The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-09
THE MISSOURI MANIFESTO.

Early in September last, meeting Of the citz ms Of
lexington Missouri and Others held and its result
ia the following maniesto:-
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
We have been appointed by convention OF citizens Of
Missouri mainly representing that portion Of the state
lying contiguous the Territory of Kansas to lay before
you suggestions upon topic which vitay concerns
our state and which, it is believed, may to serious
tent affect the general welfare Of our country.
We propose TO discharge this duty by a concise and
candid exposition of act touching condition aud its
bearing Kansas, accompanied with such reflections
the facts naturally suggest.
That portion of Missouri which borders Kansas
tains as nearly be ascertained population
of fifty thousand slaves and their estmsted value at the
prices prevailing here is about twenty i've millions or
dollars As the whole State contains but about one hun
bred thousand slaves IL will be that half OF the
entire slave population OF Missouri is located IN the
eighteen counties bordering Kansas the greater por
ton of which Is separated from that Territory by no
tural boundary and is within days tide OF the iine
This part OF State Is sngushed by uniform fer
nity Of soil a temperate and heathfui climate and
ijpuauon progressing rapidly in MI tue elements that
cons ti;u'e prosperous commuaity. Agriculture is
in most acu'i biog condition. and the towns aud vii
lages which have sprung up Indicate steady pro.
gress towa, DIS wealth. refinement and commercial imp
lance. Nor have the higher interests Of education re
giou and science been neglected. but common schools
and resIectabe institutions of higher grade and
churches Of every Christian denominaton found in
county The great staple of this district is hemp
although tobacco and and wheat also largely
produced The culture of hemp has been found profitable
the additional ones that almost foot of land within
the counties alluded to is wonderfully adaped by nature
TO its proc ucton in greater quantities and asr qualities
and ut smaller cost, than Ia any otoer State in the
Union and that the ella ate Is such &, per "it the
growers OF THE article to reside on theic c.ta will
readily explain ant account for the unex4m olei gowh
OF the coun,Iy Already It constitutes the most deuscly
populated portion Of STATE and lis remarkable fer
tility of u and general saubriy Of climate with the
fac les Tor outlet furnished by noble river running
through its midst and two great railroads destined soon
to traverse its upper and lever borders will render 1t
at distant period If left undisturbed, desirable and
houI isbiDg district can be found in the Mississippi
Valley.
An idea has to some extent prevailed abroad that Mis-
souri, contained but very small slave population aud
that the peImanence Of this institution here was
tbrsstened by the existence of at least a re-
spectacle minority Of her citizens ready and anxious to
abolish It, and that only slight external pressure
was necessary TO accomplish this purpose. We regret
from the publication and patronage Of ,urna
In commercial metropolis, evidently aiming at such
result without however, going into any expsnst on
pu pose think it proper state that tho idea
above alluded to is unfounded and that respectable
pared embark in any such schemes. In that city,
cons tupg the great outlet of our commerce. as we'll
prsng that its heterogeneous population should
furnish foothoid for the widest and most visiona
projects. St Louis was however represented in our
convention, and it Is not thought unwsTranaoe to
that the resolutions adopted by this body have
received the cordial appreciation Of large AMI infuen
tal portion of her citizens Other counties, besides St
Louis Outside of the district to which our observntio,
have been principally Effected also rep esen'ed by
delegates and had not the Of the year. the 81
convention beid-remoe from the centre Of the
Sate--prevened, doubt not tia. delegates from
every county in the State would have been In attend
ahce. indeed, portion Of me upptr Mississppi and
lower Mississippi ,untes deeply, though less d
seey Interested 10 this ques ION as any part Of this
ly in the sentiments and actions Of Western Missouri
Even in the southwest STATE from the Usage L,
the borders Of Akana where there are bat few slaves
the proceedings Of public meetings indicate the entire and
asye sympathy Of their people From the general tsue
OF the public press throughout the State stmilac
tpfer IN we feel n a
sertpg very general II not unanimous concurrence in
the PRINCIPLES adopted by the Lexington Convention,
Those principles emboaed in series NJ resolutions
appended 10 this ADDRESS, aud which, We are happy to
say, adopted with entire naanimity by body
ing every shade Of political opinpn 70 be found Ia
the interior Of State these facts conclusive OF
TIE condition OF public sentiment Ia Missouri The pro
liabilities Of changes here n reference to the question OF
slavery, not essentially different from what they
In Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky In relation TO
numbers reference 10 the shows that Missoli
contains double the number Of Arkansas nearly double
the number Of Texas and about equal number with
Maryland.
These facts arc stated vita view to proper under
standing a position in reference to the settlement
Kansas and the legitimate aud necessary Interest e ia
the progress and character OF that settlement Previous
10 tho repeal OF the C0ngresona restriction OF 1920 by
which Missouri thrown into isolated position ia
refeieno the question Of slavery aud made . solitary
exception 20 general rule her condition in regard 20 the
territory west of her border, ard yet north of the
geocrsp ha line which Congress had liked the mi
southern Institutions was trniv uucugiable With
two States on her northern and eastern border many
portions ~ which the constitution OF the United States
ard the Fugitive Slave law passed n pursuance thereof
were known TO he inefcacivus for the protection OF
our rights az they would have been London IDA
Il left 20 the will Of Congress By enforcing the
srction Of 1870 10 cut Missouri on almost entirely from
All territorial with States having Institutions
cangenial 10 her own and with populations ready anf will
ling and defend hen. No alternative was LEFT TO
thai body ou 10 peal the restriction aud thus leave
to the constitution and the laws Of nature the settlement
of our Territories or by retaining the restriction, ind
recty 70 abolish flsyery In Missouri II the latter alter
native had 10 he see,tet n would have been act Of
charity and mercy 10 the SHAREHOLDERS Of Missouri 70
thtm In time 81 the necessity ~ abandoning their
homes, manumitirg selling their slaves-to give
them amre'time 10 determine between the sacrifice OF
City millions 81 slave property seventy millions OF
landed estate Direct legislation would have been pre-
ferabe 10 indirect legislation leading to the same result
and the enforcement 81 the restriction In tho settlement
Of Kansas virtually the abo ion Of slavery In Mis-
souri, But Congress acted more wisely, We think and
with greater fidelity 20 the constitution and the Union
The history Of the Kansas Nebraska bill known 20
the country. II sbosbed the geographical line OF 30
deg 20 min, BY which The limits Of slavery we're rc