Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-28


,ven it was an unintentiona and accidental result
There we're presented various plans, by different
gentlemen. each covering most of the great leading
features of general plan of government, and most
containing proposition as to new States Amongst
them were those of Mr.. Randolph, Mr.. Patterson,
and Others After discussion, and in that discus
sion not a word was said on the extent of his pow
err all were committed to the Committee of Detail,
and that committee reduced them to form, and re-
ported an entire constitution, which the convention
proceeded to discuss and amend. Whenever any
alteration or amendment was proposed, the purpose
and object to be effected was fully stated and dis
cussed. IL any change of piraseology was pro-
posed it is now entirely unfair and inadmssblc to
hold that any covert and sinister object was inten-
ded, or more or different object was designed Than
the one then avowcd and discussed, and TO ehect
and produce which the change was proIessed 10 De
offered, and for which it was adopted WIN these
remarks let us proc ucd to inquire what was this
section as it stood in the report OF the COMMITTEE
Of Detail, ana what was done, on discussion, after
wards; for nothing was said on it before .,
AS reported by the COMMITTEE OF Detail TO tue
convention this section was in these words:
"New States, lawfully constituted and establish
ed within the limits OF the United states, may DC
admitted by the Legislature INTO TINS Government
but TO such admission two-thlrds OF the members
present, in each mouse, shall be necessary. II q
new State shall arise within the limits OF any oil
Wv PiCoOHI plutCSi lHC Oii'N"' VI wv ~
OF such States shall also De necessary TO It's odms-
sion. If the admission be consented to, the new
States shall be admitted on the same terms with the
original States. But the Legislature may make
conditions with the new States concerning the pub
lie debt which shall then be subslstlng"-(! Madl-
son Papers, page l2ll)
Now, by the express words of the first sentence
this was confined to States tchin He then Limits o.
The country; and because these words were not pre-
served, 1t Is now insisted that the power was nlen-
ded to be enlarged. Let US inquire when and how
these were lett Out ana whether, When IL was done,
any such intent was stated, discussed or even sug'
gestcd.
q. Morris moved to strike out the two sentences,
aud he said, she did not wish to bind down the
Legislature to admit Western States on the terms
here stated" Tins proposition was discussed and
adopted, and thus those two sentences were reject
ed. Y Madisons Papers, page llJI
1t is here observable, that the subject matter
there understood, was the UeStcrn States i'll our ter
rory
Mr. l.. Martin and Mr. g. Morris, moved also to
strike out these words " But to such admission the
consent Of two-thrds of the members present shall
be necessary" = Mad Papers, p. 1859
The proposition. so presented, was clear and dis
tinct and to one points that is, to strike out the
two-thlrds, and leave 1t to majority. In order to
try Hs question, and before any vote was taken on
1t, as some Of the section had been rejected, and
this would still further mutllatc the section, and
would require still more words to be struck out to
wit, members "preSeRt in each House." Mr.. Morris
moved the following as a substitute for the whole
article:
"Now States may be admitted by the Lcrisla-
ture into the Union, but no new State shall be Gre
ated within the limits Of any of the present States
without the consent oil the Legislature of such