only WAY i'm
/
| 10 siew my decided opposition to the whole
| resolutions ana amendment. 1 cannot effect
| " ny voting against the amendment by the sen
ave, TOT ihhnitely prefer the amendment, TO
Tue original resolutions and will vote for n i'm
| preference, when the question occurs uuon the
adoption it.
| 1t was for this purpose / rose and while am
| up II the house will rant me their patience
| Tor "A lew moments, will very succipctly state
| the reasons by which feel justified in pertina
ciousiy maintaining the opinions which must
! avow, IN opposition TO those of so MANY men
| whose Judgments veneraiP, and whose prn-
| C'p'eS l honor; and IN opposition too 10 the
| Ianored, aud very Ingenious argument, con-
| tanned IN tue amendment by the senate
| ANA here will observe, that, in what am
| apoui 10 say, VIII speak only 10 the amend
| heh,' peheVing that every argument which
can be urged against it, will apply with equal
foice, TO The original resolutions, toy ether with
0tners lnappllcable 10 the amendment TO which
| shall not advert.
The first resolution in the ame,dment 10
| c'ares, that the people of Missouri have tight
10 demand admission into the uuion The
meaning intended 10 be conveyed; is that the
people ct Missouri have right 10 make thnt
| demand, at this time If / correctly under
| Naho the term demand, what the people of
| niissohrl nave right To demand, none can
nave amy right to refuse. The proposition,
| then Is, that congress cannot refuse TO admit
| MISSOURI, now, into the union. To This propo-
siton l cannot assent. The congress of tie
| Uhited States believing the further extension
OF Tue system OF slavery prejudicial TO the best
| interests OF the nation, propose to take men
| snreS to prevent that extension The wisdom
OF tlat course OF policy is not coutroverted i'm
| ne fes0intions, by any thing but assertion; to
mh,en oppose the equally confident assertion,
| tliat the policy is wise and so leave that oups.
| ZION But the right of congress to any means
OF enforcing this policy, being the point moot
eo 10 mat, will cenfne my remarks. First.
WIN enheavor 10 shew, that the constitution
| uoeS give 10 congress means OF enforcing this
| poiicy III states TO be formed of the territories
| oeionSlhg 10 tile old thirteen states at the tor.
| . mation oi 'ne government; and, afterwards,
tiias missouri stands on no better footing
| Inc constitutions. by declaring that congress
! may ADMIT new states into the nnion and pre-
scrib'ng no rule TO ascertain when il must he
uone leaves II TO the discretion of that body, ,
~ ueleIihine at what time, and nnder what
| circumstances, II is expedient to exercise that
power: III coming 10 that determination when
any new state asks admission, congress must
consider all tile circumstances under which il
soin ' forward; not look alone to amount of
Popniatioil, ore extent of territory, or the form
VI government, which the inha bitants NAV
ADOPT; but, also, to their capacity of self gov
eminent, their fidelity to the nnon, and their
a"achment to our political institutions and
III hne, they are TO consider whether the adj
MISSION OF the new state will endanger either
me safet!, or prosperity of the nation and, if
!, shohid seem probable that such would be the
eHect OF admitting the new state \: cone ress
nave not only the right, but il being their pro-
Vlnce 10 guard the general welfare, il is the
| sworn onty OF congress to refuse admission
90 MOI believe that congress has any right to
'oIce me people OF any territory, abOnt TO be-
come state, 10 accept n constitution will, CON.
uiuons: ana am not prepared to saw if a con-
Suthiioh were accepted, imposing condition
ava Tue state admitted into the union, whether
| W ho'' the condition would be permanently
obligatory, IT the people of the state should i'm
c"ht 10 Change II and the Duliity of such a
| condition may he affirmed, at the same time
I '"e uu'l oi tue propositions advanced by these
resolutions, is denied
| ne right OF congress TO refuse, is conceded
| ny tils preamble, as collateral with the right
| 10 ADMIT any territOry-and, as imagine at
any time, where good faith does not forbid. If
lhen good faith does not forbid congress NAV,
as ioDg as II Is deemed exPedient, hold terri.
| .o'y u"uer theiT own control in the form of
| territorial government; aud while IL is so held
ihey nave complete powers of legislation over
| II ana can, by legislative acts, abolish any
| system OF policy dangerous TO the welfare nj
| the nation, and produce such state of thinos
as VIII afford satisfactory assurance. that such
system VIII never be tolerated by The ueonIe
themselves, when they come TO frame their
| own constitution.
| IL rs Farther conceded by the preamble, AND
! u could not have been denied. that conpress
| may require of the people of any TERRITORY tie
| performance OF condition essential to the
| general welfare, and not restrictive of soye-
reign rights, precedent to admission as a state
| INTO TIE union and so might require the re
| moVal of all slaves from Tertiary "a socb
| precedent condition.
Congress then derives from the onSttu,ion
Two meanS, by which, it il be expedient TO use
them, the exclusion Of slavery from any state
| hereafter TO be formed, NAV he effected one
| Is, 10 hold the territory under their own con-
trol, and by legislative acts prohibit or exppl
the system. The other is, 10 require of the
people that they themselves abolish the sVs-
lem' as a condition precedent to their adm;s-
SION and, in either way, congress can insure
population OF such habits, and opinions, that
Ihey would OF choice insert into their own con.
SttutIon, prohibition against slavery