Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-02

a State, destructive of its rights, and sub
versiye of lis independence, Tor the federal 60
vernmen, or one or more States, or their people
to undertake 10 force on il the emancipation OF il
slaves. But il is sound maxim in politics. a
we'll as law and morals, that NO one has RICH
10 do lha, indirectly which be cannot do directly
and il may be added with EQUAL truth, 10 all, o
abel, or counlcna1ce another in doing il An
vet the abolilicnisls OF the North, openly avowin.
their intention, and rcsortng 10 The most eff len
means for The purpose, have been attempting I,
bring about STATE Of things TO force lhe Soulherl
States 10 omancipa'e their slaves, without AM
act on the part OF any Northern State lie arres, o
suppress the means by which they propose 10 &C
complish it, They have beer permitted 10 pur
sue their oil iect, ami to use whatever means ihcJ
please; il wilhou; aid or counlenancs, also with
out resistance or disaprrobation. What gives
deeper shade To the whole affair is The fact, III
one OF the means 10 effect their oijec, that OF ex
citing discomfort among our slaves tends directly
10 subver what its preamble declares 10 be on,
of The ends Tor which the constitution was oIiain
ed and eslabliShed-"tu insure domestic tran
auili,y"-and that is The only way in which do
meslic tranquility likely ever 10 be disturbed il
the South. Certain il is, that an agitation SO sys
misunderstanding such an object in view, ant
sought 10 be carried into execution by Sucl
means-woud, between independent nations, con
stilue just cause Of remonslrance by The party
against which The aggression was directed, and
il not needed, an appeal 10 arms for redress :
Such being the case where an aggression Uf The
kind takes place among independent nations
how much more aggravated must II he between
confederated States, where The Union precludes
an appeal To arms. while il affords medium
,uh, 10 nit Sflu in.
creased force and eT.c,7 That it would he per-
verled to such use never entered into the i'm.
aginaion OF the generation which formed and
adopted the constitution; and, if il had been sup
posed Il would, il is certain that The South never
would have adopted il.
We now return 10 the question of the adms-
sion of Missouri into the Union, and shall pro-
coed 10 give brief sketch Of the occurrences
connected with il. and the consequences 10
which it has directly led In the latter part OF
1919, the then territory Of Missouri applied 10
Congress, in the usual form, for leave to form
State constitution and government in order 10
be admitted into tho Union. bill was report
ed for the purpose; with the usual provisions in
such cases Amendments were offered, having
for their object 10 make it a condition Of her
admission, that her constitution should have a
provision TO prohibit slavery This brought on
the sgitating debate which, with the effects that
followed, has done so much to ALLEVIATE the
South and North, and endanger our political in
stitutons Those who objected to the amend
ments, rested their opposition on the high
grounds of the right of self government. They
clsimed that territory, having reached the pc
rod when it is proper for it to form cons,lu-
ton and government for itself becomes fully
taJ oil IF Sulf mi pt /.
and that even the condition imposed on II BY
the Federal constitution, relates not TO the for
nation Of lis constitution and government, but
its admission into the Union Fer hat purpose,
il provides as condition, that the government
must be republican.
They claimed that Congress has no right 10
add 10 this condition, and mat 10 assume II would
be laniamount 10 the assumption OF The Tight 10
make its entire constitution and government; as
no Limitation could be imposed, as 10 he extent
OF the right il il be admitted that il exists al all
Those who supported the amendment denied
these grounds, and claimed the right Of Con-
sress 10 impose, at discretion, what conditions II
pleased In this agilating debate, the Two Sec
lions stood auayed against each other; The South
in favor OF the bill without amendment, and The
North opposed TO it without il. The debate and
agitation continued until The session was well
advanced hY. ne 61IIame apparent toward .,G
close, INA. 'ne people " Msso.r, ,s n1on Me.,
condition, and that they would certainly .elec'
it. and adopt a constitution without H. should the
bill pas with the condition Such being the
case, il required no great effort Of mind to pet
ceiye, that Missouri once in possession II con-
slilulon and government, not simply on paper,
but with legislators elected, and officers appoln-
led, 10 carry them into effect, The grave Gnes.
lions would be presented, whether she was OF
RIGHT a State or Territory; and, II me iater,
whether Congress had the right, and, II me l'Sn',
the power, 10 abrogate heS constitution, nisperse
her legislature, and 10 remand her back 10 The Ter
ritorial condition These were great, AMI, unde,
The circumstance, fearful quesIions-Ioo ieaT'n'
10 be met by those who had raised The asltalion.-
From lha. lime the only question was, now 10 es'
cape from the difficulty. Fortunately, means
was atforled. A compromise (as u vas caien
WIS Oft red, based on The terms, that Inc Norm
shoad cease 10 oppose he admission .. hi'sou'
ri on The grounds for which the SCUM con'en ,ea
and that the provisions OF The ordinance oil lioI
for the government Of The northeastern 'er:Noiy
should be applied 10 all IN. territory acquired y
the United States from France uh..f me 'feAS
OF louisiana living north Of 81 ~, except inc ior'
ton 10 the State oil Missouri. The northern mem
bers embraced il; and although not originating
with Them, adopted il as heir own. II was lorce'
,hrouoh Congress BY The almost united votes
the North, against minority consisting aimos
entirely OF menbers'irOm The Southern States.
Such was the termination Of this, The flfst con
hict under the constitution, b.iWcen me TWO sec
lions, in reference 10 slavery in connexlon VII
territories. Many hailed il as permanent am
final adjustment that would prevent me recui
renee OF similar conflicts; but others, l"ss san
suine, took the opposite and more gloomy we"
regarding il as the precursor OF tam o! even
which might rend the Union asundef, and pro-
trate our political system. one oil lnesc was IN
experienced and sasacous Jefferson. linus Ia
time would seem Ia iavcr his tore Uodinss Ma
returning sense ui justice, AMI Fro'ccIh
Providence, avert their final fulliIlment.
For many years The subject of slavery n r
| terence 10 The territories ceased 10 agiiate ID
| country. Indications, however, connected WI
Inc question Of annexIng Texas, showed c'earl
tha, il was ready 10 break out again, WIN Ieuou
| bied violence on some tuture occasion ne "i
| terence in The case OF Texas was adjusted Nv ex
| tending The Missouri compromise iine oil 30 81
| from its terminus, on The western BOUNDARY VI 'h
| Louisiana purchase, 10 the western boundary
| Texas. The agitation again ceased ior snol
| period.
The war with Mexico soon followed, ahd Ina
terminated in the acquisition oil New Mexic
| and Upper California, embracing an area equa
10 about one-hali OF The entire valley oil the VIZ
| sissippi II 10 this we add the portion oi gre
eon acknowledged To be ours by The recent ifea-
with England on! whole territory on me paciIl
| and west of the Rocky mountains will be ioun
TO be in exlen, but iuie less than that Vasi va
lev. The near prospect OF 50 great an addition
rekindled the excitement between The North an
South in reference 10 slavery in lis coLnexIon VII
the territories, which has become, since those o.
The Pacific were acquired, more un'versa! AM
intense than ever
These effects have been TO widen The differenc
between The two sections, and 10 give more de
le, mined and hostile character to heir conflict
The North no longer respects The Missouri com
promise line, although adopted by their almos
unanimous vote. Instead OF compromise, the.
aSow ina, their determination is to exclude sla
very from all The territories of The United States
acquired o. 10 be acquired; and OF course 10 pre-
vent the citizens OF the Southern States from emf
grating with their properly in slaves into any Q
All