their former rejection, were soon presented, and in the House referred[1] to a select committee; in the Senate,[2] to the Judiciary. The committee in the House reported,[3] through its chairman, Mr. Scott, delegate from Missouri, a bill authorizing that territory to form a State constitution and government, without any prohibition of slavery. On motion of Mr. Taylor, of New York, a committee was appointed to inquire into the expediency of prohibiting slavery in all territory west of the Mississippi, of which he was made chairman. But the committee being unable to agree among themselves, in a few days, at the request of the chairman, was discharged.[4] On January 26, 1820, Mr. Taylor proposed an amendment to the Missouri bill, the restrictive provisions of which are as follows:
“And shall ordain and establish that there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted. And it is provided, also, That the said provision shall not be construed to alter the condition or civil rights of any person now held to service or labor in said territory.”
An animated discussion immediately ensued, which continued, with scarcely any interruption, for twenty-three days.
In the meantime, the bill admitting Maine into the Union, which had passed[5] the House, had a heavy burden thrown upon it in the Senate. The skill and tactics of slavery propagandists were here most strikingly displayed. The committee to whom the bill had been referred recommended[6] its passage, with several amendments, the most important of which was the Missouri bill without restriction. The object was, of course, to enable the latter bill to ride through the House upon that of the former. Strong efforts were made in the Senate to throw it off, or apply to it the restrictive clause, which occasioned a long and protracted discussion.
Both Houses were now intently engaged in stormy debate. Never before, nor since, was there ever such a display, in the
