Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-07-24
DOMESTIC.
MISSOURI LEGLSL.qTURE.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, JUNE Z.
REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE
Mr., Bates from TIC select Committee 10 ahom
ipas referred, so mach ofHe Governors mes
sage as relates TO Ne admission Of the state
Of Missouri INTO the Uhion--Reported.
The Committee to whom were referred so
much OF the Governors message, as relates
to the resolution of congress providing for the
admission of Missouri into the Union, having had
the same under consideration, beg leave to re-
port:
That 1t is to be viewed with much regret.
the occurrence of any controversy which may
have arisen IN congress upon the subject of the
admission OF Missouri iuto the Union upon an
equal footing with the original states more
especially as this controversy has been very
much calculated to disturb the peace and har-
mony of the Union, so much to be desired
by every friend and patriot of his country.
But Il affords matter of graduation that IA
period has at length arrived, when an end is
likely to be put to this dispute, upon principles
OF safety TO the constitution of the United
State and compatible with the just rights of
Missouri Your committee cannot entertain
the idea that Congress could ever have sup
posed that the convention which formed the
constitution of Missouri, or any legislative
body organized under the same, could have
intended, or can ever hereafter intend by any
official and public act of theirs to infringe upon
any OF the articles or provisions contained in
the constitution Of the United States in as
much as this idea is at once repealed by the
consideration, that the first obligation imposed
by that convention upon themselves, and, by
the constitution which they formed, upon all
succeeding legislative bodies, was and is. a
solemn oath to support the constitution of the
U. States ; which oath ever has been and it is
to be hoped ever will be considered as of para
mount authority and obligation and as fur
Their consideration, il is to be hoped they may
be permitted to add, without being deemed
arrogant, that the citizens of Missouri as duly
appreciate their obligations under the Consti-
tuition ofthe United States, and the blessings
OF happy Union under the same ; ana feel
as ardent an attachment to it, as an inherit
ance transmitted TO them by their forefathcrs
ana as the great charter of their political
and civil liberties, as any other portion of the
confederacy and that they can lave no other
wish than to see it handed down, unmarried
to their latest posterty. If, therefore, the con-
ventlon have erred in the formation of any
article ofthe constitution of Missouri, 1t must
have been unintentionally done but it is not
believed by your committee that they have
erred even In the clause objected TO, upon its
ton in forming the constitution of Missouri.
had, as every succeeding Legislative BODY I'M
der the same will have, in all their official and
public acts, in the first instance, to consult
their own sound discretion and Judgment. in
order to prevent any interference with the pro-
visions OF the federal constitutiOn-yet. if they
should at any time have been SO unfortunate
as unintentionally 10 commit an error. if is be-
lleved that the Judiciary of the o. States is
the only proper tribunal, constituted for the
hna! decision of all such questions, when an
INJURY shall have been sustained and com
planned OF that the general government
have no right, when territory shall have been
authorized, rs Missouri was, TO form consti
tuition OF state government, for herself, 70 in
tertere in the free and unrestrained exercise OF
that right, by imposing any previous cond-
tons or restrictions whatever: but that. I'm all
such cases, the general government as well as
the other states IN the union, will ever have to
depend, In the first instance, upon the sound
discretion, Judgment and patriotism of the ter
rltory, as upon that ofthe states, in not disturb.
ing the harmony Of the union by any uncon-
stitutonal act of hers. 1t was supposed. that
the positions as here stated had not only been
fully sanctioned by the decision of congress
In the case of Missouri at the session before
the last, it is also believed that they have been
always heretofore acted on by them in the adj
mission of new states into the union 1t is
therefore, deeply TO be regretted, that Con
gress should have changed this lust, liberaIand
pacific course, as heretofore pursued and ex-
tended towards the other new states coming
into the Union, by adopting very different
one towards Missouri. 1t was fondly hoped
as had been the expectation of all, that This
dispute had been finally ended at the session
before the last of Congress, when an attempt
had been made, by those unirendly'to the
rights of Missouri, TO impose certain restric-
| tons upon her in the formation of her con
stititution |; but which not having becn sus.
tanned, ended in a compromise which left Mis-.
sour, as she should be, free to form her own
constitution without any otherrestrnint or con-
ditiOn than what the constitution ofthe United
States imposes but in this Just expectation
we have found ourselves disappointed for
during the last session of congress, when Ms
| sour, by her constitutional agents. had pre-
sented her constitution, the dispute was again
| revived, by selziug upon single clause in her
constitution, mot palpably contrary to an,
part of the federal compact, but NJ most could
be construed as Of doubtful meaning only.
and Missouri thereby denied admission. Thi.
second dispute, like the first, also ended in ;
sort OF compromise which produced resolu.
ton OF congress on the second day of March
1921, " for the admission of Missouri into fin,
| Union upon an equal footing with the origin
al states = but upon previous condition (,
be performed or complied with by means o
her legislative body, as therein expressed
which resolution is in the words following
viz:
| Upon the fundamental condition, that tn,
fourth clause ofthe twenty-sixth section of tn
third article of the constitution, submitted Of
tire part of said state to Congress. shall neye
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