The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1821-03-21
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From the National lnteI!igencer.


From the National lnteI!igencer.
Il te7o cursory remarks on the late Sss-
sion Of CONGRESS We need not remind
oar readers, how truly the prediction has
been realized, that the agitation of the
Missouri subject to so late period Of
the late session of Congress, would de-
feat much useful legislation. 1t has been
said, that We wronged the opponents to
the admission Of Missouri by such init
nations. TO this we reply, that we on.
Iy stated facts, and anticipated, conse.
quences that. could not but result from
them. When men individually are in
state of agitation, they are not in con-
dition to do business, and still less when
congregrated. When the ocean is vex-
ed by raging winds, the mariner of ne
cessity lies by. content to furl his sail
when it requires all his skill to keep his
good snip from laundering under bare
poles.--.With respect to the blame of
what is past, we have said no more than
that, if the admission of Missouri into
the Union had not been opposed, this
state Of things had not happened. To
those who conscientiously opposed the
admission Of Missouri, we should be the
last to shew any thing, like disrespect.
We believe, indeed, that such as oppos-
ed the admission of Missouri, in order
to compel her, by refusing to admit her
on any other terms, TO introduce into
her constitution a clause inlnbiting slav-
cry, Iabored under the disadvantage of
incorrect information, and Of a missppre-
hension Of the effect of the course which
they proposed. The private letters from
Missouri ought not so much to have
been relied on as the unanimous de-
claration Of her authorised agents; and,
whatever Missouri might have done had
no attempt been made to coe'ce her, we
are persuaded she would never under
compulsion have introduced such feat
ure into her constitution. The whole
affair, however, is now happily settled,
and we only advert to it as preliminary
to few observations on the late session
of Congress.
Of the acts which passed, we have
published list and we shall in day or
two present our readers with a general
view of the effect of their provisions.
OF bills reported, and not finally acted
upon, there were left, on the table of the
House of Representatives alone, more
than one hurdred--not to speak of meas
ures which were not reported upon.
All those bills must be introduced de no.
% at the next session, which does not
commence until the l,t Monday in De-
cember next, az all bills pending, in
whatever stage of their progress through
either house. fall to the ground ofcourse,
on the termination, not Of every session,
but Of each Congress.
The great subject of the proposed al
tcration Of the tariff Of duties or the i'm
portation Of foreign goods, was not once
touched during the session, though re-
peatedly pressed by the author of the
measure. The bill, Of kindred origin,
for laying duties on sales Of merchan-
die at auction, occupied the attention
Of the House of Representatives one day,
under rather favorable auspices, and was
then put TO sleep, to wake no more
We do not know that it can be consid-
cred national misfortune, that the first
OF these did nc, Become .,Y; but il IS