FEBRUARY, 1821.]

Report of the Missouri Joint Committee.

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The resolution was accordingly read a third time, and put on its passage.

[During the progress of this speech, Mr. ALLEN was called to order by Mr. TRIMBLE, because discussing not the question before the House, but a Mr. RANDOLPH, in a speech of some twenty question decided at the last session. The SPEAK-minutes, delivered the reasons why he should ER, however, overruled this objection.]

Mr. ALLEN concluded, by moving to amend the resolution by striking out the word “citizen,” wherever it occurs in the resolution, as above printed, and to insert in lieu thereof, "free negro or mulatto."

not vote for the resolution.

The final question was then taken on the resolution, and decided in the affirmative.

So the resolution was passed, and ordered to be sent to the Senate for concurrence.*

The resolution as reported and adopted, was in these words:

Mr. R. MOORE, of Pennsylvania, then required the previous question, believing that this subject had been so long debated, as to require that it be decided, in one way or another, without further consumption of the time of the House. Ninety-five members having risen to seconding with the original States, in all respects whatever, upon

this motion, and the yeas and nays having been required thereon by Mr. RANDOLPH—

The question was stated in the following form: "Shall the main question be now put?" and was decided-for the previous question 109, against it 50.

The main question was then put, to wit: "Shall the resolution be engrossed and read a third time?" and passed in the affirmative-yeas 86, nays 82, as follows:

the United States of America, in Congress assembled. That Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of Missouri shall be admitted into this Union on an equal foot

the fundamental condition, that the fourth clause of the

twenty-sixth section of the third article of the constitution submitted on the part of said State to Congress, shall never be construed to authorize the passage of any law, and that no law shall be passed in conformity thereto, by which any citizen, of either of the States in this Union, shall be excluded from the enjoyment of any of the privileges and immunities to which such citizen is entitled under the Constitution of the United States: Provided, That the Legislature of said State, by a solemn public act, shall declare the assent of the said State to the said fundamental condition, and shall transmit to the President of the United States, on or before the

fourth Monday in November next, an authentic copy of the said act; upon the receipt whereof, the President, by proclamation, shall announce the fact; whereupon, and without any further proceeding on the part of Congress, the admission of the said State into the Union shall be considered as complete.

Approved, March 2, 1821.

The reason of referring it to the President to announce

the fact, by proclamation, that Missouri had complied with the condition of the resolution, and was thereby admitted, was for the purpose of preventing the question of admission, in any shape whatever, from getting before Congress again. The State complied within the limited time, whereupon the President issued the following proclamation; and the portentous struggle of two years and a half came to a close:

YEAS.-Messrs. Abbot, Alexander, Allen of Tennessee, Anderson, Archer of Maryland, Archer of Virginia, Baldwin, Ball, Barbour, Bateman, Bayly, Blackledge, Bloomfield, Brevard, Brown, Bryan, Butler of Louisiana, Cannon, Clark, Clay, Cobb, Cocke, Crawford, Crowell, Culbreth, Culpeper, Cuthbert, Davidson, Eddy, Edwards of North Carolina, Fisher, Floyd, Ford, Gray, Guyon, Hackley, Hardin, Hill, Hooks, Jackson, Johnson, Jones of Virginia, Jones of Tennessee, Little, McCoy, McCreary, McLean of Kentucky, Meigs, Mercer, Metcalf, Montgomery, S. Moore, T. L. Moore, Neale, Nelson of Virginia, Newton, Overstreet, Pinckney, Rankin, Reid, Rhea, Ringgold, Robertson, Rogers, Sawyer, Settle, Shaw, Simking, Smith of New Jersey, Smith of Maryland, A. Smyth of Virginia, Smith of North Carolina, South-resolution of the second day of March last, entitled "Resoluard, Stevens, Storrs, Swearingen, Terrell, Trimble, Tucker of Virginia, Tucker of South Carolina, Tyler, Udree, Walker, Warfield, Williams of Virginia, and Williams of North Carolina.

A PROCLAMATION.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Whereas the Congress of the United States, by a joint

tion providing for the admission of the State of Missouri into clare-"That Missouri should be admitted into this Union on an equal footing with the original States, in all respects whatever, upon the fundamental condition, that the fourth clause of the twenty-sixth section of the third article of the constitution submitted on the part of said State to Congress, shall never be construed to authorize the passage of any law, and that no law shall be passed in conformity thereto, by which any citizen of either of the States of this Union shall be excluded from the enjoyment of any of the privileges and immunities to which such citizen is entitled under the Constitution of the United States: Provided, That the Legisla ture of the said State, by a solemn public act, shall declare the assent of the said State to the said fundamental condition, and shall transmit to the President of the United States, on or before the first Monday in November next, an authentic copy of said act; upon the receipt whereof, the President, by proclamation, shall announce the fact; whereupon, and without any further proceeding on the part of

the Union on a certain condition," did determine and de

NAYS.-Messrs. Adams, Allen of Massachusetts, Allen of New York, Baker, Beecher, Boden, Brush, Buffum, Butler of New Hampshire, Campbell, Case, Clagett, Cook, Cushman, Dane, Darlington, Denison, Dewitt, Dickinson, Edwards of Connecticut, Edwards of Pennsylvania, Eustis, Fay, Folger, Foot, Forrest, Fuller, Garnet, Gorham, Gross, of New York, Gross of Pennsylvania, Hall of New York, Hemphill, Hendricks, Herrick, Hibshman, Hobart, Hostetter, Kendall, Kinsey, Kinsley, Lathrop, Lincoln, Livermore, Maclay, McCullough, Mallary, Marchand, Meech, Monell, E Moore, Morton, Mosely, Murray, Nelson of Massa-Congress, the admission of the said State into this Union chusetts, Parker of Massachusetts, Patterson, Phelps, Phison, Pitcher, Plumer, Randolph, Rich, Richards, Richmond, Ross, Russ, Sergeant, Silsbee, Sloan, Street, Strong of Vermont, Strong of New York, Tarr, Tomlinson, Tracy, Upham, Van Rensselaer, Wallace, Wendover, Whitman, and Wood.

shall be considered as complete :"-And whereas, by a solemn public act of the Assembly of the said State of Missouri, passed on the twenty-sixth of June, in the present year, entitled "A solemn public act declaring the assent of this State to the fundamental condition contained in a resolution the admission of the State of Missouri into the Union on a passed by the Congress of the United States, providing for certain condition ;" an authentic copy whereof has been communicated to me, it is solemnly and publicly enacted and declared, that that State has assented and does assent, that the fourth clause of the twenty-sixth section of the third

article of the constitution of said State "shall never be construed to authorize the passage of any law, and that no law

The Floridas-Bill to take Possession.

West Florida, and which are established by the said bill for the government of said territories until otherwise provided, shall not be incompatible with the Constitution and laws of the United States."

And the question being taken to agree to this amendment, it was determined in the negative. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time to-day.

Florida Bill Passed.

Engrossed bills of the following titles, viz: "An act for carrying into execution the treaty between the United States and Spain, concluded at Washington, the 22d of February, 1819;" and "An act to authorize the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding four millions five hundred thousand dollars," were severally read a third time, and passed.*

Thanks to the Speaker.

Mr. CLAY rose, and addressed the House to the following effect:

I rise to submit a motion, which, if it should conciliate the general concurrence of this House, I shall be extremely glad. The present session was commenced under very unpleasant auspices. In the appointment of a presiding officer of the House, the first manifestation was made of that unfortunate division of opinion which has been the peculiar characteristic of the session. The storm has happily subsided, and we have the great satisfaction to behold the ship of our Confederacy unimpaired by its rage; her hull, her rigging, and her patriotic crew completely fit for a long and glorious voyage, under the starspangled banner which proudly floats aloft.

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Resolved, That the thanks of this House be given to the honorable JOHN W. TAYLOR, for the assiduity, promptitude, and ability, with which he has administered the duties of the Chair.

rily in the Chair,) having stated the question—
Mr. NELSON, of Virginia, (who was tempora-
obtain a unanimous vote.
Mr. RHEA said he hoped this resolution would
He had been longt
a member of this House, and he had never seen
the duties of the Chair discharged more satis-
factorily than by the present Speaker.

faction he should vote for this resolution, be-
Mr. HARDIN said, that it was with great satis-
cause it met his entire approbation. To be
candid, the Speaker had, in the discharge of the
duties of the Chair, far outgone his expecta-
tions; and he would vote him the thanks pro-
posed with a great deal of pleasure.

The question was then taken on agreeing to the resolution, and decided in the affirmative, one negative voice only being heard.

Closing Business.

The House proceeded to consider the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill, entitled "An act to authorize the President of the United States to borrow a sum not exceeding four millions five hundred thousand dollars; and the same being read twice, were disagreed to.

ܪ܂

That portion of the said bill to which the third amendment proposed by the Senate applies, reads thus, viz: "reimbursable at the will of the Government, and at the will of the creditor, at any time after the first day of January, 1835."

The third amendment of the Senate proposes to strike out the words, and at the will of the creditor.

The moral of that agitating drama, of which for more than two years past our country has been the theatre, is that, whilst our Federal Union is admirably fitted to accomplish all the national purposes for which it was intended, there are delicate subjects, exclusively appertaining to the several States, which cannot be touched but by them, without the greatest hazard to the public tranquillity. They resemble those secluded apartments in our respective domicils, which are dedicated to family privacy, into which our nearest and best neighbors should Lot enter. Let us terminate the session by making that officer the depository of our entire reconciliation, whose election first elicited our divisions, and whose situation has been extremely arduous and difficult. For my part, I have great pleasure in testifying to the assiduity, impartiality, ability, and promptitude, with which he has administered the duties of liberality, which, in terms, and from a source the the Chair since I was able to take my seat. I move the following resolution:

Mr. BARBOUR moved to amend the said third

amendment so as to make the aforesaid clause in the bill read thus: "reimbursable at the will of the Government at any time before the first day of January, 1835; and at the will either of the Government or the creditor, at any time after that period."

And the question being taken to agree to this amendment, it was determined in the negative; and the said amendment was then concurred in by the House.

Thus the bill for the temporary government of Florida, being a bill for the temporary continuation of the Spanish despotism there, was passed without a division; and the tion to amend that bill so as to make it compatible with the Constitution and laws of the United States, was negaUved, and also without a division.

The Speaker's Address.

Mr. TAYLOR, the Speaker, rose and addressed the House, as follows:

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives :

Deeply penetrated with a sense of the kindness and

most flattering, have dictated the recent expression of your approbation, I shall ever esteem it the highest reward of my public services. If the duties of the Chair have been discharged in any degree to your satisfaction, it is attributable chiefly to those feelings of generosity which have covered my numerous errors, and which have rendered to purity of motive the deference due to superior merit. My inexperience has been compensated by your prudent coun

H. OF R.]

Inauguration of the President.

[MARCH, 1821. sels, and by a dignified deportment, which has seldom | the United States, and inform him that the two required the interposition of a presiding officer. Houses of Congress are about to adjourn if he Entertaining, gentlemen, for every member of this has no further communications to make to them, House no other sentiment than respect and friend-reported that the committee had waited upon ship; endeared to many by recollections of united the President of the United States, and was indeliberation and effort, in a period of great national formed by him that he had no further comembarrassmert; and grateful to all for the magnani-munications to make to Congress at the presmous support which constantly has been afforded me, ent session.

I shall never cease to rejoice in your individual welfare.

Carry with you, gentlemen, to the bosom of your families and friends my best wishes for your prosperity, and, under the protecting care of a benign Providence, may each of you enjoy the continued confidence of the wise and good, and largely contribute to perpetuate the union and glory of our common country.

Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, from the joint committee appointed to wait on the President of

A message from the Senate informed the House that the Senate, having completed the Legislative business before them, are now ready to adjourn.

A message was then sent to the Senate, by the Clerk, to inform them that the House is also ready to adjourn.

The Clerk having gone with the said message, and being returned, the Speaker adjourned the House, sine die.

INAUGURATION OF THE PRESIDENT.

[From the National Intelligencer of Tuesday, March 6, 1821.]

The inauguration of the President of the Unit- | ladies and privileged persons were seated, as the ed States, whose second term of service com- room could accommodate. On the entrance menced yesterday, took place according to pre- and exit of the President, the music of the vious arrangement. The oath of office having Marine Band enlivened the scene, which was been administered to the President, by Chief altogether characterized by simple grandeur Justice Marshall, he delivered the speech which and splendid simplicity. will be found annexed.

mittance, that no accident occurred to mar the enjoyment of those who had the pleasure to witness this truly Republican ceremony.

It is well, considering the great crowd which The day proved very unfavorable for the at- filled the avenues to the door of the Representtendance of spectators, there having fallen dur-atives' chamber, and pressed onwards for ading the preceding night a good deal of snow and rain; notwithstanding which, an immense crowd thronged the doors of the Capitol. The number of persons who obtained admission within the walls of the Representatives' chamber (gallery of course included) could not have been less than two thousand.

There was not much form about this ceremony, which, in truth, requires no form but the forms of decency and decorum; but the scene was not the less impressive. The President was placed on the platform in front of the Speaker's Chair; the Chief Justice stood by his side during the delivery of the speech. The Associate Judges, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Heads of Departments, and many of our distinguished Military and Naval Officers, were near him. Assigned to their proper places were the members of the various Foreign Legations. The seats in the interior were principally occupied by a numerous collection of ladies; and all around, above, and below, were countless numbers of the people, of whom, without discrimination, as many were admitted, after the

Inaugural Speech.

Yesterday, at 12 o'clock, on taking the oath to support the Constitution of the United States, the following speech was delivered by JAMES MONROE, President of the United States:

FELLOW-CITIZENS: I shall not attempt to describe the grateful emotions which the new and very distinguished proof of the confidence of my fellow-citizens, evinced by my re-election to this high trust, has excited in my bosom. The approbation which it announces of my conduct, in the preceding term, affords me a consolation which I shall profoundly feel through life. The general accord with which it has been extions which it imposes. To merit the continuance of pressed, adds to the great and never-ceasing obligathis good opinion, and to carry it with me into my retirement, as the solace of advancing years, will be the object of my most zealous and unceasing efforts.

Having no pretension to the high and commanding claims of my predecessors, whose names are so much more conspicuously identified with our Revolution,

and who contributed so pre-eminently to promote its success, I consider myself rather as the instrument than the cause of the union which has prevailed in the late election. In surmounting, in favor of my humble pretensions, the difficulties which so often produce division in like occurrences, it is obvious that other powerful causes, indicating the great strength and stability of our Union, have essentially contributed to draw you together. That these powerful causes exist, and that they are permanent, is my fixed opinion; that they may produce a like accord in all questions, touching, however remotely, the liberty, prosperity, and happiness of our country, will always be the object of my most fervent prayers to the Supreme Author of all good.

In a Government which is founded by the people, who possess exclusively the sovereignty, it seems proper that the person who may be placed by their suffrages in this high trust, should declare, on commencing its duties, the principles on which he intends to conduct the Administration. If the person, thus elected, has served the preceding term, an opportunity is afforded him to review its principal occurrences, and to give such further explanation respecting them as, in his judgment, may be useful to his constituents. The events of one year have influence on those of another; and, in like manner, of a preceding on the succeeding Administration. The movements of a great nation are connected in all their parts. If errors have been committed, they ought to be corrected; if the policy is sound, it ought to be supported. It is by a thorough knowledge of the whole subject that our fellow-citizens are enabled to judge correctly of the past, and to give a proper direction to the future.

Just before the commencement of the last term, the United States had concluded a war with a very powerful nation, on conditions equal and honorable to both parties. The events of that war are too recent, and too deeply impressed on the memory of all, to require a development from me. Our commerce had been, in a great measure, driven from the sea; our Atlantic and inland frontiers were invaded in almost every part; the waste of life along our coast, and on some parts of our inland frontiers, to the defence of which our gallant and patriotic citizens were called, was immense; in addition to which, not less than one hundred and twenty millions of dollars were added at its end to the public debt.

As soon as the war had terminated, the nation, admonished by its events, resolved to place itself in a situation which should be better calculated to prevent the recurrence of a like evil, and, in case it should recur, to mitigate its calamities. With this view, after reducing our land force to the basis of a peace establishment, which has been further modified ince, provision was made for the construction of fortifications at proper points, through the whole extent of our coast, and such an augmentation of our naval force, as should be well adapted to both purposes. The laws, making this provision, were passed in 1815 and 1816, and it has been since, the constant effort of the Executive to carry them into effect.

The advantage of these fortifications, and of an augmented naval force, in the extent contemplated, in point of economy, has been fully illustrated, by a report of the Board of Engineers and Naval Commissioners, lately communicated to Congress, by which it appears, that in an invasion by twenty thousand men, with a correspondent naval force, in

[H. OF R.

a campaign of six months only, the whole expense of the construction of the works would be defrayed by the difference in the sum necessary to maintain the force which would be adequate to our defence with the aid of those works, and that which would be incurred without them. The reason of this difference is obvious. If fortifications are judiciously placed on our great inlets, as distant from our cities as circumstances will permit, they will form the only points of attack, and the enemy will be detained there by a small, regular force, a sufficient time to enable our militia to collect, and repair to that on which the attack is made. A force adequate to the enemy, collected at that single point, with suitable preparation for such others as might be menaced, is all that would be requisite. But, if there were no fortifications, then the enemy might go where he pleased, and, changing his position, and sailing from place to place, our force must be called out and spread in vast numbers along the whole coast, and on both sides of every bay and river, as high up in each as it might be navigable for ships of war. By these fortifications, supported by our navy, to which they would afford like support, we should present to other powers an armed front from St. Croix to the Sabine, which would protect, in the event of war, our whole coast and interior from invasion; and even in the wars of other powers, in which we were neutral, they would be found eminently useful, as, by keeping their public ships at a distance from our cities, peace and order in them would be preserved, and the Government be protected from insult.

It need scarcely be remarked, that these measures have not been resorted to in a spirit of hostility to other powers. Such a disposition does not exist towards any power. Peace and good will have been, and will hereafter be, cultivated with all, and by the most faithful regard to justice. They have been dictated by a love of peace, of economy, and an earnest desire to save the lives of our fellow-citizens from that destruction, and our country from that devastation, which are inseparable from war, when it finds us unprepared for it. It is believed, and experience has shown, that such a preparation is the best expedient that can be resorted to, to prevent war. I add with much pleasure, that considerable progress has already been made in these measures of defence, and that they will be completed in a few years, considering the great extent and importance of the object, if the plan be zealously and steadily persevered in.

The conduct of the Government, in what relates to foreign powers, is always an object of the highest importance to the nation. Its agriculture, commerce, manufactures, fisheries, revenue; in short, its peace, may all be affected by it. Attention is, therefore, due to this subject.

At the period adverted to, the powers of Europe, after having been engaged in long and destructive wars with each other, had concluded a peace, which happily still exists. Our peace with the power with whom we had been engaged, had also been concluded. The war between Spain and the colonics in South America, which had commenced many years before, was then the only conflict that remained unsettled. This being a contest between different parts of the same community, in which other powers had not interfered, was not affected by their accommodations.

This contest was considered, at an early stage,