Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-06
RICHMOND, JANUARY 6, 1870.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
MISSOURI DEBAJE

-. composition, n is with sincere reluctance
that venture forth IA Your cOluMns.
especially OF question already illusirat
ed and adorned by the polished periods
OF SOuflrOn, and The more studi a and
emphatic sentences of AN AMERICAN.
There are however some points in thus
lmporian, question which have scarcely
been touched by one of these writer's;
and not sufficiently insisted on by the
other. Pardon me for altering to-, my
augurIcs OF III on this agiiated question.
Wiatcv may be said upon the cons,i
tutional power of Congress to prescribe
The condition nav under debate, i, is clear
20 mvmind that The treaty between + auce
and the United States, ceding Louisiana
TO the latter, forever precludes the eXer.
else OF such power.
The 81 article OF that treaty was I'm
these words: "I'he inhabuapis of the
coded territory shall he incorporated in
the Union of the United States, and ad
mtted as soon as possible according TO
The principles of The federal government,
10 The enInynent OfGUthe rights, advan-
iages and immuniiies of The citizens of
The United States" Here then is posi-
i've stipulation made for the benefit OF
The SUBJECTS whom France by treaty was
about TO transfer 10 The government of
1he United States. A stipulation ON which
every inhabitani Of The coded territory so
long IA he abides in il, has an absolute
right TO insist Of Tie benefit of which.
Congress can no more deprive him than
~ can any other individual or state of lis
1beriies and franchise. By this conveu,
non not only all civil but all political
rights were guaranteed 10 This TERRITORY.
aud TO all ITS inhabitants. Slew me then
aHy one citizen OF any one state divesied
oi ms political right 10 allow by the con-
seni OF The members OF his state. the in-
PRODUCTION ct slarery-and abandon the
question. But no citizen of the United
S'ates had ever done so. Even fslavery
mad been interdicted bv the state cousii.
'u,i'h :, IL would not alter The case, for the
cHlzens OF state may alter their consIi-
1ntion-to alter il would be part of their
political rlght-wliich is secured by the
words " all the rights" in The treaty of
e.eSSion
His clause OF the treaty then secured
not only The civil rights of The people of
Louisiana, but II secured 10 every portion
OF tht ced"d territory when its population
shonid allow II, a right To be admitted to
the privileges Of self gov rnment aud ali
Tue functions of sovereignty in as full an
cx'e"t a. they wer enjoyed bv the states
al mat lime composing the Union. And
Vhere was no state which cohld not per
MI slavery; fot even had Their consli-
'ulons ln,erdlcied lt-iheir constitutions
lnigDt have been altered by consent of
tue peopie-power so to alter their censi-
tuilons would have bpen essential at,rl.
butes of sovereignty, which are equally
claimed by Louisiana under the words
winch admit them 10 the endowment of
all rights, NC. of the ciIiz ms of the United
crates. II then Congress NAV impose
ids test'I non III ferOgation Of the sove-
Ielgh'y al the futHre staIes of Louisiana
"'at restrictions may II not impose Ii
may require the qualification of freeholds
IN voting for state Oiiiccr,-i, NAV dis.
pense with all qualification il NAV require
that all elections 10 Congress shall be
approved bv The President. Such regu,
'aionS whether constitutional or not, are
uIeclly repusnant 10 tie provisions of
ms treaty, winch Congress can no more
a"hai man u can The constitution. The
PROVISION Is not like the ordinary slipula-
lions between nations, which are tenno
'dry ana revocable this is irrevocable
anu eternal: because il was a condition
annexed TO The property when transferred
which lnlIeres Ia il, so long as the pro-
perry anu the United States exist.
IL Is no answer 10 this argument 10 say
tila' the injury is TO France If we violaie
me treaty and she alone can complain,
lie injury IS not to France, il is 10 our
ONn cIllzens-tO men surrendered TO orr
)ai'h AMI honor by France. II is irue. If
we violate the treaty we act basely and
perhdiouslY 10 France but do we on that
account act more hon0rably or iIsfly TO-
"ard The inhabitants of Louisiana, sur
rendered on the schema faith of nations
10 our dominion
bh' Tie hames of Philanthropy and
Liberty have been invoked-and The cai-
alogu' OF metaphors has been exhausted
III heprccaiing the curse of more ex
'ehneu migration OF slaves. The minds
OF 'heSe amiablc enthusiasts nd rhetorical
parrots seem eHlIrely TO have forgotten.
maj no lIuman being not already n slave
Is TO be made one bv their admission INTO
missouri. But say they, tIp means of
subsistence being abundant in Missouri
me black population will increase more
faplhIy-chIIdrVn Who now perish from
WdnI VIII 1--we aud have others. Nerci(ul
Loo what sort OF Philanthropy is Ibis
~ cruelty IN mothers 10 nurse ileir
"hsprIng-aHd treason in masters to pro
Vlue sustendnce for their slaves or is if
mercy TO condemn by q legislative act
more cruel than the lnfanlicide OF China
imiillons OF iniants 10 famine and dea,hl-
,Whdi can be- more dctpstable. what more
O,dSphPmous ihanio war with The DEGREES
oI heaven, and revoke the benpdIction of
'heir creator, That they should increase
ana multiply Hapless people raied
progeny Of often Ing Can-let NV perse
Cu'ofs frJoi'e, FOR here are friends more
uiedpiul than all thy enemips-fripn 8
WHO would choke tie yerv fountain Of
tH'Stence--who wOuIdu make the wombs