The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-03

this cause, and who proclaim themselves the
crusaders of Freedom, that the transition from
slave to free labor cannot be advanced by any
coercive measures, or precipitated By fanati
cism. Missouri contains less than a hundred
thousand slaves, and possesses a coil and eli.
mate that do not need the description of labor
required in the cotton and rice-growing regions
further south. If they are to be emancipated
at all, it must be through gradual process,
assisted by voluntary aid, and by some eauita
BILE principle of compensation for those who
are unwilling or unable to surrender their legal
property without remuneration. And, before
any step can be taken, looking to that practi.
cal result, the shareholders must be convinced
that the motive of interest conspires with other
reasons to urge emancipation. For, until it
can be shown that the appreciation of real
estate and the general prosperity of the State
are to be secured by the abandonment of slave
labor, determined and steady opposition must
naturally be expected. We, who are at a dis
lance, and have no portion of the responsibility
to bear, and no interests at hazard, can afford
to theorize complacently, or to speculate at ease
upon policy which is to affect the substance
and fortunes of others, though we might hest
tate to accept the same sort of unsolicited couu-
sci if addressed to ourselves.
The great point gained in the recent election
was the declaration, by half the voters of Mis-.
souri,, that the quest on of emancipation was
proper one for discussion and for reflective con.
sideration. This was the grouud assumed open.
~ and manfully by the candidate who united in
his support most of the opposition to the Pro-
Slavery party. Aud the facts subsequently de-
veloped show that the expression of opinion
would have been more emphatic than it was,
but for the local and political embarrassments
that combined against the material issue. As
On entering wedge, this concession is of impress.
sive moment, considering how fierce proscrip-
ton has followed every attempt to discuss this
question in nearly all the Southern States for
many years. Ultraism has planted itself upon
the dogma, that the so-called T" institution " of
Slavery shall not be discussed in any form. ex-
cept that which proposes to rivet it more effect.
uaIy, or to extend it bene6cially. This
fanacticism has infected Missouri less perhaps
than the rest of the South, though even there
the Supreme Court avowed political agitation
as a reason for reversing the settled Judgment
of the judicial tribunals in the case of bred
Scott. As an Offset to that extraordinary ad-
mission, however, the debates in the Legisla.
ture at the last session, the election of Mr.. Blair
to Congress, and the late gubernatorial con.
test, all rejecting to greater or less extent
popular sentiment, not by indirection, but
through positive expression, warrant the belief
that revolution has begun, which can hardly
60 backwards. rs
And as such coming events cast their shad.
ows before, so we have seen in the healthy en-
igration that has flowed into Missouri within
the last few months, and in the sudden diver
sion of capital from other States and Terrific
ries towards its lands, the popular instinct of
an event foreshadowed with all reasonable prob
ability. Such superior natural advantages as
she presents cannot fail to attract rdustry and
enterprise from the free States which supply
the muscle and sinew that people the West,
develop its resources, and build up its pros
perity; and the presence of that population is
guarantee of the future which now looms up
gradually and attractively. 1t may be deferred,
to become the achievement of the next gen.
Grafton, or it may be quickened by events into
which human sagacity cannot now penetrate.
But, under the blessing of providence, we be-
lieve it will come sooner or later, if the means
are properly applied to the end, and if zealots
will curb their passionate enthusiasm, 80 that
reason may assert its just supremacy.