Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/80

54 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS recognition of the independence of those revolted provinces. He also voted against the proposal for a national bankrupt act. He condemned, as arbi trary and insubordinate, the course of Gen. Jack son in Florida, and contributed an able speech to the long debate over the question as to censuring that gallant commander. He was a member of a committee for inquiring into the affairs of the national bank, and his most elaborate speech was in favor of Mr. Trimble s motion to issue a scire facias against that institution. On all three points Mr. Tyler s course seems to have pleased his con stituents; in the spring election of 1819 he did not consider it necessary to issue the usual circular address, or in any way to engage in a personal canvass. He simply distributed copies of his speech against the bank, and was re-elected to congress unanimously. The most important question that came before the 16th congress related to the admission of Mis souri to the Union. In the debates over this ques tion Mr. Tyler took ground against the imposition of any restrictions upon the extension of slavery. At the same time he declared himself on principle opposed to the perpetuation of slavery, and he sought to reconcile these positions by the argument that in diffusing the slave population over a wide area the evils of the institution would be diminished and the prospects of ultimate emancipation in-