Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-03-20
WASHIHCroY, March 9.
II tp,c curSory remarks on the late Ses
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the prediction has been realized, that the
agitation OF the Missouri subject to 50 late
period OF the late session of Congrss, would
defeat much useful legislation. Ii has been
SAID, that we wronged the opponents to- the adj
mission OF Missouri by such limitations. To
this we reply, that we only st-ted facts, and
anticipated consequences that could not but
result fiom them. When men individually
are IN safe ot agitation, they are not in a
condIiion to do business, and still less when
cohgregated. When the ocean is vexed by
raging winds, the mariner ofnecessity lies By,
content to furl his sail when it requires all
his skill to keep his good ship fom founder
irg under bare poles. With respect to the
bianeof what is past, we have sad no more
'han that, 1t the admission of Missouri into
the Union had not bern opposed, this state Of
things had not happened. To those who con-
scientiousIy opposed the admission Of Missou-
RI, we should be the last to show any thing
IKE disrespect We believe, indeed, that
such as opposed the admission o. Missouri, IN
order to compel her, by refusing to adInit
her on any other terms, to Introduce iUto her
constitution a clause inhibitirg slavery, labor
ed under the disadvantage of incorrect infor-
nation, and OF misapprehension Of the Ell
feet OF the course which they proposed. The
private letters from Missouri ought not SO
much to have been relied on as the unanimous
declaration of her authorized age:ts; and,
whatever Missouri might have dune had no
attempt been msde TO cuerce her, we are per-
suaded she would never. und.r compulsion,
have introduced such feature into her con-
stltutlon The whole affair, however, is now
happily settled, and we only advert to il as u
preliminary 20 q few observations OIL the late
session of Congress.
or the acts which passed. we have publish
ell list an(I xve shall in N Il no u,, ,,,a.a,t
our readers with general veiw OF the effect
of their provisions.
Vi bills reported, and not finally acted
upo", there were LETT, OH the table of the
House IT Representatives alone, more tkdn one
hnntired-not to spesk of measure. which
were not reported upon All these bills must be
introduced de novo at the next SESSION which,
does not commence until the LIST Monday IN
DeceMber uext, as all bills pending, in what
ever stage of their progress through either
house, tall to the ground of course, on the ter
,lnation, not Of every session, but of each
Cong ess.
The great subject of the proposed alteration
OF the tariff Of duties on the importation of f9-
reign goods, was not once touched during the
session, though repeatedly pressed by the
author OF the measure. The bill of kindred
ongn, tor laying duties on sales of mercaar-
iisr 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 donot know
that it can be considered national misfor.
tune, that the first of these did not become a
law; but it is Certainly particular grievance
To an important class OF the community, that
IT was not seriously taken up with a view to
decision on i, in one way or other.
The !ili, which passed the Senate, for a.
mendrg In one or two particulars, the char.
r OF the Back of the United States, vas
not even looked at by the House of. Repre-.
sentatlves,
Two or three bills concerning ivalid pen.
sioners we're passed over, as also were two or
three respecting the fisheries and fishing YES.
sells.
The collectors and other officers Of the Gus
toms, and postmas,ers, and public officers of
all grades and descriptions, are indebted TO
the press of other business Tor escaping with
out being shorn of part at least of the beams
of Office.
The proposed occupancy of the mouth of
Columbia RIVER so far as the bill reported in
the House OF Representatives bad any thing 10
do with it, was postponed to a more convent
ent season.
There cannot be any court of the United
States, nor any officer of the United States,
within the State of Missouri for the present
year, the bill for extending the laws of the u
niied States to that State having re eyed the
go-5y, as it is Familiarity said. Let us hoEe
these People have no disposition to violate the
laws of the Union, and that no citizen of sny
other state has any ground whereon to COM
mence suit against any one OF them. If he
has, patience is his only remedy tor the pre-
sent.
The bill to abolish imprisonment for debt
on process issued from the Courts of the u
nited States, the passage OF which would
alone have shed lustre over the present
Congress, was not so much as read in the
house in which it was reported by a com
mittee We have no doubt, however, that
the proposition will be revived at the next
session.
Owing to the hurry Of business on the last
day or two of tue Session, at least oRe bill Tor
carrying into effect the stipuations of treaties
with the Indian tribes, was not passed-in
co sequence OF which no Agent can be APP
pointed to the Choctaws, who, by late rrea-
~, are to be turned over from this side ct tie
Mississippi t. the other. II is possible that
he delay OF their migration for a twelve
month will be the consequences.
These are few of the measures not finally
acted upon, TO which we Will add, although
VIC have before spoken of it, the bill to =
tIb,ish Uniform Systen Of Bankruptcy.
We mention this subject again, for the pur
pose OF frankly stating, to the friends Of That
rneasufe, our views of il. We have sincere
ly desired tue passage OF law OH this sub
ct because it was so earnestly called for by
the commercial interest, aud because, under
he decisions of the highest Judicial Tribunal,
il has been made almost indispensable. We
were not unaware, that there al different Opt
nions, even amongmcrcantile men, on the poll
cy of such law--and that there is an nyiAci-
Die repugnance to it, on the minds of many Of
our legislators, from its applying, though ap.
plying uaiioimiy, to a limited class Of our iel.
low citizens. We perceived, however, that
lhefc was no nrn5shllItY Of its passlnE IN any