Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1855-11-01
Jbe Q5lasoolu Gimts.
Address to the People of the U. States

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 topic which vially
concerns our Slate, and which, ii 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, touch
ing our condition and its bearing upon Kan
sas, accompanied with such reflections as
the fact, naturally suggest.
That portion of Missouri which borders
on Kansas contains, as nearly as can now be
ascertained, population of fifty thousand
slaves, and their estimated value, at the pri-
ces prevailing here, is about twenty-five
millions of dollars. As the whole State
contains but about one hunGr thousand
slaves, it will be seen that ne.half of the
entire slave population Of Missouri Is loca-
ted in the eighteen counties bordering on
Kansas, the greater portion Of which is
separated from that Territory by no natural
boundary, and is within days ride of the
line. This part of our State is distinguish
ed by uniform fertility orsoil, temperate
and healthruI climate, and population pro-
crossing rapidly in all the elements that con-
stitue prosperous community. Agricnl-
ture is in a most honrishing condition, and
the towns and villages which have sprung
mp indicate a steady progress towards
wealth, refinement, and commercial impor-
tance. Nor have the higher interests of ed
ucatinn, religion, and science been neglected:
but common schools, and respectable insti-
tutions of a higher grade, and churches o.
, every Christian denomination are found in
every county. The great staple of this dis
trict 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 allu-
ded 10 is wonderfully adapted by nature 10
its production, in greater quantities and f.
ner qualities, and at smaller cost, than in
any other State in the Union, and that the
climate is such as 10 permit the growers of
this article TO reside on their estates, will
readily explain and account for the uneX-
ampled growth Of the country. Already il
constitutes the most denseIy populated por-
ton of our State, and its remarkable fertility
of soil and general salubrity Of climate, with
the facilities for outlet furnished by TO
ble river running through its midst, and
two great railroads. destined soon TO ira.
verse its upper and lower borders, will ren.
der it, at no distant period, if left undis.
turbed, as desirable and flourishmg dis,
D., lrict as can be found in the Mississippi
Valley.
. An idea has, 10 some extent, prevailed
:. abroad, that Missouri contained but very
8. small slave population, and that the perma
: nnece of this institution here was threatened
4 by the existence ofat least respectable mi
noritv Of her citizens ready and anxious Il
abolish it, and that only a slight eX'crna
pressure was necessary TO accomplish thi
: purpose. We regret that this opinion has
i to some extent received countenance from
the publication and patronage Of journals il
our commercial metropolis, evidently aim
lg ing at such result. Without, however
6 going into any explanation of political par
" ties here, which would be entirely foreig
to our purpose, we think it proper to state
u that the idea above alluded to is unlounded
I'd and that no pectable party can be foun
ut in tins State, outside of St. Louis, prepare
v TO embark in any such schemes. In tha
st city, constituting the great outlet Of com
merce, as well as that Of several othe
or States and Territories, it will not seem sur
priSing that lis heterogeneous populatio
>" should furnish foothod for the widest an
most visionary projects. St. Louis wN'
however, represented in our Convention
and it is not Thought lmwarrantable TO as
sume that the resolutions adopted by tn
body have received the cordial appreciate
of a large and influential portion of her cit
zens. Other counties, besides St. Loui
outside of the district TO which our observ;
H. tions have been principally directed, wei
p also represented by delegates; and had n
Gle the season of the year, the short notice
"'' its intended session, and the locality whe
ely the Convention was held-remote from Il
10" centre of the State-prevented, we dcu
ure not that delegates from every county in Il
: State would have been in attendance. |
deed, portion of the upper Mississippi Al
lower Mississippi counties are as deep
-, though less directly interested in this cue
= ~ ton, as any part Of this State, and their C
izens are known to accord most heartily