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diff --git a/40698-0.txt b/40698-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0cd714e --- /dev/null +++ b/40698-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1428 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40698 *** + + ADDRESS + + TO THE + + PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, + + TOGETHER WITH THE + + PROCEEDINGS AND RESOLUTIONS + + OF THE + + PRO-SLAVERY CONVENTION + + OF MISSOURI, + + HELD AT LEXINGTON, + + JULY, 1855. + + ST. LOUIS, MO. + PRINTED AT THE REPUBLICAN OFFICE. + 1855. + + + + + ADDRESS. + + TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. + + +We have been appointed by a Convention of citizens of Missouri, mainly +representing that portion of the State lying contiguous to the Territory +of Kansas, to lay before you some suggestions, upon a topic which +vitally concerns our State, and which, it is believed, may to a serious +extent affect the general welfare of our country. + +We propose to discharge this duty by a concise and candid exposition of +facts, touching our condition, and its bearing upon Kansas, accompanied +with such reflections as the facts naturally suggest. + +That portion of Missouri which borders on Kansas contains, as nearly as +can now be ascertained, a population of fifty thousand slaves, and their +estimated value, at the prices prevailing here, is about twenty-five +millions of dollars. As the whole State contains but about one hundred +thousand slaves, it will be seen that one-half of the entire slave +population of Missouri is located in the eighteen counties bordering on +Kansas, the greater portion of which is separated from that Territory by +no natural boundary, and is within a day's ride of the line. This part +of our State is distinguished by an uniform fertility of soil, a +temperate and healthful climate, and a population progressing rapidly in +all the elements that constitute a prosperous community. Agriculture is +in a most flourishing condition, and the towns and villages which have +sprung up, indicate a steady progress towards wealth, refinement and +commercial importance. Nor have the higher interests of education, +religion and science, been neglected; but common schools, and +respectable institutions of a higher grade, and churches of every +Christian denomination, are found in every county. The great staple of +this district is hemp, although tobacco, and corn, and wheat are also +largely produced. The culture of hemp has been found profitable,--more +so than cotton in the South; and this fact, with the additional ones, +that almost every foot of land within the counties alluded to, is +wonderfully adapted by nature to its production, in greater quantities, +and finer qualities, and at smaller cost, than in any other State in the +Union, and that the climate is such as to permit the growers of this +article to reside on their estates, will readily explain and account for +the unexampled growth of the country. Already it constitutes the most +densely populated portion of our State, and its remarkable fertility of +soil, and general salubrity of climate, with the facilities for outlet +furnished by a noble river, running through its midst, and two great +railroads, destined soon to traverse its upper and lower border, will +render it at no distant period, if left undisturbed, as desirable and +flourishing a district as can be found in the Mississippi Valley. + +An idea has to some extent prevailed abroad, that Missouri contained but +a very small slave population, and that the permanence of this +institution here was threatened by the existence of at least a +respectable minority of her citizens, ready and anxious to abolish it, +and that only a slight external pressure was necessary to accomplish +this purpose. We regret that this opinion has to some extent received +countenance from the publication and patronage of journals in our +commercial metropolis, evidently aiming at such a result. Without, +however, going into any explanation of political parties here, which +would be entirely foreign to our purpose, we think it proper to state, +that the idea above alluded to is unfounded; and that no respectable +party can be found in this State, outside of St. Louis, prepared to +embark in any such schemes. In that city, constituting the great outlet +of our commerce, as well as that of several other States and +Territories, it will not seem surprising that its heterogeneous +population should furnish a foothold for the wildest and most visionary +projects. St. Louis was, however, represented in our Convention, and it +is not thought unwarrantable to assume that the resolutions adopted by +this body have received the cordial approbation of a large and +influential portion of her citizens. Other counties, besides St. Louis, +outside of the district to which our observations have been principally +directed, were also represented by delegates; and had not the season of +the year, the short notice of its intended session, and the locality +where the Convention was held--remote from the centre of the +State--prevented, we doubt not that delegates from every county in the +State would have been in attendance. Indeed, a portion of the upper +Mississippi and lower Mississippi counties are as deeply, though less +directly interested in this question, as any part of this State; and +their citizens are known to accord most heartily in the sentiments and +actions of Western Missouri. Even in the south-west part of our State, +from the Osage to the borders of Arkansas, where there are but few +slaves, the proceedings of public meetings indicate the entire and +active sympathy of their people. From the general tone of the public +press throughout the State, a similar inference is deducible, and, we +feel warranted in asserting, a very general, if not unanimous +concurrence in the principles adopted by the Lexington Convention. Those +principles are embodied in a series of resolutions appended to this +address, and which, we are happy to say, were adopted with entire +unanimity, by a body representing every shade of political opinion to be +found in the interior of our State. These facts are conclusive of the +condition of public sentiment in Missouri. The probabilities of changes +here in reference to the question of slavery, are not essentially +different from what they are in Tennessee, or Virginia, or Kentucky. In +relation to numbers, a reference to the census shows that Missouri +contains double the number of Arkansas, nearly double the number of +Texas, and about an equal number with Maryland. + +These facts are stated with a view to a proper understanding of our +position in reference to the settlement of Kansas, and the legitimate +and necessary interest felt in the progress and character of that +settlement. Previous to the repeal of the Congressional restriction of +1820, by which Missouri was thrown into an isolated position in +reference to the question of slavery, and made a solitary exception to a +general rule, her condition in regard to the territory west of her +border, and yet north of the geographical line which Congress had fixed +as the terminus of Southern institutions, was truly unenviable. With two +States on her northern and eastern border, in many portions of which the +Constitution of the United States, and the Fugitive Slave Law, passed in +pursuance thereof, were known to be as inefficacious for the protection +of our rights as they would have been in London or Canada, it was left +to the will of Congress, by enforcing the restriction of 1820, to cut +Missouri off almost entirely from all territorial connexion with States +having institutions congenial to her own, and with populations ready and +willing to protect and defend them. No alternative was left to that body +but to repeal the restriction, and thus leave to the Constitution and +the laws of nature, the settlement of our territories, or, by retaining +the restriction, indirectly to abolish slavery in Missouri. If the +latter alternative had to be selected, it would have been an act of +charity and mercy to the slaveholders of Missouri, to warn them in time +of the necessity of abandoning their homes, or manumitting or selling +their slaves--to give them ample time to determine between the sacrifice +of fifty millions of slave property, or seventy millions of landed +estate. Direct legislation would have been preferable to indirect +legislation, leading to the same result, and the enforcement of the +restriction in the settlement of Kansas was virtually the abolition of +slavery in Missouri. But Congress acted more wisely, as we think, and +with greater fidelity to the Constitution and the Union. + +The history of the Kansas-Nebraska bill is known to the country. It +abolished the geographical line of 36 deg. 30 min., by which the limits +of slavery were restricted, and substituted a constitutional and just +principle, which left to the settlers of the territories to adopt such +domestic institutions as suited themselves. If ever there was a +principle calculated to commend itself to all reasonable men, and +reconcile all conflicting interests, this would seem to have been the +one. It was the principle of popular sovereignty--the basis upon which +our independence had been achieved--and it was therefore supposed to be +justly dear to all Americans, of every latitude and every creed. But +fanaticism was not satisfied. The abolitionists and their allies moved +heaven and earth to accomplish its defeat, and although unsuccessful, +they did not therefore despair. Out-voted in Congress, receiving no +countenance from the Executive, they retired to another theatre of +action, and, strange to say, they prostituted an ancient and respectable +Commonwealth--one of the Old Thirteen--to commence, in her sovereign +capacity as a State, with the means and imposing attitude incident to +such a position, a crusade against slavery, novel in its character, more +alarming in its features, and likely to be more fatal in its +consequences, than all the fanatical movements hitherto attempted, since +the appearance of abolitionism as a political party in 1835. They +originated and matured a scheme, never before heard of or thought of in +this country, the object and effect of which was to evade the principle +of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and in lieu of _non-intervention by +Congress_, to substitute _active intervention by the States_. An act of +incorporation was passed; a company with a capital of five millions was +chartered; and this company was authorized to enlist an army of +mercenary fanatics, and transport them to Kansas. Recruiting officers +were stationed in places most likely to furnish the proper material; +premiums were offered for recruits; the public mind was stimulated by +glowing and false descriptions of the country proposed to be occupied, +and a _Hessian_ band of mercenaries was thus prepared and forwarded, to +commence and carry on a war of extermination against slavery. + +To call these people _emigrants_, is a sheer perversion of language. +They are not sent to cultivate the soil, to better their social +condition, to add to their individual comforts, or the aggregate wealth +of the nation. They do not move from choice or taste, or from any motive +affecting, or supposed to affect, themselves or their families. They +have none of the marks of the old pioneers, who cut down the forests of +Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, or levelled the cane brakes of Tennessee and +Mississippi, or broke up the plains of Illinois and Missouri. They are +mostly ignorant of agriculture; picked up in cities or villages, they of +course have no experience as farmers, and if left to their unaided +resources--if not clothed and fed by the same power which has effected +their transportation--they would starve or freeze. They are +_hirelings_--an army of hirelings--recruited and shipped indirectly by a +sovereign state of this Union, to make war upon an institution _now_ +existing in the Territory to which they are transplanted, and thence to +inflict a fatal blow upon the resources, the prosperity and the peace of +a neighboring State. They are _military_ colonies, planted by a State +government, to subdue a territory opened to settlement by Congress, and +take exclusive possession thereof. In addition to that _esprit du +corps_, which of necessity pervades such an organization, they have in +common a reckless and desperate fanaticism, which teaches them that +slavery is a sin, and that they are doing God's service in hastening its +destruction. They have been picked and culled from the ignorant masses, +which Old England and New England negro philanthropy has stirred up and +aroused to madness on this topic, and have been selected with reference +to their views on this topic alone. They are men with a single idea; and +to carry out this, they have been instructed and taught to disregard the +laws of God and man; to consider bloodshed and arson, insurrection, +destruction of property, or servile war, as the merest trifles, compared +with the glory and honor of seducing a single slave from his master, or +harboring and protecting the thief who has carried him off! + +That such a population would be fatal to the peace and security of the +neighboring State of Missouri, and immediate destruction of such owners +of slaves as had already moved to the Territory of Kansas, is too clear +to admit of argument. A horde of our western savages, with avowed +purposes of destruction to the white race, would be less formidable +neighbors. + +The colonization of Kansas with a population of this character was a +circumstance which aroused attention, and excited alarm among our +citizens here, and those who had already emigrated to Kansas. Could any +other result have been expected? Did sensible men at the North--did the +abolitionists themselves, expect any other? + +Missouri contained, as we have seen, one hundred thousand slaves, and +their value amounted to fifty millions of dollars. Had these fanatics +who pronounced slavery an individual sin, and a national curse, ever yet +pointed out any decently plausible scheme by which it could be removed? +The entire revenue of our State, for ordinary fiscal purposes, scarcely +reaches five hundred thousand dollars, and the abolition of slavery here +would involve the destruction of productive capital estimated at fifty +millions of dollars, or a taxation upon the people of five millions of +dollars annually, which is the legalized interest upon this amount of +capital, besides the additional tax which would be necessary to raise a +sinking fund to pay off the debt created. The Constitution of Missouri +prohibits the Legislature from passing laws emancipating slaves, without +a full compensation to their owners; and it is therefore apparent, that +ten-fold the entire revenue of the State would be barely sufficient to +pay the interest upon a sum equivalent to the actual moneyed value of +the slaves, without providing any means to extinguish the principal +which such a debt would create. We omit altogether, in this calculation, +the impracticability and impolicy and cruelty to both races, of +liberating the slaves here, with no provision for their removal, and the +additional debt which such removal would create, equal, in all +probability, to that occasioned by their mere emancipation. It would +seem then, that the merest glance at the statistical tables of our +State, showing its population and revenue, must have satisfied the most +sanguine abolitionist of the futility of his schemes. If the +investigation was pursued further, and our estimate was made to embrace +the three millions and a half of slaves now in the southern and +south-western States, and the billions to which our computation must +ascend in order to ascertain their value in money, this anti-slavery +crusade, which presents itself in a form of open aggression against the +white race, without the semblance or pretext of good to that race for +which the abolitionist professes so much regard, and which stands so +much higher in his affections than his own, is seen to be one of mere +folly and wickedness, or, what is perhaps worse, a selfish and sectional +struggle for political power. + +It is a singular fact, and one worthy of notice in this connexion, that +in the history of African slavery up to this time, no government has +ever yet been known to abolish it, which fairly represented the +interests and opinions of the governed. Great Britain, it is true, +abolished slavery in Jamaica, but the planters of Jamaica had no +potential voice in the British Parliament. The abolition of slavery in +New England, and in the middle States, can hardly be cited as an +exception, since that abrogation was not so much the result of positive +legislation, as it was of natural causes--the unfitness of climate and +productions to slave labor. It is well known to those familiar with the +jurisprudence of this country, and of England, that slavery has been in +no instance created by positive statutory enactment, nor has it been +thus abolished in any country, when the popular will was paramount in +legislative action. Its existence and non-existence appears to depend +entirely upon causes beyond the reach of governmental action, and this +fact should teach some dependence upon the will of an overruling +Providence, which works out its ends in a mode, and at a time, not +always apparent to finite mortals. + +The history of some of our slaveholding States, in relation to efforts +of this character, it would seem, ought to be conclusive, at least, +against those who have no actual interests involved, and whom a proper +sense of self-respect, if not of constitutional obligation, should +restrain from impertinent interference. Virginia in 1831, and Kentucky +more recently, were agitated from centre to circumference by a bold and +unrestricted discussion of the subject of emancipation. Upon the +hustings and in legislative assemblies, the subject was thoroughly +examined, and every project which genius or philanthropy could suggest, +was investigated. Brought forward in the Old Dominion, under the +sanction of names venerated and respected throughout the limits of the +commonwealth--well known to have been a cherished project of her most +distinguished statesmen--favored by the happening of a then recent +servile disturbance, and patronized by some of the most patriotic and +enlightened citizens, the scheme nevertheless failed, without a show of +strength or a step in advance towards the object contemplated. The +magnitude of the difficulties to be overcome was so great, and so +obvious, as to strike alike the emancipationists and their adversaries. +The result has been, both in Virginia and Kentucky, that slavery, to use +the language of one of Kentucky's eloquent and distinguished sons, and +one, too, of the foremost in the work of emancipation, "has been +accepted as a permanent part of their social system." Can it be that +there is a destitution of honesty--of intelligence--of patriotism and +piety in slaveholding States, and that these qualities are alone to be +found in Great Britain and the northern free States? If not, the +conclusion must be, that the difficulties in the way of such an +enterprise exceed all the calculations of statesmanship and philosophy; +and their removal must await the will of that Being, whose prerogative +it is to make crooked paths straight, and justify the ways of God to +man. + +We have no thought of discussing the subject of slavery. Viewed in its +social, moral or economical aspects, it is regarded, as the resolutions +of the Convention declare, as solely and exclusively a matter of State +jurisdiction, and therefore, one which does not concern the Federal +Government, or the States where it does not exist. We have merely +adverted to the fact, in connexion with the recent abolition movements +upon Kansas, that amidst all their fierce denunciations of slavery for +twenty years past, these fanatics have never yet been able to suggest a +plan for its removal, consistent with the safety of the white +race--saying nothing of constitutional guarantees, Federal and State. + +The colonization scheme of Massachusetts, as we have said, excited alarm +in Missouri. Its obvious design was to operate further than the mere +prevention of the natural expansion of slavery. It was intended to +narrow its existing limits,--to destroy all equilibrium of power between +the North and the South, and leave the slaveholder at the will of a +majority, ready to disregard constitutional obligations, and carry out +to their bitter end the mandates of ignorance, prejudice and bigotry. +Its success manifestly involved a radical change in our Federal +Government, or its total overthrow. If Kansas could be thus +abolitionized, every additional part of the present public domain +hereafter opened to settlement, and every future accession of territory, +would be the subject of similar experiments, and an exploded Wilmot +Proviso thus virtually enforced throughout an extended domain still +claimed as _national_, and still bearing on its military ensigns the +stars and stripes of the Union. If the plan was constitutional and +legal, it must be conceded that it was skillfully contrived, and +admirably adapted to its ends. It was also eminently practicable, if no +resistance was encountered, since the States adopting it contained a +surplus population which could be bought up and shipped, whilst the +South, which had an interest in resisting, had no such people among her +white population. The Kansas-Nebraska law, too, which was so extremely +hateful to the fanatics, and has constituted the principal theme of +their recent denunciations, would be a dead letter, both as it regarded +the two Territories for which it was particularly framed, and as a +precedent to Congress for the opening of other districts to settlement. +The old Missouri restriction could have done no more, and the whole +purpose of the anti-slavery agitators, both in and out of Congress, was +quietly accomplished. But the scheme failed--as it deserved to fail; and +as the peace, prosperity, and union of our country required it should +fail. It was a scheme totally at variance with the genius of our +government, both State and Federal, and with the social institutions +which these governments were designed to protect, and its success would +have been as fatal to those who contrived it, as it could have been to +those intended to be its victims. + +The circumstance of novelty is entitled to its weight in politics as +well as law. The abolition irruption upon Kansas is without precedent in +our history. Seventy-nine years of our national life have rolled by; +Territory after Territory has been annexed, or settled, and added to the +galaxy of States, until from thirteen we have increased to thirty-two; +yet it never before entered into the head of any statesman, North or +South, to devise a plan of acquiring exclusive occupation of a Territory +by State colonization. To Massachusetts belongs the honor of its +invention, and we trust she will survive its defeat. But, she is not the +Massachusetts, we must do justice to her past history to say, that she +was in the times of her Adams', her Hancocks, and her Warrens; nor yet +is she where she stood in more recent times, when her Websters, and +Choates, and Winthrops, led the van of her statesmen. Her legislative +halls are filled with ruthless fanatics, dead to the past and reckless +to the future; her statute books are polluted with enactments purporting +to annul the laws of Congress, passed in pursuance, and by reason of the +special requirements of the Constitution; and her senatorial chairs at +Washington are filled by a rhetorician and a bigot, one of whom studies +to disguise in the drapery of a classic elocution, the most hideous and +treasonable forms of fanaticism; whilst his colleague is pleased to +harangue a city rabble with open and unadulterated disunionism, +associated with the oracles of abolitionism and infidelity--a melancholy +spectacle to the descendants of the compatriots of Benjamin Franklin! + +No southern or slaveholding State has ever attempted to colonize a +Territory. Our public lands have been left to the occupancy of such +settlers as soil and climate invited. The South has sent no armies to +force slave labor upon those who preferred free labor. Kentucky sprung +from Virginia, as did Tennessee from North Carolina, and Kansas will +from Missouri--from contiguity of territory, and similarity of climate. +Emigration has followed the parallels of latitude and will continue to +do so, unless diverted by such organizations as Emigrant Aid Societies +and Kansas Leagues. + +It has been said that the citizens of Massachusetts have an undoubted +right to emigrate to Kansas; that this right may be exercised +individually, or in families, or in larger private associations; and +that associated enterprise, under the sanction of legislative +enactments, is but another and equally justifiable form of emigration. +Political actions, like those of individuals, must be judged by their +motives and effects. Unquestionably, emigration, both individual and +collective, from the free States to the South, and, _vice versa_, from +the slave States to the North, has been progressing from the foundation +of our government to the present day, without comment and without +objection. It is not pretended that such emigration, even if fostered by +State patronage, would be illegal, or in any respect objectionable. The +wide expanse of the fertile West, and the deserted wastes of the sunny +South, invite occupation; and no man, from the southern extremity of +Florida to the northern boundary of Missouri, has ever objected to an +emigrant simply because he was from the North, and preferred free labor +to that of slaves. Upon this subject he is allowed to consult his own +taste, convenience, and conscience; and it is expected that he will +permit his neighbors to exercise the same privilege. But, no one can +fail to distinguish between an honest, _bona fide_ emigration, prompted +by choice or necessity, and an organized colonization with offensive +purposes upon the institutions of the country proposed to be settled. +Nor can there be any doubt in which class to place the movements of +Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Societies and Kansas Leagues. Their motives +have been candidly avowed, and their objects boldly proclaimed +throughout the length and breadth of the land. Were this not the case, +it would still be impossible to mistake them. Why, we might well +enquire, if simple emigration was in view, are these extraordinary +efforts confined to the Territory of Kansas? Is Nebraska, which was +opened to settlement by the same law, less desirable, less inviting to +northern adventurers, than Kansas? Are Iowa, and Washington, and Oregon, +and Minnesota, and Illinois and Michigan, filled up with +population--their lands all occupied, and furnishing no room for +Massachusetts emigrants? Is Massachusetts herself overrun with +population--obliged to rid herself of paupers whom she cannot feed at +home? Or, is Kansas, as eastern orators have insinuated, a newly +discovered paradise--a modern El Dorado, where gold and precious stones +can be gathered at pleasure; or an Arcadia, where nature is so bountiful +as not to need the aid of man, and fruits and vegetables of every +desirable description spontaneously spring up? + +There can be but one answer to these questions, and that answer shows +conclusively the spirit and intent of this miscalled and pretended +emigration. _It is an anti-slavery movement._ As such it was organized +and put in motion by an anti-slavery legislature; as such, the organized +army was equipped in Massachusetts, and transported to Kansas; and, as +such, it was met there and defeated. + +If further illustration was needed of the illegality of these movements +upon Kansas, we might extend our observations to the probable reception +of similar movements upon a State. If the Massachusetts legislature, or +that of any other State, have the right to send an army of abolitionists +into Kansas, they have the same right to transport them to Missouri. We +are not apprised of any provisions in the constitutions or laws of the +States, which in this respect distinguishes their condition from that of +a territory. We have no laws, and we presume no slaveholding State has, +which forbids the emigration of non-slaveholders. Such laws, if passed, +would clearly conflict with the Federal Constitution. The southern and +south-western slaveholding States are as open to emigration from +non-slaveholding States as Kansas. They differ only in the price of land +and the density of population. Let us suppose, then, that Massachusetts +should turn her attention to Texas, and should ascertain that the +population of that State was nearly divided between those who favored +and those who opposed slavery, and that one thousand votes would turn +the scale in favor of emancipation, and, acting in accordance with her +world-wide philanthropy, she should resolve to transport the thousand +voters necessary to abolish slavery in Texas, how would such a movement +be received there? Or, to reverse the proposition, let it be supposed +that South Carolina, with her large slaveholding population, should +undertake to transport a thousand slaveholders to Delaware, with a view +to turn the scale in that State, now understood to be rapidly passing +over to the list of free States, would the gallant sons of that ancient +State, small as she is territorially, submit to such interference? Now, +the institutions of Kansas are as much fixed and as solemnly guaranteed +by statute, as those of Delaware or Texas. The laws of Kansas Territory +may be abrogated by succeeding legislatures; but, so also may the laws, +and even the constitutions, of Texas and Delaware. Kansas only differs +from their condition in her limited resources, her small population, and +her large amount of marketable lands. There is no difference in +principle between the cases supposed; if justifiable and legal in the +one, it is equally so in the other. They differ only in point of +practicability and expediency; the one would be an outrage, easily +perceived, promptly met, and speedily repelled; the other is disguised +under the forms of emigration, and meets with no populous and organized +community to resent it. We are apprised that it is said, that the Kansas +legislature was elected by fraud, and constitute no fair representation +of the opinions of the people of the Territory. This is evidently the +excuse of the losing party, to stimulate renewed efforts among their +friends at home; but even this is refuted by the record. The Territorial +Governor of Kansas, a gentleman not suspected of, or charged with +partiality to slavery or to its advocates, has solemnly certified under +his official seal, that the statement is false; that a large majority of +the legislature were duly and legally elected. Even in the districts +where Governor Reeder set aside the elections for illegality, the +subsequent returns of the special elections ordered by him, produced the +same result, except in a single district. There is, then, no pretext +left, and it is apparent, that to send an army of abolitionists to +Kansas to destroy slavery existing there, and recognized by her laws, is +no more to be justified on the part of the Massachusetts legislature, +than it would be to send a like force to Missouri, with the like +purposes. The object might be more easily and safely accomplished in the +one case than in the other, but in both cases it is equally repugnant to +every principle of international comity, and likely to prove equally +fatal to the harmony and peace of the Union. + +We conclude, then, that this irruption upon Kansas by Emigrant Aid +Societies and Kansas Leagues, under the patronage of the Massachusetts +legislature, is to be regarded in no other light than a new phase of +abolitionism, more practical in its aims, and therefore more dangerous +than any form it has yet assumed. We have shown it to be at variance +with the true intent of the act of Congress, by which the Territory was +opened to settlement; at variance with the spirit of the Constitution of +the United States, and with the institutions of the Territory, already +recognized by law; totally destructive of that fellowship and good +feeling which should exist among citizens of confederated States; +ruinous to the security, peace and prosperity of a neighboring State; +unprecedented in our political annals up to this date, and pregnant with +the most disastrous consequences to the harmony and stability of the +Union. Thus far its purposes have been defeated; but renewed efforts are +threatened. Political conventions at the north and north-west have +declared for the repeal of the Kansas-Nebraska law, and, anticipating a +failure in this direction, are stimulating the anti-slavery sentiment to +fresh exertions, for abolitionizing Kansas after the Massachusetts +fashion. We have discharged our duty in declaring the light in which +such demonstrations are viewed here, and our firm belief of the spirit +by which they will be met. If civil war and ultimate disunion are +desired, a renewal of these efforts will be admirably adapted to such +purposes. Missouri has taken her position in the resolutions adopted by +the Lexington Convention, and from that position she will not be likely +to recede. It is based upon the Constitution--upon justice, and equality +of rights among the States. What she has done, and what she is still +prepared to do, is in self-defence and for self-preservation; and from +these duties she will hardly be expected to shrink. With her, everything +is at stake; the security of a large slave property, the prosperity of +her citizens, and their exemption from perpetual agitation and border +feuds; whilst the emissaries of abolition are pursuing a phantom--an +abstraction, which, if realized, could add nothing to their possessions +or happiness, and would be productive of decided injury to the race for +whose benefit they profess to labor. If slavery is an evil, and it is +conceded that Congress cannot interfere with it in the States, it is +most manifest that its diffusion through a new territory, where land is +valueless and labor productive, tends greatly to ameliorate the +condition of the slaves. Opposition to the extension of slavery is not, +then, founded upon any philanthropic views, or upon any love for the +slave. It is a mere grasp for political power, beyond what the +Constitution of the United States concedes; and it is so understood by +the leaders of the movement. And this additional power is not desired +for constitutional purposes--for the advancement of the general welfare, +or the national reputation. For such purposes the majority in the North +is already sufficient, and no future events are likely to diminish it. +The slaveholding States are in a minority, but so far, a minority which +has commanded respect in the national councils. It has answered, and we +hope will continue to subserve the purposes of self-protection. +Conservative men from other quarters have come up to the rescue, when +the rights of the South have been seriously threatened. But it is +essential to the purposes of self-preservation, that this minority +should not be materially weakened; it is essential to the preservation +of our present form of government, that the slave States should retain +sufficient power to make effectual resistance against outward aggression +upon an institution peculiar to them alone. Parchment guarantees, as all +history shows, avail nothing against an overwhelming public clamor. The +fate of the Fugitive Slave Law affords an instructive warning on the +subject, and shows that the most solemn constitutional obligations will +be evaded or scorned, where popular prejudice resists their execution. +The South must rely on herself for protection, and to this end her +strength in the Federal Government cannot be safely diminished. + +If indeed it be true, as public men at the North have declared, and +political assemblages have endorsed, that a determination has been +reached in that quarter to refuse admission to any more slave States, +there is an end to all argument on the subject. To reject Kansas, or any +other Territory from the Union, simply and solely because slavery is +recognized within her limits, would be regarded here, and, we presume, +throughout the South and South-west, as an open repudiation of the +Constitution--a distinct and unequivocal step towards a dissolution of +the Union. We presume it would be so regarded everywhere, North and +South. Taken in connexion with the abrogation of that provision of the +Constitution which enforces the rights of the owners of slaves in all +the States of the Union, into which they might escape, which has been +effected _practically_ throughout nearly all the free States, and more +formally by solemn legislative enactments in a portion of them, the +rejection of Kansas on account of slavery would be disunion in a form of +grossest insult to the sixteen slave States now comprehended in the +nation. It would be a declaration that slavery was incompatible with +republican government, in the face of at least _two formal recognitions_ +of its legality, _in terms_, by the Federal Constitution. + +We trust that such counsels have not the remotest prospect of prevailing +in our National Legislature, and will not dwell upon the consequence of +their adoption. We prefer to anticipate a returning fidelity to national +obligations--a faithful adherance to the Constitutional guarantees, and +the consequent prospect--cheering to the patriot of this and other +lands--of a continued and _perpetual_ UNION. + + WM. B. NAPTON, _Chairman_. + STERLING PRICE, + M. OLIVER, + S. H. WOODSON. + + + + + PROCEEDINGS + + OF THE + + PRO-SLAVERY CONVENTION, + + HELD AT LEXINGTON, MO. + + +The Convention was called to order by Judge Thompson, of Clay county, +and on his motion Samuel H. Woodson, Esq., of Jackson county, was called +to the chair; and on motion of E. C. McCarty, Esq., Col. Sam. A. Lowe, +of Pettis county, was appointed Secretary. + +On motion of Col. Young, of Boone county, Resolved, That a committee of +one delegate from each county represented in the Convention be raised, +to select and report permanent officers for the Convention, and to +select a committee who shall prepare resolutions and other business for +the action of the Convention. + +In accordance with the above resolution, the following gentlemen were +appointed said committee: + + J. W. Torbert, of Cooper county, + Major Morin, of Platte " + W. M. Jackson, of Howard " + S. Barker, of Carroll " + A. G. Davis, of Caldwell " + J. S. Williams, of Linn " + E. C. McCarty, of Jackson " + Austin A. King, of Ray " + Edwin Toole, of Andrew " + D. H. Chism, of Morgan " + A. M. Forbes, of Pettis " + A. G. Blakey, of Benton " + Thomas E. Birch, of Clinton " + G. H. C. Melody, of Boone " + Sam. L. Sawyer, of Lafayette " + C. F. Jackson, of Saline " + Wm. Hudgins, of Livingston " + C. F. Chamblin, of Johnson " + W. H. Russell, of Cass " + John Dougherty, of Clay " + Joseph Davis, of Henry " + Capt. Head, of Randolph " + John A. Leppard, of Daviess " + Wm. H. Buffington, of Cole " + +On motion of Mr. Russell, of Cass county, Resolved, That the delegations +from the different counties furnish the Secretary of this Convention +with a list of delegates from their counties. + +On further motion of Mr. Russell, of Cass county, permission was given +to the committee on resolutions, &c., to retire and draft resolutions, +to report as soon as practicable. + +On motion of Mr. Field, of Lafayette, a committee, consisting of Messrs. +Field, of Lafayette, Bayless, of Platte, and Boyce, of Ray, was +appointed to wait upon Messrs. D. R. Atchison and A. W. Doniphan, and +invite them to address the Convention. + +Mr. Moss, of Clay, offered the following resolution: + +Resolved, That all persons who are present from the different counties, +although not appointed as delegates by their several counties, be +considered as delegates to this Convention. + +Mr. Peabody, of Boone county, moved to amend so as to read, That all +persons from the different counties of the State, friendly to the object +of this Convention, be considered as delegates. + +Pending which question, on leave granted, Mr. Field, of Lafayette +county, from the committee appointed to wait on Messrs. D. R. Atchison +and A. W. Doniphan, made their report, stating that those gentlemen +declined addressing the Convention at the present time. + +On motion of Mr. Bryant, of Saline, the Convention adjourned. to meet at +2 o'clock, P. M. + + + EVENING SESSION. + +The Convention was called to order by the President, when, on motion of +Mr. Slack, of Livingston, the resolution offered by Mr. Moss, of Clay, +together with the amendment offered by Mr. Peabody, which was pending +when the Convention adjourned, was laid on the table. + +On motion of Mr. Field, of Lafayette, Major M. Oliver was requested to +address the Convention, and to give his views on the different subjects +now agitating this country, and which would be brought before this +Convention; which he was proceeding to do, when the committee on +resolutions, &c., asked leave to make their report, which was granted. + +The committee then, through their Chairman, Hon. A. A. King, submitted +the following report: + +The Committee to whom was assigned the duty of designating permanent +officers for this Convention, beg leave to report the following: + + For President, Hon. W. G. Wood, of Lafayette county. + + For Vice Presidents, Hon. J. T. V. Thompson, of Clay Co. + Hon. John J. Lowry, of Howard " + + Secretaries, Hon. Samuel A. Lowe, of Pettis county, + L. A. Wisely, of Platte " + + For Committee on Resolutions, + Major Bradley, of Cooper county, + Dr. Bayless, of Platte " + B. F. Willis, of Clinton " + S. A. Young, of Boone " + Wade M. Jackson, of Howard " + Martin Slaughter, of Lafayette " + Stephen Stafford, of Carroll " + W. B. Napton, of Saline " + W. S. Pollard, of Caldwell " + W. Y. Slack, of Livingston " + J. S. Williams, of Linn " + G. D. Hansbrough, of Cass " + Sam. H. Woodson, of Jackson " + James H. Moss, of Clay " + M. Oliver, of Ray " + D. C. Stone, of Henry " + Robert Wilson, of Andrew " + B. W. Grover, of Johnson " + John S. Jones, of Pettis " + John A. Leppard, of Daviess " + A. G. Blakey, of Benton " + John Head, of Randolph " + W. H. Buffington, of Cole " + +The committee also offered the following resolution, which was adopted +by the Convention: + +Resolved, That to ascertain the sense of this Convention on all +propositions submitted for its action, each county represented shall be +permitted to cast the same number of votes that it is entitled to cast +in the Lower House of the General Assembly of this State. + +On motion of Col. Young, of Boone, a committee, consisting of Messrs. +Young, of Boone, Napton, of Saline, and Russell, of Cass, was appointed +to wait on the President, Hon. W. T. Wood, and escort him to the chair. + +On motion of Dr. McCabe, of Cooper, the Convention took a recess for one +hour. + +The Convention was again called to order by the President, Hon. W. T. +Wood, when the following gentlemen appeared as delegates, and took their +seats: + +_Andrew Co._--Robert Wilson and Edwin Toole. + +_Benton Co._--A. G. Blakey. + +_Boone Co._--Saml. A. Young, Dr. Peabody, Dr. Thomas, Col. G. H. C. + Melody, Sterling Price, Jr., and James Shannon. + +_Caldwell Co._--W. S. Pollard, David Thomson, Wm. Griffey, Albert G. + Davis. + +_Carroll Co._--S. Barker, S. Stafford, W. J. Poindexter, R. H. Courts, + C. Haskins, H. Wilcoxen, Judge Thomas, Hyram Willson. + +_Cass Co._--Wm. Palmer, J. F. Callaway, F. R. Martin, J. G. Martin, T. + Railey, J. T. Thornton, C. T. Worley, W. H. Russell, S. R. + Crockett, T. F. Freeman, C. Vanhoy, G. D. Hansbrough, S. G. + Allen, H. D. Russell, J. T. Martin. + +_Clay Co._--J. T. V. Thompson, John Dougherty, A. W. Doniphan, J. G. + Price, D. J. Adkins, W. E. Price, W. McNealy, J. H. Moss, J. H. + Adams, G. W. Withers, T. McCarty, E. P. Moore, J. M. Jones, + L. A. Talbott, R. J. Lamb, J. Lincoln, W. D. Hubble, T. M. Dawson, + H. L. Rout, R. H. Miller, J. A. Poague, L. W. Burris, S. R. + Shrader, G. Elgin, H. Corwine. + +_Cooper Co._--J. W. Torbert, J. K. Ragland, Wm. Bradly, H. E. Moore, + Geo. S. Cockrell, Thomas S. Cockrell, Horace W. Ferguson, R. + Ellis, J. K. McCabe, Jacob Alstadt, H. Tracy. + +_Clinton Co._--John Reed, B. F. Williss, C. C. Birch, M. Summers, T. E. + Birch, J. T. Hughes. + +_Cole Co._--W. H. Buffington, R. R. Jefferson, J. C. Rogers, C. Eckler. + +_Chariton Co._--W. S. Hyde, S. J. Cortes, L. Salisbury. + +_Daviess Co._--B. Weldon, J. A. Leppard. + +_Howard Co._--J. J. Lowry, S. Graves, W. Payne, R. Basket, M. Taylor, + B. W. Lewis, H. Cooper, J. B. Clark, R. Patterson. + +_Henry Co._--D. A. Gillespie, Jo. Davis, D. C. Stone, R. T. Lindsay, H. + Lewis. + +_Jackson Co._--S. H. Woodson, W. M. F. Magraw, W. F. Robinson, W. + Easley, E. C. McCarty, N. R. McMurry, J. A. Winn, T. M. Adams, + N. M. Miller, W. Ellis, E. McClanahan, John McCarty, J. M. + Ridge, J. R. Henry, Col. J. M. Cogswell, Jno. Hambright. + +_Johnson Co._--Hy. Ousley, S. Craig, N. W. Perry, W. Marr, W. L. Wood, + W. L. Barksdale, C. F. Chamblin, J. M. Fulkerson, Reuben + Fulkerson, W. P. Tucker, P. Manion, W. Kirkpatrick, B. W. Grover. + +_Lafayette Co._--F. C. Sharp, W. K. Trigg, O. Anderson, S. L. Sawyer, A. + Jones, R. N. Smith, W. T. Field, W. M. Smallwood, Dr. G. A. + Rucker, (a Committee to cast the vote.) + +_Livingston Co._--A. T. Kirtly, A. Craig, W. Hudgins, W. Y. Slack, W. F. + Miller, W. O. Jennings, J. D. Hoy. + +_Linn Co._--J. S. Williams. + +_Morgan Co._--D. H. Chism. + +_Pettis Co._--J. S. Jones, Saml. A. Lowe, A. M. Forbes, G. W. Rothwell, + Geo. Anderson, T. E. Staples. + +_Platte Co._--D. R. Atchison, Jo. Walker, G. W. Bayless, T. Beaumont, + D. P. Wallingford, Hy. Coleman, E. P. Duncan, Jesse Morin, + P. Ellington, Sr., Jesse Summers, A. B. Stoddard, Thomas H. + Starnes, J. C. Hughes, Jno. H. Dorriss, F. P. Davidson, L. A. + Wisely, H. B. Ladd. + +_Randolph Co._--Judge Head. + +_Ray Co._----A. A. King, B. J. Brown, Col. Bohannan, M. Oliver, Major + Boyce, Judge Branstetter, Dr. Chew, W. Warriner, D. P. Whitmer, + Dr. Woodward, S. A. Richardson, Major Shaw, Dr. Garner, A. + Oliphant, T. A. H. Smith, G. J. Wasson, Judge Carter, J. E. + Couch, G. L. Benton, J. P. Quisenberry, S. J. Brown, J. S. + Shoop, J. S. Hughes, D. D. Bullock, Dr. Stone, Judge Price, W. + Hughes, C. T. Brown, O. Taylor, M. C. Nuckolls, J. H. Taylor, R. + Winsett, J. P. Taylor, D. Harbison, Dr. Buchanan, W. M. Jacobs, + Wm. Murry, Col. Smith. + +_Saline Co._--W. B. Sappington, C. F. Jackson, O. B. Pearson, T. R. E. + Harvey, J. H. Irvine, L. B. Harwood, V. Marmaduke, M. Marmaduke, + J. H. Grove, Robert Grove, A. M. Davison, W. B. Napton, J. W. + Bryant, T. W. B. Crews, F. A. Combs, M. W. O'Banon, Jas. Coombs, + H. C. Simmons. + +Mr. Withers, of Clay, offered a series of resolutions, which he asked +might be read and acted on by the Convention. + +Mr. Jackson, of Saline, objected to the reading and moved their +reference to the Committee on Resolutions. + +Previous to the vote on said motion, Mr. Withers withdrew the +resolutions, and then, by leave of the Convention, the resolutions were +handed over to the Committee. + +The President being notified of the presence of Gov. Sterling Price, in +the house, on motion of Dr. Lowry, of Howard, appointed Messrs. Lowry, +of Howard, and Shewalter, of Lafayette, a committee to wait upon him and +invite him to a seat within the bar. + +Mr. C. T. Worley offered the following resolutions: + +Resolved, That it is the sense of this Convention, that no valuable +purpose whatever will be subserved by debate, but on the other hand, +will most certainly lead to heated and unprofitable excitement; +therefore, + +Resolved, That from henceforward, we will proceed on all propositions +submitted to a direct vote. + +Mr. Jackson, of Saline, moved to lay the resolutions on the table, which +motion was carried. + +On motion of Mr. King, of Ray, the Convention adjourned till to-morrow +morning at eight o'clock. + + + SECOND DAY. + + FRIDAY MORNING, 8 o'clock. + +The Convention met, and was called to order by the President. + +Owing to the absence of Mr. Lowe, one of the Secretaries, on motion of +Col. S. A. Young, of Boone, L. J. Sharp, of Lafayette, was appointed to +act in his place. + +On motion of J. W. Bryant, of Saline, the proceedings of yesterday were +ordered to be read. + +It being announced that other delegates had arrived from different +counties, the following named gentlemen appeared and took their seats in +Convention: + +F. Walker, of Howard, Dr. E. C. Moss, of Pettis, P. T. Able, Esq. of +Platte, and George T. Wood, of Henry. Messrs. J. Loughborough and George +F. Hill also appeared and took their seats as delegates from St. Louis +county. + +Dr. Lowry, of Howard, moved that the President appoint a committee to +wait on President Shannon, of Boone, and invite him to address the +Convention on the subject of slavery. + +A motion was then made to lay Dr. Lowry's motion on the table, which, +being voted upon by counties, resulted as follows: + +Yeas--Cass, Daviess, Henry, Johnson, Ray, Cole, Clay. + +Noes--Andrew, Boone, Caldwell, Carroll, Cooper, Jackson, Lafayette, +Livingston, Linn, Morgan, Pettis, Platte, Randolph, Chariton, St. Louis, +Saline. + +Dr. Lowry's motion was then put to the Convention, and on motion of +C. F. Jackson, of Saline, the rule to vote by counties was suspended. +Dr. Lowry's motion was then adopted by the Convention: whereupon the +President appointed Dr. Lowry, of Howard, and Major Morin, of Platte, +said committee. + +S. L. Sawyer, of Lafayette, announced that the Committee on Resolutions +was ready to report. + +The report being called for, the Committee proceeded to report, through +their Chairman, Judge Napton, of Saline, the following preamble and +resolutions: + +Whereas, This Convention have observed a deliberate and apparently +systematic effort, on the part of several States of this Union, to wage +a war of extermination upon the institution of slavery as it exists +under the Constitution of the United States, and of the several States, +by legislative enactments annulling acts of Congress passed in pursuance +of the Constitution, and incorporating large moneyed associations to +abolitionize Kansas, and through Kansas to operate upon the contiguous +States of Missouri, Arkansas and Texas; this Convention, representing +that portion of Missouri more immediately affected by these movements, +deem it proper to make known their opinions and purposes, and what they +believe to be the opinions and purposes of the whole State, and to this +end have agreed to the following resolutions: + +1. That we regard the institution of African slavery, whether relating +to its social, moral, political or economical aspect, solely and +exclusively a question of State jurisdiction, and any agitation of this +question in the Congress of the United States, or in States where it has +no existence, with a view to affect its condition, or bring about its +destruction, is a direct and dangerous attack upon the reserved rights +of the several slaveholding states, and is an impertinent interference +in matters nowise concerning the agitators, and, if persisted in, must +sooner or later destroy all harmony and good feeling between the States +and the citizens thereof, and will finally result in a dissolution of +the Union. + +2. That the resolution on the part of several of the northern and +western non-slaveholding States, never to admit another slaveholding +State into this Union, is substantially a declaration of hostility to +our Federal Constitution, and avows a purpose to disregard its +compromises; and implies a threat of continued aggression upon, and +ultimate destruction of slavery, under whatever sanctions it may exist. + +3. That the diffusion of slavery over a wider surface tends greatly to +ameliorate the condition of the slave, whilst it advances the prosperity +of his owner; and the admission of new slaveholding States into the +Union, by maintaining to some extent an equilibrium between the +conflicting influences which now control the Federal Government, is the +only reliable guarantee which the slaveholding minority have for the +protection of their property against unconstitutional and oppressive +legislation by the non-slaveholding majority, now and hereafter destined +to be in the ascendancy. + +4. That we cordially approve the recent act of Congress, for the +settlement of Kansas and Nebraska, and the act of 1850, popularly known +as the Fugitive Slave Law. + +5. That the incorporation of moneyed associations, under the patronage +of sovereign States of this Union, for the avowed purpose of recruiting +and colonizing large armies of abolitionists upon the territory of +Kansas, and for the avowed purpose of destroying the value and existence +of slave property now in that Territory, in despite of the wishes of the +bona fide independent settlers thereof, and for the purpose, equally +plain and obvious whether avowed or not, of ultimately abolishing +slavery in Missouri, is a species of legislation and a mode of +emigration unprecedented in our history, and is an attempt, by State +legislation, indirectly to thwart the purposes of a constitutional and +equitable enactment of Congress, by which the domestic institutions of +the territories were designed to be left to the exclusive management and +control of the bona fide settlers thereof. + +6. That these organized bands of colonists, shipped from Massachusetts +and other quarters under State patronage, and resembling in their +essential features the military colonies planted by the Roman Emperors +upon their conquered provinces, rather than the pioneers who have +hitherto levelled the forests and broke up the plains of the West, +authorize apprehension of an intent of _exclusive_ occupancy, and will +necessarily lead to organized resistance on the part of those who, under +the Constitution and laws of the United States, have equal rights to +possession; and whilst we earnestly deprecate such results, we are +justified in advance in placing their entire responsibility upon those +who have commenced the system, and are the aggressors. + +7. That we disclaim all right and any intent to interfere with the bona +fide independent settlers in the Territory of Kansas, from whatever +quarter they may come, or whatever opinions they may entertain; but we +maintain the right to protect ourselves and our property against all +unjust and unconstitutional aggression, present or prospective, +immediate or threatened; and we do not hold it necessary or expedient to +wait until the torch is applied to our dwellings, or the knife to our +throats, before we take measures for our security and the security of +our firesides. + +8. That the eighteen counties of Missouri, lying on or near the border +of Kansas, with only an imaginary boundary intervening, contain a +population of about fifty thousand slaves, worth, at present prices, +twenty-five millions of dollars; and this large amount of property, one +half of the entire slave property of the State, is not merely unsafe, +but valueless, if Kansas is made the abode of an army of hired fanatics, +recruited, transported, armed and paid for the special and sole purpose +of abolitionizing Kansas and Missouri. + +9. That this convention and the people they represent, and the State +government of Missouri, and the entire people thereof, should take such +measures as to them appear suitable and just and constitutional, to +prevent such disastrous consequences to their security and prosperity +and peace; and confidently relying upon the sympathy and support of the +entire South and South-west, whose ultimate fate must inevitably be the +same with theirs, and confidently relying also upon the conservative +portion of the North, they respectfully appeal to the good sense and +patriotism of the entire North, to put down such fanatical aggressions +as have hitherto characterized the movements of Emigrant Aid Societies, +and leave the settlement of Kansas and the regulation of its domestic +institutions to be controlled as the settlement and institutions of our +other territories have been, by those impulses of self-interest and +congeniality of feeling on the part of settlers, which, by the natural +laws of climate and soil, will, if undisturbed, invariably determine the +ultimate condition of the Territory. + +10. That a committee of five be appointed to draw up and publish an +address to the people of the United States, setting forth the history of +this Kansas excitement, with the views and action of our people thereon, +in conformity with the principles and positions of the foregoing +resolutions; and that printed copies of the same, with a copy of these +resolutions appended, be forwarded by the Secretary of this Convention +to the Executive of each State in the Union. + +After the reading of which, Judge Napton proceeded to address the +Convention in support of the resolutions. + +Judge Napton then read the following resolution, as recommended by the +Committee, to the Convention: + +Resolved, That in view of the acts of the legislature of the State of +Massachusetts, and other Northern and Western States, practically +nullifying the Constitution of the United States, and the laws of +Congress relating to the rendition of fugitive slaves, and in +vindication of the Constitution, and for the purpose of preserving the +integrity of the American Union, we recommend to the General Assembly of +Missouri to pass such retaliatory measures, discriminating against the +sale of the productions or manufactures, or material of commerce, +whether of importation by them or of the production of said States, +within this State, as they may deem proper for that purpose, and that +such measures shall be made operative as long as the offensive +legislation above referred to continues on the statute books of those +States. + +Mr. Withers, of Clay, moved the adoption of the resolutions as reported +by the Committee, and the vote being taken by counties, resulted in +their unanimous adoption. + +On motion of C. F. Jackson, of Saline, the vote upon said resolutions +was then taken by the house, standing, which resulted in their unanimous +adoption. + +A motion was then made to adopt the resolution recommended by the +Committee to the Convention. + +Mr. Torbert, of Cooper, offered the following amendment: + +"Insert after the word 'manufactures,' the words, or materials of +commerce, whether of importation by them or of their production;" +pending which the Convention adjourned till 2 o'clock, P. M. + + + EVENING SESSION. + +The Convention met and was called to order by the President. + +Major Morin, of Platte, from the committee appointed to wait on +President Shannon, reported that President Shannon would address the +Convention at any time, at the pleasure of the Convention. + +Mr. Torbert, of Cooper, withdrew the amendment offered by him this +morning to the resolution recommended by the Committee, and offered the +following substitute: + +Resolved, That in view of the acts of the State of Massachusetts, and +other northern and north-western States, practically nullifying the +Constitution of the United States, and the laws of Congress relating to +the rendition of fugitive slaves, and in vindication of the +Constitution, and for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the +American Union, we recommend to the General Assembly of the State of +Missouri to pass such retaliatory measures as may not be inconsistent +with the Constitution of the United States, or the State of Missouri, +discriminating against the sale of the productions, manufactures, or +goods and merchandise of any description whatever, of said States, +within this State, as may be deemed proper for that purpose, and that +such retaliatory measures shall be made operative as long as the +offensive legislation above referred to continues on the statute books +of those States. + +Col. J. B. Brown, of Ray, moved to recommit the original resolution, +together with the substitute, to the Committee on Resolutions. + +The previous question was called for and sustained by the Convention. On +this, the President decided, the effect was to require a direct vote on +the adoption of the substitute as offered by Mr. Torbert. From this +decision an appeal was taken by Gov. King, of Ray, and the decision of +the Chair was sustained by the vote of the Convention. The vote then +being taken on the substitute, it was adopted. + +Mr. Withers, of Clay, offered a set of resolutions to the Convention for +adoption; whereupon a discussion arose, pending which Mr. Withers +withdrew his resolutions. + +Col. T. M. Ewing, of Lafayette, presented to the Convention a letter +from Gov. Metcalf, of Kentucky, which being read, on motion of J. B. +Clark, of Howard, was entered upon the record, and made a part of the +proceedings of this Convention. + + FOREST RETREAT, KY., July, 1855. + + _Gentlemen of the Committee_: + + Allow me to acknowledge the receipt of your kind favor of the + 21st ult., inviting me to meet in Convention at Lexington, Mo., + on the 12th inst. Your letter having been addressed to me at + Carlisle, instead of Forest Retreat, Kentucky, delayed its + reception a few days, in consequence of which this reply may not + reach you in due time for your meeting. It would indeed afford + me great pleasure to meet you on that patriotic occasion. But, + the delicacy of my health at present, although it has not cut + off all hope of ultimate recovery, is such as to forbid me from + attempting the journey to Lexington. + + If I am not ungraciously and unfairly treated by my friends of + the Louisville Journal, a _second_ letter of mine must by this + time be published in that paper, intended as a reply to their + editorial commentary upon the _first_--the one referred to in + your postscript. My first letter that appeared in the Journal, + had been elicited by one previously received from a friend in + that place, whose pleasure it was to hand it over for + publication, to the editor of that paper; and it was published + accordingly, with a long editorial commentary, in which, + although kind and even generous enough in a _personal_ point of + view, they did not fail, _politically_, to give _Old + Stonehammer_ a right severe pelting with their ingenious and + hard-twisted sophisms, intended to cast _great blame and all + sorts of dishonor_ upon the southern section, for having + supported the Nebraska bill, &c. + + Believing myself, that the North had redeemed itself from the + disgrace--the dishonor of having disregarded its constitutional + obligations in refusing to admit Missouri as a State, except + upon the condition of _restriction_, _north of_ 36° 30', and not + then, except by a few votes from that section--the most of whom + were condemned and prostrated by their constituents + respectively, who at that time denied that the few truant votes + of the North constituted a bargain on their part, or placed that + section under any legal or moral obligation to abide by it, I + was induced in my feeble way to vindicate the voters, North and + South, who supported the Nebraska bill. It is true, that in 1820 + the southern section yielded to the glaring imposition of + restriction, rather than keep Missouri any longer out of her + constitutional right of admission, that being the only + alternative presented by the North for the time being. But, did + not all the parties know full well that no power was lodged in + that Congress to repeal, alter or modify any one of the + constitutional rights of succeeding generations? Was it not well + understood by all, that the Federal Convention alone had the + right to fix upon the line of 36° 30', or upon any other line? + and just as well known that the Union would never have been + formed if such an alternative had been presented to our + illustrious forefathers of that Convention? If in 1820 Congress + had the power to legislate upon the subject at all, by what + means has the same body been deprived of the right of + legislation upon the same subject in 1855? + + To put any other construction than this upon the intention or + designs of the Congress of 1820, would, to my mind, amount to an + imputation of great arrogance on the part of that body, in the + assumption of power not conferred upon it. Admit the right of a + subsequent Congress to alter or obliterate the line of 36° 30', + and let this latter _compromise_ be sustained, together with the + Fugitive Slave Law, and all will be well for the future. Repeal + these acts, and we shall soon hear of retaliation in other forms + than described by Mr. Calhoun, which God forbid. But, pardon my + brevity, and allow me to refer you to my forthcoming letter, + expected in the Louisville Journal, for my further views + touching this question. + + With many sincere thanks for your kind invitation, allow me + respectfully to subscribe myself your honored and ob't servant, + + THOS. METCALF. + + Messrs. T. M. EWING, WM. SHIELDS, WM. T. WOOD, F. A. KOWNSLAR. + + P. S.--It is my intention to visit Missouri, if I can once more + recover my health so as to justify the undertaking; and in that + event will certainly call on my Lexington friends of the + Committee. + + T. M. + +Mr. F. A. Kownslar, of Lafayette, offered the following resolution, +which was adopted: + +Resolved, That the peace, quiet, and welfare of this and every other +slaveholding State, as also a regard for the integrity of the Union, +require the passage, by the respective State legislatures, of effective +laws, suppressing within said States the circulation of abolition or +freesoil publications, and the promulgation of freesoil or abolition +opinions. + +Mr. Graves, of Howard, moved that the Convention take a recess of +fifteen minutes, and then re-assemble to hear the address of President +Shannon. Motion sustained, and Convention took a recess. + +The Convention re-assembled. + +President Shannon came forward and delivered his address, after which +Col. Anderson, of Lafayette, moved that the President appoint a +committee to wait on President Shannon, and request a copy of his +address for publication. + +Col. S. A. Young moved to amend said motion by the following: That a +committee be appointed to wait on President Shannon, and request a copy +of his address for publication, and that the speech be published in +connexion with, and as a part of the proceedings of this Convention. + +Pending which motion, the Convention adjourned till 8 o'clock, to-night. + + + NIGHT SESSION. + +The Convention met, and was called to order by the President. + +Col. Anderson explained his motion made previous to adjournment, and +Col. Young withdrew his amendment; whereupon a discussion followed, when +F. C. Sharp, Esq., of Lafayette, offered the following resolutions: + +1st. Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are hereby tendered to +President Shannon, for his able and patriotic address delivered before +us. + +2d. That President Shannon is hereby requested to furnish a copy of his +address to this Convention for publication; and the Convention hereby +expresses the desire that he will deliver his address in as many +counties in this State, as his duties will allow. + +Pending the discussion of these resolutions, Mr. Sharp withdrew his +resolutions and offered the following: + +Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are hereby tendered to +President Shannon, for his address delivered before us, and he is hereby +requested to furnish a copy of the same for publication. + +And the vote being taken by counties, the resolution was adopted by the +following vote: + +Yeas--Boone, Carroll, Cooper, Howard, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, +Livingston, Pettis, Platte, St. Louis, Ray. + +Noes--Cass, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, Saline. Two other counties voting in +the negative. + +(The minutes of the clerk upon taking this vote being imperfect, the +vote by counties cannot be given with certainty.) + +Mr. Cook appeared as a delegate from St. Louis, and took his seat in the +Convention. + +On motion, the Convention adjourned till 8 o'clock, to-morrow morning. + + + THIRD DAY. + + SATURDAY MORNING, 8 o'clock. + +The Convention met, and was called to order by the President. + +The President announced the following named gentlemen, to compose the +committee to draw up and publish an address, as required by the tenth +resolution: + +Hon. W. B. Napton, of Saline county, (Chairman;) Hon. M. Oliver, of Ray +county; Gov. Sterling Price, Col. Sam. H. Woodson, of Jackson county, +and Hon. A. A. King, of Ray county. + +The President also announced the following committee, to procure and +superintend the printing, under the action of this Convention, as +required by the resolution of Mr. Peabody: + +Wm. Shields, Edward Winsor, and Charles Patterson. + +It is also made the duty of said last mentioned committee, to call on +President Shannon, and obtain a copy of his speech for publication. + +Col. S. A. Young rose and informed the Convention, that he had +information that a letter had been received by a member of this +Convention, Mr. Field, from a distinguished politician, advising and +urging him, that unless certain resolutions were adopted by this +Convention, to secede from the Convention and break it up in a row; and +he wished this matter investigated, and the facts properly brought out. + +Mr. Field required of Col. Young to give the name of the distinguished +politician who had written the letter, and whether he referred to him. + +Objection was made to the Convention hearing anything further of the +matter complained of by Col. Young. + +The President decided that Col. Young was out of order, there being no +proposition before the Convention. + +Mr. Moss, of Clay, moved that the Convention proceed to inquire into, +and investigate the matters charged by Col. Young. + +Gen. Clark moved to lay the motion of Mr. Moss on the table. + +Mr. Field desired to make an explanation. He had called for the name of +the author of the letter; did not get it; could not get him to say he +was the member of the Convention alluded to, as having received the +letter, but, from rumor, supposed he was the Field alluded to, and Maj. +J. S. Rollins the alleged author of the supposed letter. He had a +private letter from Maj. Rollins, which, amongst other things, spoke of +this Convention and its objects, but in terms of approval--giving his +opinions and views in strict accordance with the platform of, and +principles adopted by, this Convention, and denied that there was one +word of truth in the charge that Maj. Rollins advised a secession from +the Convention, or to break it up in a row in any contingency. He said +the letter of Maj. Rollins was at his office, and, although a private +letter, any gentleman who desired could see it; that he had intended, if +the investigation proceeded, to show it in Convention, and appealed to a +number of members of the Convention who had seen the letter, to say +whether he had not given a true statement as to its contents. + +Col. Doniphan, Mr. Sawyer, Mr. Grover, and Mr. Moss, who had seen the +letter, confirmed the statement of Mr. Field, as to the contents of the +letter. + +Col. Young acknowledged himself satisfied, and expressed his +gratification that the rumors on the street to Maj. Rollins' prejudice +were so fully proven to be false and groundless, and said his object in +bringing this matter up was to do but an act of justice to his friend +and neighbor, Maj. Rollins. + +The motions to lay on the table and for investigation were withdrawn. + +On motion, the thanks of the Convention were tendered to the President +and other officers of the Convention, for the faithful manner in which +they had discharged their duties. + +On motion of Maj. Morin, of Platte, a vote of thanks was tendered to the +citizens of Lafayette, for their kind hospitality. + +On motion, it was Resolved, That the proceedings of this Convention, +together with the address to be prepared by the committee appointed for +that purpose, be published in pamphlet form; that a committee of three +be appointed by the Chair, to superintend their publication, and that a +contribution be made by the delegates to this Convention and others +present, to defray the expenses of said publication. + +Resolved, That ten thousand copies of said proceedings and address be +published, and that they be distributed to every part of the State, by +the publishing committee, in such manner as may be practicable and +advisable. + +On motion of Mr. Staples, of Pettis, the Convention adjourned _sine +die_. + + WM. T. WOOD, _President_. + + L. A. WISELY, } _Secretaries_. + L. J. SHARP, } + + + + + Transcriber Notes: + +Passages in italics were indicated by _underscores_. + +Small caps were replaced with ALL CAPS. + +On page 5, "manumiting" was replaced with "manumitting". + +On page 9, "statesmanshp" was replaced with "statesmanship". + +On page 9, "he ways" was replaced with "the ways". + +On page 16, "Resolved, that" was replaced with "Resolved, That". + +On page 17, "Johnson county" was replaced with two quotation marks. + +On page 17, "Davis" was replaced with "Daviess". + +On page 17, "Cass County" was replaced with "Cass county". + +On page 18, "W Y. Slack" was replaced with "W. Y. Slack". + +On page 19, "H. D. Russell" was replaced with "H. D. Russell". + +On page 19, "Clinton Co" was replaced with "Clinton Co.". + +On page 19, "Jackson, Co." was replaced with "Jackson Co.". + +On page 19, "J. M," was replaced with "J. M.". + +On page 19, "Manion." was replaced with "Manion,". + +On page 20, "Ray Co" was replaced with "Ray Co.". + +On page 20, the comma was removed after "Mr. C. T. Worley". + +On page 27, "upon t" was replaced with "upon it". + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Address to the People of the United +States, together with the Proceedings and Resolutions of the Pro-Slavery Convention of Missouri, by Unknown + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40698 *** |