The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-12-26

Consequences might result from MOTE pro.
tracted irritation OF the passions Of the people
public feeling was, in truth, 50 much excited
at the moment as almost to threaten the peace
aud harmony of the country AMI IT was
heretore with heartfelt satisfaction that III any
sHbones; republican, who has a just sbhof
renee OF the principles, aud Is perfectly aware
Of the evils Of slavery, behsld in what was cal
led the " conpromise," the ,.uresi. il not The
only pledge of returning tranquiliy~~ii was
adopted and jheir lundest wi she's III was sup
posed were about to be permanently realizei-
How VAN the hope by the rasl, aud iIi-ipdgei
policy ofthe people of Missouri. The hyi,a Of
.di'cord, we fear, has again been uokenne ed,
tand what evils aud desoai iou may mark LiSI
fcourse cannot readily be 'h1esehR
!. Although il is rsasonabl Aipauspsetha u
| dividuals may. haye honestly titferetT n, ppm
ion in relation In lhe expediency of auIh,ft~<e.
the people of Missouri to form state con,iiM
ton for The purpose ofsbeins admitted into Inc
Union as separate aud distinct sovereignty.
unre srIctrd on the sub jet Oh slavery, it is in
possible Ia De equally charitable in the pies
en-, nsisncl1rlfwe therefore most sincerely re-
! joice. a, fb61 by unanIm'y which appears
aos 10 exist " 1hss state respecting the provi~
.,on un'ihe propo4eJ Constitution OF Missouri
rendering : impsr'tve upon the Legs s,uTe
To prohhJefres persons OF color from tecoln.
{, lnx inhabitants Of that state Ii is very gan
orally admitted by The candid and Impartial
al. s.ery-psriy 10 be gross ,iolstfoapI indi-
lyidpaEy,gtika and epen niraction Of The paiionsl
constitulion--lt certsInl. hurting tsHance
ia the very teeth Of Congress, lor Iauguags can.
90, more fully express the rlght which IA Sc.
c6ret Cor every free citizen To locate himself
lrhStever bis insres, OF h. pleasure msy call
4 bin whia.ul territorial limits of the country,
$than is dope n Ahal. at,se OF the National
Coast'tuliol .."h.teS1 i Is declared that = the
citizens ofeaca state ssqtl be entitled To all The
privileges and i4stkafe Mt citizen. in the
several states" NhatMe Ihe prisilerM aud
immuniiies" here ALLUDED to? I. has been justly
observed by Mr.. SAnGgAsr. abr enlightened
rtpresen,stivstfioa,) ~ city Of fhilalelphia,
HAT" Ioconol4n" ss1anoug the io1sa but most
yaered rights oflhe cis,zens-is airs country Il,
- national, or ra,isr in lhxlsngjsse OF iha.
profound statesman, RuFu. .kfss, 4, federal
fright, which no state auisiE.fs an eNscr des-
Troy or sbridge--!iis possessed BY he citizens
OF every state and Of every cp,or, because il
is guaranteed 70 all the iize,.s Of The United
STATES, a tisb, over which state sovereignty
cannot extend, being expressly reserved to he
!! citizens generally BY the constitution oil the
iss,iod.
! II is not intended to deay TO Missouri The
power of regulating her own affairs IN her own
way if in thus doing, the rights Of others,
which are guaranteed by the paramount au-
thority OF he general government, are not I'M
lpaired--or in other words, we have nothing
to do with her internal police, or any reguIa-
tions which she may deem salutary and necss.
sary in the government OF her own citzsas,
provided they do not mliits,e with the federal
or national rights Of the citizens of the several
states-Bui !, - impossible 10 regard the ia
tionAI constitution az operative and obligatory,
and al The same time recog1ze stale sose
rvign,y para Mount to and wholly Independent
Of the genera government; and we therefore
protest against such an unsarrsnlsbls assunp-
lion oi power in Missouri. which goes TO the
entire destruction Of iocomot,on an indefeasitle
night of he citizens OF every state Ia pre-
scribing cerisin limits 10 their movements, ami
ssysng with the voice of one having authority,
thus far shalt thou come and no farther.
II 1t Is not repugnant 10 the constitution oi
the un ION for the several states to exercise The
power OF inlerdcting free citizens from &C
curing g local haplatioa" within he limits
OF such states, because they have no, the :. by
,nclure OF the skin" winch some OF their
brethren may possess, although their hearts
may b- white ,.ihe virgin snow. II certainly
is mol in relation TO any other class OF free
citizens in The country Upon the same prin-
ciple, even The President OF The United States
might be driven from his hsme and his coun-
try, aud so with every oAcsr of he national
government. as well as the humbest indlsidu-
al in the community, should either policy or
interest dictate such course-How perfectly
absurd such a proposition at once appears
aud yet It Is no, more 81 IN reality than the
extraordinary provision IN the constitution OF
M,ssouri--lor ih, might be the practical re-
sull oft, IL The principle IS once asssnsj to-
Can we therefore, under soch circumstances,
with any propriely OF safety to the union con
sent to her admission into il ? surely not II We
regard our own rights, and wish to MAINTAIN
iuvioate the constitution under which we live
aud prosper.
II is really worthy Of. some graduation that
Il -. Ii.