How we cite our quotes: (Section.Sentence)
Quote #1
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the inhabitants of that portion of the Missouri territory included within the boundaries herein after designated, be, and they are hereby, authorized to form for themselves a constitution and state government, and to assume such name as they shall deem proper; and the said state, when formed, shall be admitted into the Union, upon an equal footing with the original states, in all respects whatsoever. (1.1)
This is essentially what the whole issue was about, on the surface: the right of Missouri to enter the Union on equal terms as all the other states, free to determine their own laws. Of course, this would only go so far, as Missouri would find out when they included a clause barring free Black people from emigrating to the state…only to have it shut down by Congress.
Quote #2
…That the said state shall have concurrent jurisdiction on the river Mississippi, and every other river bordering on the said state so far as the said rivers shall form a common boundary to the said state; and any other state or states, now or hereafter to be formed and bounded by the same, such rivers to be common to both… (2.1)
This portion of the Compromise set the precedent of common ownership of natural boundaries serving as state borders, allowing any state with such a natural boundary to freely utilize and profit from such natural boundaries.
Quote #3
And be it further enacted, That the members of the convention thus duly elected, shall be, and they are hereby authorized to meet at the seat of government of said territory on the second Monday of the month of June next; and the said convention, when so assembled, shall have power and authority to adjourn to any other place in the said territory, which to them shall seem best for the convenient transaction of their business; and which convention, when so met, shall first determine by a majority of the whole number elected, whether it be, or be not, expedient at that time to form a constitution and state government for the people within the said territory, as included within the boundaries above designated; and if it be deemed expedient, the convention shall be, and hereby is, authorized to form a constitution and state government; or, if it be deemed more expedient, the said convention shall provide by ordinance for electing representatives to form a constitution or frame of government; which said representatives shall be chosen in such manner, and in such proportion as they shall designate; and shall meet at such time and place as shall be prescribed by the said ordinance; and shall then form for the people of said territory, within the boundaries aforesaid, a constitution and state government… (4.1)
This was the central issue for Missourians, and it's the clause that allows for the formation of the state's own constitution by its own delegates of its own choosing. This was the right of self-determination that had stalled Missouri's entrance into the Union for so long, and it was a major step towards the empowerment of state rights.
Quote #4
That all salt springs, not exceeding twelve in number, with six sections of land adjoining to each, shall be granted to the said state for the use of said state, the same to be selected by the legislature of the said state, on or before the first day of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five; and the same, when so selected, to be used under such terms, conditions, and regulations, as the legislature of said state shall direct…(6.3)
The portion of the Compromise that ensures that water rights are retained by the state, allowing it to dispense the natural resources as the state saw fit. The caveat to this was that the state couldn't simply appropriate an already-owned spring, which would violate the right to property stated in the Declaration of Independence.
Quote #5
That four entire sections of land be, and the same are hereby, granted to the said state, for the purpose of fixing their seat of government thereon; which said sections shall, under the direction of the legislature of said state, be located, as near as may be, in one body, at any time, in such townships and ranges as the legislature aforesaid may select, on any of the public lands of the United States... (6.7)
This piece of the Compromise grants the state the right to determine its own state capital as it sees fit, an important right for a self-determined state. If a state can't set up its own capital without jumping through federal hoops, just how much autonomy can the state be said to have?