Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-27
MISSOURI QUESTION.
From the Ieorpetoun Nrss.pper

Saturday, Jan %.
MIR. EDrroR-The Senate room. which I
nave more frequently visited, has, during the
preceding week, and as long as the present.
momenious question has been the subject of
discussion. exhibited sufficient evidence olthe
interest taken Ivy the community al large in
II decision. The lobby has been constantly
enctrcied by ladies, apparently of the highest
rank. while members from tue House of Rem
reseRtatives, and other persons OF distinction.
nave generally occupied (standing from lie
cessity ITS passages and vacancies and both
Galleries have been crowded with spectators
equally interested and attentive. But yester.
day The house was ii led TO overlooking at an
Garner hour than usual, in expectation of
nearing one, perhaps young in legislation, but
old In experience and eratorical fame and
whose abilities have been too long and univer-
sally admired to render il matter of deIica-
cy TO speak of them
can hardly pretend, sir, TO give you even
an outline OF the mastery specimen of parlia-
mentary eloquence exhibited vest dny by
hr. Pinkney. There MAS. II mistak Ike not ia
It's very excellence som thing which re. dcrs
description extremely difficult, inasmuch as it
impaired :he capacity, Il speak for myself
for easy recollection There was raridity
and power calculated to astouish and over
whelm an ordinary mind like my own, sub
veiting The equabiity of its poise, and dis
turning the calmer movements ofits faculties
You viii perhaps smile at what may he my
sihguiarlty, hut 10 is the case, that ALWAYS
LOOK BACK on an uncommon effort of oratori-
al power, as lift had been a dream, OF which
we recoliect the impression, but can scarcely
separate the parts which constitute its univ
Inc speech of yesterday, fit did not paralize
my reason has at least PLAYED the antic with
nay memory, OH which like all unsubstantiaI
pageant fading 1t left but a rack behind. 1t
may ne however not uninteresting TO Yourself
or your readers to give you (wllat can the
divisions aud some OF the topics of his speech
OF fatner tiat part OF 1t which he has tiaished
ne eNorulum abounded throughout with a
deiIcacy aud perfection 6. language and a
richness OF imagery which your 6orrespon-
ueht has never heard eXceled bN an extempo-
raneous speaker Mr.. II alluded in it's COM
mencemeut TO the magnitude and difficulties
OF tile present subject and stated a conse-
qHent and unusual reluciahce on his part to
engage in its discussions. He enumerated the
obstacles. which he, III common with others
was Obliged TO oppose, in support of what he
ueemen the authority of the constitution and
the claims OF justice. He was obliged 10 as
sumo The appearance of conlending against
principles of a kindly and beneficent nature on
when had been erected a lovely and mp losing
iahr!c-ot opposing the plausible pleas of hui
NANNY ~ 1Iety, motives, he said which win
an easy entrance into every susceptible heart,
but Which, operating alone, are apt To render
our decisions rather amiabio thu" ,-ies. He
alec Lev he said. that hV had to contend with
a dlinculty from another quarter; lie meant nm
aversion, which had been nurtured in his
breast from his earliest infancy To slavery nm
All us forms. lie therefore hoped, that If in
The cCIYic tlOnS Which he should declare ON fb.
present occasion, he should be guilty of error
u wOnid be attributed To lis Judgment and
not 10 has heart. After some structures which
he thought proper TO introduce here, OF the
exhibitions aud manner of some gentleman
who had preceded him, and perhaps other re-
marks, which do not recollect, he came To
Tue Immediate question under discussion,
poets:
The coustitnt;op,I r;oI,t IN NIB a. $500
ed RESTRICTION; the treaty by which Louisiana
was coded 10 the United States; and The ey-
pediency or policy of such measure.
ne h!st Of these great divisions occupied
Tue remainder ct thesday. and he here embark.
ed upon vast ocean of argunen,atiye re-
search INTO which. even If / was able | sbouId
not, I'm the narrow limits necessarily nrescrlb-
ed me, attempt TO trace his progress. Ii isa
heId IN whose bou"die's extent, destitute as
am OF conductor as sagacious and expeTien-
ced as the Arabian Rails bel COssim shouId
lDtaIiIbly lose myself. II must suffice to saw
that he entered into minute and logical liz.
VeshSatIon OF those clauses Of the constitution
whIch ilad been applied In support of the sum
posed power OF Congress. anu strenousIv ar
eued that no nclIscOnsequenceS couid be de-
dnced from them. He then read other passa
geS which he considered as involving proofs of
the absolute incomp6tencyOf Congress 10 Law the
proposed restriction. He also offered some
remarks on the history OF the states which had
Deen admitted into the UpOn, since the for
mauoh OF The constitution; aud investigated
tue measures which Congress had pursued i'm
respect 10 them, in the course of which inves-
tlgaton lac declared his conviction that the
passage at The celebrated ordinance of 1857 in
relation to the northwestern territory was an
unconstitutional exercise " authority that il was
measure TO which the states formed ont of
That territory were notbOund to accede. and
that 1t ought MOTTO be held up to imitation
lie further remarked, that gentlemen had
Inaue oDJectlohs 10 inrtheT extension of sla-
very 'h orr country, founded, on its supposed
lncompailbiiiy with the principles of a free
and republican government and that they
iad particularly insisted OF the first sentence
OF The declaration of independence. which de.
cIaTes' mat all men are created equal. In re-
ply TO this obi eCtion Mr. T. asserted flat
though all men might he said to be uat,,raIIv
equal IN some sense, yet that Providence or
accident had rendered their conditions i'm lifc
"ldely inherent ~ not only so, but abridged
some OF theliDerties which Others euinved II
lnusiTat0n OF this position, lie drew = striking
contrast OF the condition of the rich aud ihe
poor. lie clearly showed, that every man or
entering into the social compact surrendered
MS freedom w some respects, that in others he
mIgnt ENJOY VI with more security aud in hiph
er perfection He also esta blished his position
by OihtF illustrations with uurivalled beanty
ahd cIearbeSs, connecting them with the exis-
Ience OF hayery aud minated, that as no one |
Mnu," VonS,ueF TIE partial abrdgmeUt Of |
ights aud freedom, in the cases which Inc had |
addnctd; as repugnaUf with the declaration of |
lnnependence,s so neither onght the latter in |
stance by parity OF reasoning. to be held az |
violation of that instrument
This brief and very imperfect acc,uu, Al. |
IdlteT, leave al Your disposal. not nuder The |
mwe}.on that u is even au ADEQUATE descri,. |
ioh OF Mr.. Pinkney's admirable speech. IN
20, ,on understanding, that it has unfortunately
Wv ~ reported at all, and the hope, That
able. nay "O' "' """cceP-
am Yours, Sir, respectfully,
AUDITOR.