The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-03-09

disfuf bed 40 the south. Certain u IS, tna'
On agitation 90 syslematic-hsving such
an object in view, and sought to be carried
into execution by such means-sould, be-
twecn independent nations, constitute los'
cause ofremonsirsnce by the party agalnsi
which The aggression vas directed, and II
not heeded. an appeal TO arms Tor redress
SIch being the case where an aggression
Of the kind takes place among independent
naiions, how much more aggravated must
IL be between confedera,e6 States, where
the Cnion ptecludes al appeal 10 arms,
while i, affords a medium through which II
can orerarc With vastly Increased force and
effect, That 1t would be perverted TO such
use, never entered into the Imagination
of the generation hich formed and adopted
the constitution and, If II bad been sup.
posed II would, it is certain that the South
never would have adopted 1t.
We now return TO the question OF the
admission Of NJ ssouri into The Union, and
shall proceed to give a brief sketch Of the
occurrence connected with il. aud the con.
sequences 10 which II has directly led. 10
the latter part OF 1919, the then territory
OF Missouri applied TO Congress, in the
usual form, for leave 10 form State con
s,itu,ion end government, in order TO be
admitted into the Union. A bill was re.
ported for the purpose, with the usual pro
vision in such cases. Amendments were
offered. having for their object to make IT
q condition of her admission, that her con
siitution should have provision TO prohibit
slavery. This brough, on The agitatlns
debate hich, with the effects that follow
ed, has done SO much to ALLEVIATE the South
and North, and endanser our political in
stitutions. Those Who objected 10 the
amendments rested their opposition on the
high grounds Of the right Of se!t.govern.
men,. They claimed that territory, hav.
ing rcat aed Tho psIi0d when i. is proper
for i, to form constitution and govern
men. for itself, becomes fully vested with
all the rights OF self. government; and that
even the condition imposed on il BY The
Federal constitution, relates not 10 the tor.
nation of its constitution and government,
but ito admission into the Union. For
u pfo'ioCs US q SohAh'opi
that the government mus, be republican.
They claimed tina, Congress has no RICH:
10 add TO this condition, and that TO assume
Il would be tantamount TO the assumption
Of The right to make lis entire constitution
and government; as no limitation could be
imposed, as 10 the extent Of the right, if it
be admitted tina. i, exists atalI. Those who
supported the amendment denied these
grounds. and claimed The right OF Congress
to impose, al discretion, wha, conditions i,
pleased. In this agiia,ing debate, the two
sections stood ,rrayed against each other;
the South 10 favor Of the bill wi,hou,
amendment, and the North opposed 10 it
without ii. The debate aud agitation con.
tinaed until the session was Hell advanced
but Il became apparen, towards lie close,
tina. the psople OF Missouri were Fixed and
resolved IN their opposition TO the proposed
condition, and that they would certainly re.
isci it, and adopt a constitution without ii,
should tho bill pass with the condition
Such being the case, il requ red no great
effort OF mind 10 perceive, that Missouri
once ia possession of constitution and
government, 10; simply on paper, bu! with
legislators elected, and officers appointed,
TO carry them ia,o effect, The grave q1es
tons would he presented whether she was
Of right State OF Terri'o.y; and, if the
latter, whether Congress. had the right,
and, f The righ', the power, to arroga,e her
constitution, dsperse her legislature, and
10 remand her back to the territorial con
diion. These were great, and, under the
circumstances, fearful questIons-too fear.
fal TO be met by those who had raised the
agitation. From tina. time the only qnes-
iion was how 10 pc from the difficulty
Fortunately, means was afforded. A
omp-omise las il was calIed) vas offered
based on the terms, that the North should
cease TO oppose the admission Of Mlssour
on The grounds for which the South con
tended, and that The provisions Of the oTdI
nance Of 1877 for the government oil tn
northwestern territory, should be appliet
to aif the territory acquired by the Unite
States from France under the treaty c
Louisana lying North Of SO 80, except ID
portion lying in the State of Missouri
The northern members embraced it /; an
although not originating sl,h them, sdop
ed il as their own. Ii was forced lhtou :
Congress by the alInos, united votes OF II
North, agains. minority consisting almo
eItircly Of members from the Sou!he
States.
Sich ~as the termination Of this, Il
first Coz lct, under The constitution, b
tween the two sections. IN reference TO 81
very 10 conneIlon with the terntorIe
Many hailed il as permanent. and final a
Ius,mcn, tina, would prevent the fecurren
Of similar conflicts; but others, less 81
guine, took The opposite and more gloof
yies. regarding IT as the precursor oil
train OF events which might rend the I'M
asuader, and PROSTATE our political sysle
Oae Of thsss was The experienced and
gaclous jefferson. Thus far time wo
seem TO favor his forebodings. May
turning sense OF lis,ice, and a protect