Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/520

 "In passing the following resolution, the general assembly refrains from expressing any opinion either in favor or against the principle of slavery; but to support and maintain state rights, which it conceives necessary to be supported and maintained, to preserve the liberties of the free people of these United States, it avows its solemn conviction, that the states already confederated under one common constitution, have not a right to deprive new states of equal privileges with themselves. Therefore,

"Resolved, by the general assembly of the commonwealth of Kentucky, That the senators in congress from this state be instructed, and the representatives be requested, to use their efforts to procure the passage of a law to admit the people of Missouri into the Union, as a state, whether those people will sanction slavery by their constitution or not.

"Resolved, That the executive of this commonwealth be requested to transmit this resolution to the senators and representatives of this state in congress, that it may be laid before that body for its consideration."

A new congress had assembled on the 6th of December, 1819. Mr. Clay was again chosen speaker. On the 8th, Mr. Scott, delegate from Missouri, moved that the memorial of her territorial legislature, as also of several citizens, praying her admission into the Union as a state, be referred to a select committee. Carried, and Messrs. Scott, of Mo., Robertson, of Ky, Ten-ell, of Ga., Strother, of Va., and De Witt, of N. Y., were appointed said committee. Mr. Strong, of N. Y., that day gave notice of a bill "to prohibit the further extension of slavery in the United States."

On the 14th, Mr. Taylor, of N. Y., moved a select committee on this subject, which was granted; and the mover, with Mesers. Livermore, of N. H., P. P. Barbour, of Ya., Lowndes, of S. O, Fuller, of Mass., Hardin, of Ky., and Cuthbert, of Ga., were appointed such committee. A majority of this committee being pro-slavery, Mr. Taylor could do nothing; and on the 28th the committee was, on motion, discharged from the further consideration of the subject.

On the same day, Mr. Taylor moved "that a committee be appointed with instructions to report a bill prohibiting the further admission of slaves into the territories of the United States west of the river Mississippi."

On motion of Mr. Smith, of Md., this resolve was sent to the committee of the whole, and made a special order for Jan. 10th; but it was not taken up, and appears to have slept the sleep of death.

In the senate, the memorial of the Missouri territorial legislature, asking admission as a state, was presented by Mr. Smith, of S. C, Dec. 29th, and referred to the judiciary committee.

The bill authorizing Missouri to form a constitution, etc., came up in the house as a special order, Jan. 24th. Mr. Taylor, of N. Y., moved that it be postponed for one week: lost; yeas, 81; nays, 88. Whereupon the house adjourned. It was considered in committee the next day, as also on the 28th and 30th, and thence debated daily until the 19th of February, when a bill came down from the senate "to admit the state of Maine into the Union