Squatter sovereign., 1855-10-16

markable fertility Of soil and general salu-
brity Of climate, with the facilities for out
let furnished by noble river running
through is midst, and two great railroads,
destined soon to traverse its upper and low
er borders, will render it, at no distant Pc
Rod, if left undisturbed, as desirable and
flourishing district as can be found in the
Mississippi Valley. re-
An idea has to some extent prevailed
abroad that Missouri contained but small
slave population, and that the permanence
of this institution here was threatened by
the existence Of at least respectable mi
nority of her citizens ready and anxious to
abolish it, and that only slight external
pressure was necessary to accomplish it
We regret that this opinion has to some
extent received eountenance from the pub
lication and patronage Of journals in our
commercial metropolis 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 en-
bark in any such scheme. In that city,
constituting the great outlet TO our COM
merce, as well as that of several other
States and Territories, it will not seem
surprising that its heterogeneous popula-
ton should furnish foothold for the Wild
est and most visionary projects. St. Louis
was however represented in our Conven-
ton, and it is not thought unwarrantable
to assume that these resolutions adopted by
this body have received the cordial appro-
baton of large and influential portion Of
her citizens. Other counties besides St.
Louis, outside OF the district to which our
observations have been principally direct
ed. were also represented by delegates !;
and had not the season of the year, the short
notice of its intended session, and the To-
cality where the Convention was held
remote from the centre Of the State-pre-
vented, we doubt not that delegates from
every county in the State would have been
in attendance. Indeed, a portion of Up
per Mississippi and Lower Mississippi
counties are as deeply, though less directly,
interested in this question as any part of
the State; and their citizens are known to
accord most heartily in the sentiments and
actions Of Western Missouri Even in
the southwest part Of our State, fro the
Usage 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 throu :
ghout the State, similar inference is de-
ductable, and we feel warranted In assert
ing a very general if not unanimous con-
eurrence in the principles adopted by the
Lexington Convention. Those principles
are embodied in series of resolutions ap-
appended to this address, and which we
are happy to say, were adopted with entire
unanimity by body representing every
shade of political opinion to be found in the
interior of our State. These facts are con.
elusive of the condition of public sentiment
in Missouri. The probabilities of changes
here IN reference to the question of Stare
ry are not essentially different from what
they are in Tennessee, or Virginia, OF
Kentucky. In relation to numbers, ref.
erence 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 view to a
proper understanding of our position with
reference to the settlement of Kansas, and
the legitimate and necessary interest fel
IN the progress and character of that set.
tlement. Previous 10 the repeal of the
Congressional restriction of 1920, by which
Missouri was thrown into an isolated DO
sition in reference to the question of Slave.
ry, and made solitary exception to gen
eral rule, her condition in regard to tn.
territory west of her border. and yet nortl
of the geographical line which Congress
had fixed as the terminus of Southern In
stitutions, was truly unenviable. Witt
two States on her Northern and Eastern
border. in many portions ofwhich the Con
stitution OF the United States, and the Flu
gitiye Slave Law, passed IN pursuance
thereof were known to be notifications 70
the protection of our rights as they woult
, have been in London or Canada, it wa
left to the viii Of Congress. by enforcin,
the restriction of 1920. to cut Missouri Of
|, | almost entirely from all territorial cennec
ton. with States having institution congo
i NAL to her orn, and with populations read