A Formal Bill

The tone of the Compromise is at once straightforward and incredibly dense. (Hemingway this ain't. Sorry.)

This was pretty important, because the Compromise was a lawful bill being passed that granted rights and privileges to an entire state. It was important that the bill be clear in its message, but also cover as much ground as possible. Nobody wanted Missouri to take advantage of its position to draft an outrageous constitution that compromised the Federal government…except some people from Missouri, that is.

A good example is the bit about the state constitution requiring congressional approval:

And be it further enacted, That in case a constitution and state government shall be formed for the people of the said territory of Missouri, the said convention or representatives, as soon thereafter as may be, shall cause a true and attested copy of such constitution or frame of state government, as shall be formed or provided, to be transmitted to Congress. (7.1)

See what we mean about "straightforward and incredibly dense"?