The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-01-18
Mr.. HOLMES SPEECH. =

Not having been so fortunate as 10 Sc any
other account Of this gentleman's speech on The
bll for the admission Of MISSOURI with the right
to exclude free citizens Of colour, il is not
tanned in the regular report Of the debate pub
lished IN the NATIONAL lNTELLIGENCER, are
compelled TO put up with such imperfect speci-
mems 81 il. az we can gather from the speeches IN
reply TO his, which have been reported ID order.
Every state takes a natural pride 10 the talents
ot its representatives welas an interest I'D their
votes, which makes il desirable to gather up all
the fragments 81 their eloquence and the proofs of
their devotedness 10 the constitutional rights OF
their constituents. that none of them may tie lost.
The following extract l. taken from the con-
clusion Of the speech OF the Hon. Mr. MORRILL,
of N. HI
Mr. President a few words il reply 70 what
has fallen from the gentleman from Maine (ME.
Hoimes) and have done.
The gentleman says, = the doctrine that free
blacks have a right 70 enter free states u dan
gerous." | am little surprised 20 hear a gentle
man Of % much acuteuess ia disquistions upon
constitutional laws, calculating upon consequent
ces which have no immediate come xion with the
subject. lie light as well argue that CONNER
ciaI enterprise to the Euxne sea, would be det-s
rimental 20 Massachusetts, and therefore Missouri
must keep all free citizens Of colour ont If her
erritory,ss to argue that if free blacks may enter
any free state, Maine viii be infested with them-
in that state.
= state may exclude auy person" Here We
are at Issue. ] By no means admit the doctrine
Any state NAV regulate the terms upon which
smigr2uts shall become residents; but no state
has any right q exclude them TO utterly pro-
hibit- ~ regulate by law the terms or inhabitan-
cy, are materially and essentially different: tb.
one 4 within the municipal power or every state.
the other expressly prohibited by the constitu.
ton Of the United States
Bot saws the gentlemen, = The constitution
means when they get in, they shall have privi-
leges, bat they may he kept out' This II a little
curious for a gentleman learned in the law. Then
# 4 person were to ascend in an air balloon. al
small distance from the line Of Missouri aud safely
land within her territory, the constitution secures
to him privileges aud immunties N butit makea
no provision for MS crossing the line BY land.
Under this exposition, where ID the free ingress
and egToss." Of the citizens Of each ate guarsu-
tecd ~ the constitution? Sir, your constitution a.
Ike nose Of wax. Your liberties and priviIpyer
are bubble. Your union, domestic Tranquility.
and prospect Of common defence are Frustrated
to the ground.-The gentleman observes.
mulatto though a citizen in che state going into
NlssonrI, has no other right than mulatto has il
MISSOURI" Here are at issue again. This
doctrine fatty deny. The salubri6us air ana
fertile soil Of Missouri, can DsYer metatsorphoss,
a Tree citizen INTO a slave neither can the con
shtutlon Of Missouri do II. We're the na.itinn
true then a black yellow free citizen Of Mine
going into Virginia, would be a slave AsI b-t,rs
1t is citizen only. and not colour thar
comes into consideration. IN deciding this ouest;,
but the gentleman in ~ ~ Gftciing tons, en.ts
all orr sympathIes in view Of the consequences
Of rejecting this unconstitutional instrument from,
Missouri. For these, sir, ] conceive congress i
not accountable F; aud therefore such imaginary
phantoms are not proper subjects Of discussion
nor suitable besCons TO direct orr course Missou
r was permitted under law Of Congress. 10 forra
a constitution, republican and not repuguantt L.
the constitution Of the United States.a II wa.
expected she would perform this ID good faith
II she has utterly failed in this. formed and Drs-
sented constitution repugnant to the oon.titu-
ton Of the United States, and unpleasant cossa-
4uences result, the fault Is her own There can
De no provision IA the constitution Of Missouri
introduced; Of course all the cor.
sequences rest upon .njs4Ouri. These. however
are not 10 come into our consideration the con.
stitution Of the United States, alons is to dirocs
our course
But the gentleman discover. anoi6er difiouItv
IN case this constitution j. rejected he i unable
70 determine IN what condition Missouri viii ~.
whether territory, or stale, or neither With
aspect 70 this. err have only to observe r th.t
gentleman cannot divine, presume It i within
I'M scope Of Congress and merely hat circun-
iaHce wound not convince me, the object IL
nattainable.
would also add, that every difficulty of this
md which could possibly have arisen nigh, have
een avoided by precautions similar ID those ca
efved ~ MAISE. She III the first place nett
iooed the Legislature Of Massachusetts, for leave
l form a constitution and independent state
MS was granted. She then formed her cops,itt,
ION and fixed her election for state officers after
ne probable time ofthe adjournment of the tbey
as SSH If & or
ttution for the appreciation VI CONGRESS- 49,
admission into the union. This was done. Aca-
he became, by an act Of Congress stated, the
inion, she elected her officers, aud organized he-
yove rnment
4 Missouri had pursued the same roderst.
md consistent course, there could have been ",
possible difficulty with respect to her character
n condition.
N rrr.N