Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-17
CONGRESS.
Reported for the National fnfciiiseaccr. 1
DEBATE IN THE SENATE,
on THE MISSOURI QUESTION.
ygyis..o,y LN,,,pv,o

ne agreed In opinion with the gentlemen
VINO had declared this tn be the greatest
question ever debated in the Senate, and
maj IL ought To be discussed in the most
CAIN ana cool manner; without attrnjDi-
ing 10 excite passion or prejudice. II
was, however, 10 be regretted, That, while
some OF those who supported the motion
were quite calm and cool, they used
good many hard words, which had no
tendency 10 continue the good humour
they recommended. He would cndeavor
TO follow their advice. bui must be par
doned for not following their example, in
The use OF hard words ; it, however, one
should escape him, il would be contrary
TO his intention, and an act of indiscre
hon, not OF design or premediiation he
hoped TO examine the subject with great
meekness and humanity.
The debate had brought forciblv TO his
recollection the anxiety OF the best pa,ri.
OTIS of the nation. when the present con.
stltutlon was examined by the state con.
venlions which adopted IT, The public
mind was then greatly excited, and men
IN whom The people properly placed the
utmost confidence, were divided. There
was then no whisper about disunion !;
every one considered the Union as abso-
| iuiely necessary for The good of all. But
Today we have been told, by the honnra-
ble gentleman from Pennsylvania, (Mr.
Lowrie) thai he would prefer disunion.
rather than slaves should be carried est
OF The Mississippi. Age, Mr.. Nj. said,
may have rendered him iimid, or educa
lion may have prevailed on him TO attach
| greater blessings TO the Union and the
constitution than they deserve. If this
be HE case, and IL be All error, il was Que
he had no desire 10 be free from, even
after VIVA, he had heard in this debate
3et clear of this Union and this consii-
tuition, and il will be found vastly more
dIficull to unite again and form another,
than II was TO form This. There were no
parties in the country at the time il was
formed Z; not even upon this Question:
HE men who carried The nation through
the revolution were alive and members OF
The convention Washington was al their
head. Have we a Washington now g? No.
Is there one i'll the nation 10 ill his place
No His like, il ever, has been rarely
seen; nor can we, nationally, expect ano-
Tier IN our day. Let us not speak OF
disunion as an easy thing. II ever il shall,
unfortunately, come, IL will bring evils
of freedom, Iiii lament il. This constl-
tuition is now as much an experiment as
| il was in the wear 1899. Ii went INTO ope-
alton about the time the French revolii-
| lion commenced. The wars which grew
| out of that, and the difficulties and per-
| nlexilies which we had to encounter. III
| consequence of the improper acts OF
| beIligerents, kept the people constantly
| attached 10 the government. 1t has STOOD
well the trial of trouble and OF war, and
answered, in those times, the purpose
for which il was formed aud adopted
but now is to be tried, i'll time OF unlver-
sal peace, whether government, Within
government, eau sustain ltseii ana pre-
serve the liberty Of the citizen. When w
are told disunloD, rather Than slaves ID
carried over the Mississippi, IL ought no
TO be forgotten that the Union OF Ill
people and The confederation carried Il
through the Revolutionary War; war
of which no man eau wish 10 see the like
again in this country but, as soon a
e peace came, II WAS found 10 be eniirei
I unfit for it so unfit, that II was gwen Il
, for the present constitution. Destroy !
$ and what NAV be the condition ot III
a country, no man, not the most sagac
h GUS. can even imagine. II will surely
II much worse than 1t was before 1T W.
/ adopted, and that must be well reme1
a bered.
b. The amendment is calculated 10 pre-
F." duce geographical parties or why az
u. mouish MS 10 discuss ii with moderate
VI and good temper. No man swhO has vi
H. messed the effect of parties nearly sc
graphical, can wish TO see them revive
- Their acts formerly produced uneasines
TO say the least of them, to good men
u every party. General Washington h
~ warned us against them but he Is nc
AZ dead, and his advice may soon be ioTg'
he ten; form geographical parties, and
in will be neglected. Instead oil 'ormi
s sectional parties, II would he mere pal
liI otic TO do them away. But party a
on patriotism are moi always the same. To-
lie meetings and resolutions to infiame q
,5e part Of The nation against another, {
n never benefit the people, though I'll
ow MAY CRAFTY an individual. A majority
mr. them want things right. Leave them
Ich form their own opinions, without the ;
s. ot iufammatory speeches al town me
r. Jugs, and they will always form I'll
correctly. What interest or motive
MS the rood people OF one part ct the cot
and iry lave. for meeting and endeavonni
lEu. initiate those of auoiheTt No Town mt
inc was necessary TO iuform or intia
The public mind against the law gas
Ist members OF Congress salary insiea
pck, dady allowance. The people tori
for for their own opinions, disdpproVed Il, al
is avn was repealed. so they will always AZ
,ezt, left TO themselves. Let not parties, ia
Ip5 Se ed al home for state purposes, be bro,
into Congress, 30 disturb and distract
zee. Union. The general government hitli
bas been productive enough OF then
. satisfy those who most delight in ~
seri. that they are not likely 10 be long wa
ring init Enough, and more than enc
II, ia ., has been produced, by the dIiflcut
-ster. deciding what Is, aud what IS not, "