Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-12-26


Convention called for that purpose, form
for themselves a constitution and state
government, which constitution aud state
government, so formed, is republican,
aud in conformity to the provisions Of the
said act" The reason assigned for her
admission is, that she has formed eonsti-
tuition in conformity to the provisions Of
the act Of the last session. How could
the committee know this BY their owa
examination. Could Congress, then, de-
clare this to be the case without having
examined the constitution Of the new state
Certainly NOT. And when, in the act ati-
ihofiziag the formation of this constitu-
lion, we're found Two Limitations, that It
should be republican, and that il should
not be repagnant to The constitution Of the
United States, did II not become indis-
pensible, before passing preamble and
resolution ike this, that The members
OF this house should be satisfied in
their own minds that these acquisitions
have been complied with II. in single
article, the constitution of Missouri be
repugnant to that of the United States.
said Mr.. s. can We seriously assert that
she has formed aconstitnlion according to
the authority given to herr And, when
called Oh to say how we eau reconcile it
TO ourselves TO sanction such a contradic-
ton 10 terms, will it be sufficient to say
that We have nothing to do with that qiies-
ton, and will leave IL TO the Judiciary 10
decide il We nothing to DO with il !
exclaimed Mr.. Sergeant. Why. then,
prescribe to tho people Of Missouri any
conditions in the first instance Why not
say, We gave her right TO form a Con-
stit0tion she has fotnIed il, and whether
il be or be net repuenatit TO the Constiiu
ton OF the United States, she is member
OF the Union The contradiction was suf-
iiciently apparent in the fact ofthe intro
duction Of this resolution: II would be
seen at once, that the House was neither
conforming TO the Constitution of the
United States, 10 the act of the last ses-
sion, DOR TO any principle heretofore OBJ
served in the ADHESION Of states. Could
it be said that Congress had parted With
the power Of looking into the Constilu-
ton OF Missouri, when it had expressly
prescribed conditions which should be 10
TO its acceptance The terms
OF the compact, the act of the last session
was TO be considered compact, between
the U. States aud Missouri, were perfect
y clear-and he took this opportunity
If saying that if Missouri was involved
10 difficulty-if Congress found itself in
the Union was disturbed on
his occasion-if this house was impelled
% the consideration Of questions which it
vas painful to act npon-it was not the
ault of the Constitution of the United
States, but il was the fault of The people
If Missouri. II might be their error
IN error which they would be glad to a.
vail themselves Of an opportunity TO cor
Mr.. S. said, he could not be-
ieve that the people of Missouri would |
AVE wantony introduced in their consii-
ution clause at variance with the con-
;titution Of the United States, under an |
that this act of admission was
mere form. They would not wantonly |
nave doue it, for Il could not be either |
heir interest or their inclination to try the |
emper of the Congress Of the Uui;ed |
try how far lis regard 10 the |
Constitution would bear it out in the con-
est, or how far ii would consent to sur
render q portion Of the rights of the whole |
Union TO avoid difficulty which the
people Of Missouri have themselves Gre
ated. There was prescribed TO them but
one condition Ito that condition they
had not couformed, and they are not en-
titled to admission into the Union. The
failure to fulfil the compact is on the part
Of the people OF Missouri--and said Mr..
S. when We come, in case of this sort TO
The question between remanding this con-
stiiution for consideration, or giving
up the smallest possible portion of consti-
tutional power, | trust that the people Of
every part of the Union would bear us
out in saying that the Constitution shall
De iuviolate-and that we shall not be the
irst to set precedent, which begun to-day,
may be followed tomorrow, until it 10
Tolves the very existence Of our govern
nent
Would the people Of Missouri, Mr.. S.
lsked. think more highly of Congress
we're it TO yield to them OH this occasion II
Would they not hereafter come into the
Union, with more respect for Congress,
and with more respect for themselves too
with higher sense of the value of adj
mission into the Union, il Congress now
fairly met this question, thus giving to
The people of Missouri an assurance, that
what was now done with respect to them
should be hereafter the rule OF conduct
for Congress, as TO others asking admis-
sion iuto the Union Would it not shew
to them that Congress was disposed to do
N r.