Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/247

Rh its own domestic government, and no restrictions had been placed on any State as a condition of admission except the adoption of a constitution in conformity with the Constitution and laws of the United States. Slavery had not been prohibited in any portion of Louisiana Territory, and many persons had moved into Missouri with their slaves, and their interests had been identified with slavery. They were now holding slaves under the direct authority of Congress, and it seemed to the people of Missouri a hardship that they should suddenly be subjected to a rule which had been applied to no other State. The South fully sustained Missouri in this view.

The people of the North felt differently. The extension of slavery must be stopped. The greater part of Missouri lay north of the line which divided the present free and slave area. Slavery must not be permitted to cross that line.

When the next Congress assembled, the Missouri question became complicated with the question for the admission of Maine. In the Senate, the South could put a veto on the admission of the Northern applicant, while the Northern majority in the House could veto the admission of the Southern applicant. Massachusetts had already assented to the separation, and Maine had formed a constitution. The petitions for admission, one from Maine and one from Missouri, were presented to the House in December, 1819. A bill for the admission of Maine speedily passed and was sent to the Senate, while the petition of Missouri was left without action. The Senate very properly amended the Maine bill by adding to it clauses admitting Missouri. This action plainly indicated that the South understood the Northern purposes and did not intend to submit to the policy of admit ting Northern States while admission was refused to Southern States. If Missouri was admitted, the South would gladly admit Maine. If the North chose to block the further admission of States, the South could not help