The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-01-09
Conditional admission Of Nissor


Conditional admission Of MisS0Hi.
Since the rejection Of the bill for the an
siou of Missouri i'll The House W represen-
tiyes pause has taken place in the proceeding
" that body ~ rela ton % this subject and ne
attention Of the public, a. we'll ~ Of Congrey.
has been suspended upon the different expeai.
cnts suggested for that purpose.
II would seem, as Il there was no particular
reason for perpleNity On the part az Cc4-<xas.
The condition. on which the admission of -
souri, was founded, by the act az the last@cs-
sion, not having been complied with, ITS opera
ton j. az an end and the subject naturally sub
sides. The suggestion Of Mr.. LowNDEs, that il
was incumbent on the majority ID the house N
representatives TO proceed and make some ulteri-
CT provision for the case, appears 10 be rather
gratuItous- This sort OF responsibility would
seem to rest upon the minority, II any where.
II should he rather for those who have created
the embarrassment, to take charge Of the conse
queDcfs. Bot ii this case 10 such dangers, a.
are imagined. need he anticipated. The suppo-
sed causes OF apprehension do not exist
It Is plain, that fthe bed Of Missouri be unea.
~, IL il one which she made for herself But Il
i said in excuse by her friends that she has been
caught ID trap; meaning, that II she had not
been invited 70 bold slaves, she never would
have thought Of excluding other persons. Tina
appears TO be 20 natural, thzt there need not ne
laach doubt oft !; but Il IS for those who bAited
= q settle that affair with her.
ri consideration Of the peculiar situation of
hi. eVhi hsweVer, and without much parleyip~
on me point Of Propriety, either regard to form
o. PhhciPies several suggestions have been made
IA ofaer 10 eKtucate her from this unpleasant
aNemma, and with view TO facilitate her re-
ceptlon into the union, some Of which are still
pending ham ltnF, o.
ne hr:t 10 nr EAToN's, Of Tennessee, which
prevailed IN the Senate, and Is included ia the
oiil sent down 70 the house, Withholding their
consent TO any provision in the constitution Of
missour repugnant to that OF the United States,
y any Such here be-which IL mere milk and
water the second, Mr.. Huns of this state, TO
except the clause in controversy, from the terms
q fatihcatioa-a suggestion afterwards with+
drawn by himself; and the third, that Of DIR.
IT SITS Of Massachusetts,, to remit the consttu-
tIon 10 .lIsseURI for the purpose or being ex.
plunged, az preliminary 20 her admission. one
Of these expedients appear to come up exactly
70 the eAIsehcy OF the case, though there would
seem 10 De no essential difficulty, If there were
reaI disposition on the part Of Missouri 10 meet
me point ID the true spirit Of IT, No proposition
appears yst 10 have been rendered from that
quarter Tor the admission of that territsrv uDon
the direct condition Of srpunging slarsry from its
constitution The majority Of the representa-
tives require no apology for not having volunteer,
ca the suggestion from their side OF the house
as IT rather belongs to the other division ofthat
body to relinquish the pretenson set ID On this
subject, and 70 clear the way for the passage Of
the OIL Tor that purpose by the removal Of the
emily important obstacle. In the mean time the
former stand upon the firm foothold Of the con-
stitutr7n, waiting with calmnsss and moderation
Tor the motion OF Missouri. IT the latter shews
10 inclination to mOve in the matter il il not
IEeiy that the majority in Congress will be dis
posed - disturb her tranquility. Perhaps, AZ
her friends suppose this is the best poIicv f.r
present. The slumber may operate ASIAN ana
oyne 70 her nerves and she may awake refreshed
70 receive the wholesome discipline and salutary
restraints Of the constitution on the subject Of
natural rights and national Justice
Dut mas oeen somewhat otfciousIy supps.
sec lrst1 the course of tins recent contention that
ne qneslisa OF slavery was no longer in agita-
hon but that the privilege was perfectly secu-
red 70 Missouri BY the act OF Congress passed at
last session II is true, that the question has no,
oeen directly agitated and il il possible that il
misnt thereby appear, that the principle had
Deen abandoned. But nothing could be more
erroneous. The answer to be made for Congress
is" one thing Al a time--suE Gent for the dav
4 Inc evil thereof' The case was shortly this.
An opportunity had been given 10 Missouri to
become state upon condition of forming con-
SutuIlon Tor her ewn municipal police, with no
other restriction, TO be sure than that il should
&c republican and not repugnant TO that Of the
Ohled States. Upon this hung all the law and
tue prophets-lt may De serious question per-
maps whether MISSOURI was either morally or
politically competent 10 establish slavery, as
congress could give her such right. IL
e could not restrict her. But that aside. il was
the simple business ofCongress when Missouri pre-
sented herself al its bar for admission according to
the terms OF The act, whether she had strict
~ performed the condition and complied with it's
provisions. II she had not, there was an end OF
y. The act was executed, though ii had failed
81 ITS object. 1t was therefore to use legal
Expression fLrlc.is oCici0 and it, virtue was ex-
pended Missouri was accordingly thus put on
probation aud found not TO be proof She did
net come up TO the test Like the simpleton on
Toe tree IN HOgarth's picture, shs has sawed of
the branch she was sitting on. The natural con-
sequence 10, that she remains on her own bottom
Is before. She relapsss into her territorial con-
dition, rom 5hich ia point Of fact she
properly emerged--lt j. time enough therefore
regularly TO renew the question OF restriction,
when fresh proposition is made for her admis-
sion.
Come cted with the act for the admission Of
MISSOURI, wac clause for the restriction Of
slavery in all the territory north of 3Go 3d. That
was ordnance Of Congress relating TO this
portion OF the country. only while 1t continued
in territorial condition, and was moreover re-
pealabIe at the pleasure Of the legislature. It's
operation . only temporary therefore and if the
provision for admission fails, il will probably be
oontended that the whole act il void. But it
may Je inquired what is its effect, while It contn-
vxn. H.. -