The Portland gazette., 1820-02-29
PAYABLE YEARLY.

am not able to Understand this incor-
sistency. Let us look at this objection
in another form. Suppose that the pres.
ent bill should pass without any inter-
diction of slavery, and at the next scs-
sion Missouri should come forward with
l:he constitution she had formed, and
Congress. upon examining the constitu-
ton. should refuse to admit the state In
to the Union. because it contained no
such interdiction. Now it is admitted
on the other side, that Congress may
refuse absolutely, but il is denied that they
can admit conditionclly.
Mr.. President, ! beg to know of what
Importance it is IN principle, whether the
constitution is formed before an inter-
diction is required, and then rejected
for want of it, and the State refused adj
| mission; or whether such interdiction be
required in the act by which authority
is given to form the constitution and
make the requisite arrangements, prelm-
mary to admission? ] cannot discern
any difference in principle between the
two cases. But, sir, there is another idea
on this head. TO which would call the
attention of the Senate unless am mis-
taken, it is deserving Of some .considera-
ton. Congress, by inserting the oondi-
tons or restrictions in the bill under con-
sideration, do not thereby impose such
conditions or restrictions. on Missouri,
and give them binding force. no, sir:
it is the acceptance of the grant Of adj
mission, with such conditions or restric-
tons annexed, that creates the obliga.
ton, and subjects Missouri its control.
1t is her onn act which must produce the
liability. The act of admission under
these limitations, is compact, andthere
must be consent on both sides. Con-
gress may refuse to grant their consent
to the admission, except on terms pro-
posed Missouri may refuse to accept
the grant, subject TO such terms and
thus the whole becomes Intellectual. |
will, sir, illustrate this by a single exam
pie. The charter Of the United States
bank was granted 10 certain persons
and one of the conditions annexed to
the grant was, that the Bank should pay
to the United States bonus of million
and a half of dollars, by certain install
ments. Surely this condition did not,
and could not, bind the bank, OF render
the stockholders liable to pay this bo-
nus, unless, by some act on their Part
they lad signifed their aceeptanee ofthe
charter, subject TO its conditions. This
principle is TOO plain to need fir;Lor
comment or illustration. Such accer.
tance was signifed hy the bank, and
thereuron the condition became obliea.
tory on the stockholders, in consequence
of il. Missouri, in her present situation,
as territory, is subject TO the legisla-
ton of Congress. and is capable Of ac-
ceding to, or rejecting, the many terms
proposed in the bill. She may, there
fore, decide whether she will consent TO
come into the Union, renouncing the
right TO permit the further Introduction
of slavery, or whether she will refuse to
become member Of the great confed-
eracy upon those terms, and prefer TO
remain in her present situation. ] again
say, sir, that is a matter of compact. If
Missouri inclines TO join the Union on
the terms proposed, il is compact, and
she will be bound by it after she shall
have assumed the rank of an independ.
ent state. In this compact there are nc
terms which are inequitable: the only
object in view is, that Missouri shall. on
entering the family of states, agree 10
preven, the extension ofan acknowledge
cd evil; and, by so doing, necessarily
produce unnumbered blessings.
But, Mr.. President, we are informed
that in the Louisiana treaty there is an
article, by which Congress are forbid
den to annex or impose any conditions
on the admission of state into the Un4
ion, composed Of part of the territory
ceded by that treaty TO the United States
even if they could be supposed TO POS
sess the authority claimed, if there had
been 10 such article in the treaty. This
point deserves consideration. The third
article in the treaty is in these words:
"Thc inhabitants of the ceded terrific
ry shall be incorporated into the Union Of
Il a 4 4