Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-24
CONGRESS-.
tReported for The National fntelIeencer.l
..-ss.........-........
DEBATE IN TIE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE,
ON THE MISSOURI BILL.
T'HFiHyDIY TlAyfJRy-o


THURSDAY. JANU-dRY IT.
| Mr.. TAYLoRIN CONTINUATION.
The FIRST truth declared by this nation,
! al the era OF It's independence, was, "tiai
| all men are created equal: iial they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
mnalienable rights that among these are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of bappi-
ness"
Are we willing 10 pronounce This decla
ration, Tor the support Of which the Ia.
theirs Of our Revolution pledged their
lives and fortunes. a fragrant faI>ehood :
| Was this declaration IA solemn muckrry :?
Did such mon as Jefferson, Adams,
| Franklin, Sherman. and Livingston, pro-
claim TO the world, as selt-eviden, truth,
doctrines they did moi believe? Did thew
lay the foundation Of this infant Repub-
lie in fraud aud hypocrisy The suppo-
siiion is incredible. These men composed
the committee which reported the Decla-
ration OF Independence. Four OF them
| were Delegates from Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, Connecticut and n. York.
They express, d the opinions of the states
they represented. The sentiments Of their
Chairman on this Interesting subject,
are pot contained in the Declaration "a
lone. IL further evidence be required as
| 10 his opinions, il is abundanily furnished
| IN his Notes OH Virginia. His deuuncia
ton of slavery is there expressed in Ian
guage too distinct TO be misunderstood.
It's injustice is portrayed in glowing co.
lors, aud its evils described with irresisti-
BILE eloquence. While books are read. or
truth revered, his sentiments on this sub
!Iect will ensure 10 tlTelr author uniadina
honor.
In 1854, Virginia coded 10 The United
States her right and title To- the north
west territory, on condition " thar the
states there 10 be formed should be AL
mitied members of the federal Union.
having the same rights of sovereignty,
freedom, and independence, as The other
| states" In July, 1857, an ordinance was
passed Tor the governm nj of the terri
tory, by the unanimous vote of all the
states, OF which the following is an ex
tract -" Aud FOR extending The iunda
| mental principles of civil aud religious
liberty, which form the basis whereon
these republics, their laws and constiiu-
lions, are erected; TO fix aud establish
those principles as the basis of all laws,
constitutions and governments, which
forever hereafter shall be formed in The
said territory; to provide also Tor the
establishment OF states and permanent
government therein, aud for their admis-
sion 10 share In the federal councils. on
All equal footing with The original states.
| at as early periods az may be consistent
with the general interest II il hereby
ordained and declared bv the authority
aforesaid, that The following articles
| shall be considered as articles OF compact
between the original states and The people
and states i'll the said territory, and fore.
yer remain uDalierablc, unless by COM
mon consent, to W.T."
Article g. There shall be neither sIa.
very nor involuntary serviiudc in the said
territory, otherwise than III The punishme nj
OF crimes, whereof the party shall have
been duly convicted: Provided always,
that any person escaping into the same,
from whom labor or service is lawfully
claimed III any one of the original states,
such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed
| aud conveyed 10 The person claiming
| his or her labor or service as aforesaid !"
This ordinance was passed for the gov
eminent, not of part, but OF every foot
| OF the territories of the United States :;
not extorted by compromise, and consi-
dered hard bargain, but expressive Of
| the spirit oil freedom which ilien prevail.
| ed. Ii is an impcrisbable monument Of
| glory and TeDown 10 its trainers. They
sacrificed prejudice on the altar Of uoun-
try,.. .Avarice found no place in their
bosons. DIsiDteTesied and maghsnmous
| were their acts, and the blessings Of pos
fefity will embalm their memories. Their
names will be engraved on columns Of
marble, and preserved in the legislative
hall OF every stale northwest oil the Ohio.
| No American statesman was then found
| hardy enough 10 maintain the anti repuh-
| lican doctrine, that man cannot be Tree
| without possessing power to enslave his
fellow man.
| This ordinance is important also in
| another respect. IL shows that, in 1887.
Virginia did moi consider that The STATES
TO which IFS 9th article should be applied
would be deprived OF the same rights of
sovereignty, freedom and independence
as The other states" The amendment on
your table Is copied from that arli-
Gle, and prOvisO added 10 prevent
lis application 10 persons now held TO
service IN the territory. The date also
| oil Tins ordinance Is worthy of remark. II
was passed III July. The convention
! which formed The federal constitution was
then in session. The members had the
ordinance before them. They saw The
rules and regulations which, Congress had
established for the government of all the
territory Of the United States. Judging
thereby, they could not have thought il
necessary 10 guard against Tie extension
OF slavery BY constitutional prohibition.
| ihey, therefore, two months after the
passage OF the ordinance, cOnhde 10
Congress an unlimited power of making
all neediul rules and regulations res
pecting lie territory of the u. States"
The ordinance also illustrates the i'm
port OF the following clause IN The consti-
tuition The migration or importation
OF such persons as any of the siafes INV