Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-10-06
Ibe Anti 5Iaucrp Buele.
SLAVERY BETTER THAN FREEDOM
THE WRONG OF FREE EMIGRATION
TO rus PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

TAk WkUNt Ut FhEE EmluhAIlUN
TO rHB PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
We have been appointed by Convention G
citizens of Missouri mainly, representing that poi
ton Of the State lying contiguous to the Terrific
ry of Kansas, to lay before you suggestion
upon topic which vitality concerns our State
and which. it is believed. may to a serious exten
affect the general welfare of our country.
We propose to discharge this duty by q concis
and candid exposition of facts, touching our con
dtion and its bearing upen Kansas, acuompane
with such reflections as the facts naturally sug
gest.
That portion of Missouri which borders on Kan
sas contains, rs nearly as can now be ascertained
a apopulation of fifty thousand slaves, and thei
estimated value, at the prices prevailing here, i
about twenty millions of dollars. AS the Who'll,
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 eigh
teen counties bordering on Kansas, the greater
portion of which is separated from that Territory
by no natural boundary, and is within day ride
Of the line This part of our State is distinguish
cd by a uniform fertility of soil, temperate and
healthfu climate, and n population progressing
rapidly in all the elements that constitute pros
porous community.
An idea has to some extent prevailed abroad
thar Missouri contained but very small slave
population, and that the permanance of this insti
tuition here was threatened by the existence of al
least respectable minority of her citizens, ready
and anxious to abolish it, and that only slgh
external pressure was necessary to accomplish
this purpose. We regret that this opinion has
publication and patronage of journals in our COM
mercal metropolis, evidently aiming at such a
result.
We think il 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.
The probabilities Of change here in reference
to the question of Slavery, are not essentially diff
fsrent from what they are in Tennessee, or Vir-
ginia, or Kentucky. In relation to numbers, q re-
ference to tho census shows that Missouri contains
double the number Of Arkansas, nearly double the
number of Texas, and about an equal number with
Maryland.
Previous to the repeal of the Congressional re-
stricton of 1920, by which Missouri was thrown
into an isolated position in reference to the ques-
tion of Slavery, and made q solitary exception to o
general rule. her condition in regard to the terri
tory west of her border and yet north of the geo.
graphical line which Congress had fixed the
terminus of Southern institutions, truly un-
enviabe. With two States her northern and
eastern border. in many portions OF which the
Constitution of the United States, and the Fugi-
tive Slave Law, passed in pursuance thereof, were
known to he rs inefhcacious for the protection OF
our rights as they would have been in London or
Canada it was left to the will of Congress, by en-
forcing the restriction of 1920, TO cut Missouri Of
almost entirely from all territorial connexon with
States having institutions congenial to her own,
and with populations ready and willing to protect
and defend them No alternative 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 abolish Slavery in Missouri.
If the latter alternative had to be selected it would
have been an act of charity and mercy to the
slavehol0ers of Missouri to warn them in time
&C A. o( .1.a, Io,1 lhns. Lgr,
manumitting or selling their slaves-to give
them ample time to determine between the
sacrifice Of fifty millions of slave property or SOW
enty 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 moro wisely, as we think, and
with greater fidelity to the Constitution and the
Union.
The history of the Kansas-N Nebraska bill is known
to the country 1t abolished the geographical
line of SO deg 80 min, by which the limits of Sa-
very restricted, and substituted consttu-
tional and just principle, which left to the settlers
of the Territories TO adopt such domestic institu-
tions as suited themselves. If ever there was a
principle calculated to commend itself to all reas-
enable men, and reconcile all conflicting interests,
this would seem to be the one. 1t WAS the princ-
pie of popular sovereignty-the basis upon which
our independence had been achieved-and it was
therefore supposed to be justly dear to all Ameri-
cans of every latitude and creed But fanaticsn.
was not satisfied. The Abolitonists and their
allies moved heaven and earth to accomplish it's
defeat, and although unsuccessful they did not
despair. Out-yoted in Congress, receiving coun-
tenance from the Executive. they retired to anoth-
or theatre OF action and strange to say they pros
tituted an ancient and respectable Commonwealth
--one Of the Old Thrteen-tO commence, in her
sovereign capacity as State, with the means and
imposing attitude incident to such position
crusade against Slavery, novel in its character,
more alarming in its features and likely to be
more fatal in its consequences, than all the fana
teal movements hitherto attempted since the ap-
pearance of Abolitionism as political party in
1855. They originated and matured scheme
never before heard 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 nonintervention by Congress to substitute ac-
tive Intervention by the States. An act Of incor-
poration was passed company with a capital of
1--WE 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
tbs ,yQper material premiums were offered for
recruits the public mind was stimulated by glow
ing and false descriptions of tho country proposed
to be occupied, and Hessian band of mercena-
ries was thus prepared and forwarded to com
,nence and carry on war of determination against
Slavery.
To call these people emigrants Us sheer peryer-
sion Of language. They 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 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 leyeod the canebrakes of Tennessee ard Missis-
sippi, or broke up the plains Of Illinois and Mis-
souri,. They are mostly ignorant of agriculture
picked up in cities villages, they of course have
no experience as farmers, and if left to their un-
aided resources-.if not clothed and fed by the
same power which has affected their transporta-
ton-they would starye or freeze. They hire
lngs-recruted and shipped indirectly by SOW
ereign State of this Union, to mako war upon an
instituton now existing in the Territory to which
they are spIanted and thence 70 laaiet fatal