Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-18
KANSAS AND WESTERN MISSOURI.

corrected IN our Irl-weekly paper.
KANSAS AND WESTERN MISSOURI.
We publish, this morning, the preamble and
resolutions recently adopted at . meeting Of
citizens Of Ray county, Missouri, in relation to
the settlement of Kansas. It may be well to
remind our readers that these different primary
meetings on the border counties Of the State of
Missouri were only preparatory to more gene
raj convention, which was held on the 9th inst,
at Liberty, Missouri, the proceedings of which
meeting have not yet reached us. These de-
monstrations, moderate and calm, but firm and
determined, on the part of the most interested
and influential citizens of western Missouri,
are the best guaranty Of the ultimate triumph
ofthe South, by the introduction Of slavery into
Kansas. The deep interest felt by these border
citizens in the subject, is decided evidence Of
the fact that the Territory Of Kansas, which
differs but little in soil and climate from their
own, is peculiarly adapted to the labor Of
slaves.
We find, in the Richmond Weckly Mirror,
published in Ray county, Missouri, q statement
of the sale of certain slaves belonging to the
estate ofThomas Reeves, deceased, which shows
that the value Of this property in western Mis-
souri, is even greater than it is in Virginia or
Maryland. The average price Of slaves, as in
Dictated by this sale, is 1886, while, in the
States to which we refer, it scarcely amounts to
$500. This fact is significant for more reasons
than one. The value Of slaves depends, not
only upon the laws of supply and demand, but,
in stronger degree than any other property,
upon the security Of The property ITSELF Thus,
the system of interference. with the institution
of slavery by Northern Abolitionists, the facii-
ties afforded to fugitives to. escape from their
masters, and the threatened abolition of the
whole system of slavery has had q tendency to
diminish the market price of the slave. When,
therefore, we see, Notwithstanding these oppos-
ing causes, the price of slave labor continually
rising, or, at least remaining unaffected, is not
this conclusive proof, both of the intrinsic
value Of the property, and of the fixed deter
minaton of the Southern stakeholder to main
tain his rights, and to resist, at all hazards, the
encroachments and interference Of impertinent
or misguided fanatics?
In their bearing upon Kansas, the facts to
which we here allude are full Of significance.
Ray county, in which those sales have taken
place, is but a short distance from that Terri
tory-so short, indeed, that there can be no
material difference either in the soil, the eli
mate, or the productions Of the two sections of
country. What, therefore, applies to slave
labor in Ray county applies in an equal de-
gree to slave labor in the Territory Of Kansas.
The interest manifested by the citizens of this
county in the introduction Of slavery into
Kansas is also an additional evidence that they,
who from their position and their experience
are the best judges of the question, consider
slave labor as Of the greatest importance in the
development of the Territory.
Indeed, it is singular that there should be
found in Missouri any one opposed TO move
ment so deeply affecting the interests of that
State. She is already bounded, on her north
ern and eastern borders, by non-slaveholding
States. From such contguity she has already
suffered, in the loss Of her property, and in the
corruption Of her slaves. If slavery is ex-
cluded from Kansas, the evil will be increased.
Another house of refuge for deluded slaves
will be erected, and that property rendered in
secure and precarious, may be reduced in value
TO such an extent as TO make it almost worth
less Nor is this all. BY the operations OF
those causes, Missouri herself may gradually
slacken her hold upon property thus attacked,
and finally emancipate her slaves. She win
thus extend the same evil which Slapped her Of
this element OF her strength and prosperity
Thus the disease, small and disregarded in its
incipiency making the meat 1t feeds upon,"
and, growing as it feeds, may in time affect
sections and States now free from its morbid
influence.
We, therefore, hail with pleasure move
meht like that now engaging the attention of
the people Of Missouri, and bid them God speed
in an enterprise which, while it prejudices no
man, no right, and no section Of the Union,
must rebound to the benefit Of the South, to
the protection Of our property, and to the high
est development OF the Territory Of Kansas.
INAUGURAL Address OF THE Gov
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