The Portland gazette., 1820-02-29
MR.. alELLEN'S SPEECH
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
ON TuE
MISSOURI QUESTION.
WEDNESDAY JAN 49,

! rise, Mr.. President, to express my
sentiments upon the subject under con-
sideration, with deep conviction OF ITS
importance, in regard to the lasting
fare and happiness of our country. !
approach the questions with respectful
ness ;aiming at nothing beyond p!ainness
and simplicity. On this occasion, am
not disposed, were ! able, " to gather
and distribute the flowers Of rhetoric"
notwithstanding the happy example
which have this morning witnessed.
/ an rct vain enough to believe tha, !
can shea new light upon question which
has been so learnedly and elaborately
inyc,tig ,tad in both houses of Congress
on former occasion. and has recently
employed the talents ofrcsr ectod ndivld-
uals in different parts Of the Union. !
an msure, sir, if the subject has not alrc ady
been exhausted. the distinguished pow
ers of intellect which will be exerted dur
ing the present discussion, will complete
" exhaust it. Still it is my duty and my
pride frankly to express my own, as well
as the feelings and opinion ofth state !
represent and | cannot decline it, nor
consent to give my silent support to the
amendment proposed by my honorable
friend from Pennsylvania. Notwith-
Standing some remarks which have been
made by those who have preceded me, !
can assure those with whom may differ
in opinion, that, for one, | am the firm
friend of harmony and peace; and as !
am not conscious of any hostility Of feel
ing, no such hostility will he shown; no
other language but that Of truth and In
dependence can be necessary or proper.
With these motives, dispositions, and
principles, will pursue the path Of duty.
We are told, sir, that. in relation to the
subject before us, an unusual & alarming
degree of excitement exists in the public
mind that the community is in a state Of
threatening agitation; and we have been
repeatedly admcnished, and in very in-
telIigible terms toe, to. extend ourview TO
consequences. Without at present con-
sidering those consequences which have
been named, permit me, Mr.. President,
to inquire, in what this excitement con-
sists % and what are the proofs Of It? |
believe there is an opinion on this inter-
esting subject an opinion deep and
strong, and expressed, in various places
and on various occasions, in emphatic
language, but in a manner as calm as it is
firm. Among the friends of the propos-
ed restriction, have never heard Of any
other excitement Surely, it does not
appear within these walls; nothing can
be more cool and dispassionate than our
discussion, thus far: no other warmth is
displayed than that which is naturally
produced by intellectual exer,ion. Sir,
if the agitations ofthe community could
be heard from our windows, they ought
not to disturb the calm of this hallowed
hall of legislation, or produce an undue
effect upon our deliberations. But, sir,
if we look abroad, Go we see any thing
more than the excitement which | have
described ? 1t is true, there is lament
ed difference of fopinion on this important
questionable further extension ofslave-
ry. A portion of the community believe
that Congress have no constitutional au-
thority to interdict this extension off slave
ry in the new states to be formed west of
the Mississippi; and that, if they had, it
would be unwise and unjust TO exercise
the authority. Another portion of the
community firmly believe that Congress
do possess this authority. and that they
are under the obligations of duty to exer-
else it; and that its exercise would pro-
duce lasting and extensive blessings.
This opinion, have before observed, is
deep and strong; but the only proof Of
it is contained in arguments and state
ments which have issued from the press,
or in language ofrespectful resolutions
or memorials, which have been transmit
ted to us for our consideration, express
sive ofthe opinions oflegiststures or large
and respectable bodies of our fellow-cit-
zens. If any other proof of unusual and
alarming excitement can be found, it is
not among those who advocate the pro-
posed amendment. Why, then, Mr..
President, is the question to be prejudic-
ed by illusions to circumstances which
have No eyistonco hut in im,oin ation