Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-22
RICHMOND. JANUARY D. 100
MISSOURI QUESTION


into the UuIoit, having bpen assum d bv
The meWorialis,S as The basis of their rea-
soning, and having been the immediate
source whence they have deduced The
power To annex conditions, i, may not be
improper 10 offer some considerations as
| 10 the ruth OF The proposi'itn and lis sup
posed cor0liary. IL IL then true tina, The
| assumed discretion does exist, IN the seus
| m which n Is asserted; and il so, does
the power 10 annex conditions, follow as
It's necessary consequence l give the
negative Ii both propositions.
III II were meant toy the memorialists
that upon the application of ID territory OF
| the United States TO be admitted inio the
Union, Congress has right TO determine
whether tits in IA situation TO become
state, according TO the principles of the
federal constitution, the position would
not he contested. Or if they mean that
II cannoi in'rude itself Into The cuniede-
| racy without the assent OF Congress, even
| that would not be denied; since Con
| gress has indeed The physical power 10
keep IFS territories IN s,srale Of vassalage
| but II Is power wit7oui right. In The
| discussions OF questions arising upder our
| system OF poliiy, II is NOT AN admissible
argument that might gives right. Our
principles OF justice, TO those PRINCIPLES
we appeal, and TO those alone, in the
decision OF the various questions which
arise between the government uf The u.
Sales, and the respective members OF
the coniederacy.
take The meaning of The memorialsts,
however, to be, that Congress have noi
merely temporary bun "A permanent RICH,
10 refuse admission into the Union, 10
any territory which shall desire il Tor if
lie right To refuse be only temporary, IL
could moi be such an one as would carry
WIN II The power TO impose conditions -
s'ill less could the authority TO impose a
perpetual condition, result from a mere
temporary power OF refusal
Now | may safely affirm that in This
sense, q case has never vel existed in
which Congress has had a power TO refuse
admission into the Union, to the terrific
ries OF the United States. They hav. "a
discreet ION as 10 The lime of admission, il
Is true: but II is a sound discretion TO be
exercised with good faith, aud not TO be
abused by being converted 10 the advan-
tage OF mselves, or 10 the extension Of
Their own power. Now, This is Tie only
discretion they have ever enjoyed for
IN every instance IN which a cession OF
| territory las been made 10 The u. States.
| a provision has been introduced into the
articles OF cessIon, 10y which the United
States have become morally bound iO
admit HE coded territory TO assume the
rank of state, and TO become member
oi The contederacy. Such has been the
case of all the cessiOns from the old ihir-
Teen states, and such is also The case Of
| tue territory IN question, forming part OF
that which was coded 10 the United States.
| by the t:ealy of 1903.
| The cases of new STATES 10 he erected
| within the limits of an old slate, are re-
| garded as totally irrelevant TO this ques-
! non As integral parts OF the old stale,
lhey enjoy all The rights and privileges of
'reemen: They possess their stale con-
sliiuiIons and laws, and exert without
! coEiroui, the lnesiimable right of self go-
| vcrlinent. A refusal iU ADM, them ia the
character OF new siaies into the Union, is
no outrage upon their constitutional pr-
| viieGes. As 10 them the authority OF
| Congress, 10 refuse admission iuro fhe
Union is absolute, permanent, and uncon-
iroulabie; no obligation TO admit, being
Imposed by The constitution or by any
| COMPACT" Bnt even as 10 them, IL will
| be presently seen thai The right of refu-
sal does not carry with IL the right TO i'm
| pose conditions.
whether case can ever occur in which
The United States may become possessed
OF territories either by conquest or by
| purchase, which they will be under no
| obligation To admit into The Union, ex-
cepi at their discretion, il is not now
necessary 10 enquire. Even under that
state OF things, ii might we'll be question.
ed whether the Congress of the United
| States would have the moral power Of
holding III perpetual bondage territory
SO acquired. The assertion of such ii
right, would i'll become those, lie fonn-
dalton Of whose liberty rests upon the
right 10 break the letters Of colonial vas
salage. We must brand our fathers as
re6etS, u we admit the .i2ht TO retain the
territories in political servitule forever ::
we must look upon That Congress which
should exert such power, as ty,ants, if
we do not
But these things are here irrelevant
Whatever case may III future present il
sell, none has heretofore existed, in which
| Congress has moi been bound by solemn
| compact TO admit lis territories into The
Uulon, so soon as Tie principles of the
| federal constitution would allow. If so,
! The first principle OF the memorlaIisIs has
tailed them, since IL cannot be shewn
that The government of the u. States has
ever possessed the tight in relation TO any
OF lis territories, of denying it forever
the privilege OF admission into the Union.
The consequence which has been de.
duced from this assumed position is even
more iallacious than the proposition IL
self II Is coniended, that as Congress
have tie discretion to admit or TO refuse
TO admit, they have consequently a right
TO annex 10 the act OF admission sucll
conditions as IN their discretion they
may think nrnnpr Hnwever fair ihis