Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-02-21
prom the l1I.sonrI pemoernt.

TIE EMANCIPATION QUESTION IN Missouri
The resolution declaring the emancipation
ment "inexpedient, impolitc, unwise, and un-
Just, has passed the House of Representatives,
and it must be now accepted as the accredited
opinion of the General Assembly of Missouri.
In the Senate four members voted against it,
Messrs BLOW, Rannels, Holmes and Stevenson,
and in the House twelve voted against it, all of
whom belong othe st. Louis delegation Three
of the four Senators who had the sagacity and
pluck to record their votes in the negative are
also from St. Louis, and, together with the de-
legation in the other branch, represent n con-
stiIuency of hundred aud forty thousand free
men, for it will not be pretended that Frost and
Rogers represented their constituents on this
occasion, any more than on previous occasions.
The Representatives and Senators from st. Louis
have acted nlanfully and well, and with fidelity
to the popular sentiment of this city and with
n prcscience of coming events. These men are
true to the St. Louis of the present, but still
truer, if possible, to the St Louis of the future,
and We hazard the conjecture Northumberland
they will exercise commanding political intlu-
encc, and wear the laurels which take root and
bourgeon so luXuriantly in free soil. The great
political movements of our time originate in the
cities. The angry genius of the French Revo-
luton first revealed herself to the eyes of meT-
chants and mechanics in the streets of Paris.
The benignant genius of the American Revolu-
ton first appearedin Boston. The parliament
tary reform, and free trade movements in Eng
land, were born and nurtured in Birmingham
and Manchester and whatever of Democracy.
now exists in Europe is to be found among the
merchants manufacturers and artisans in the
large Cities and when these classes combine IL
is worthy of remark that gentle reformation
takes the place of violent revolution. Accord
ing to all the laws which govern the genesis of
such things st. Louis should be the cradle of the
emancipation movement in this State, and her
III
rye and sagacity; as well as their patriotism, in
recognizing and avowing tic fact
We confess we are somewhat jealous of the
position which the st. Louis Senators of the
American party occupy, when we remember
that Frost and Rodgers were elected by the par
ty with which we are Identified. 1t is really
too bad that the men who should be foremost in
expressing the freesoil feeling of this city, are
open and shameless advocates for the perpetual
ton and extension of slavery, and the bitter
ness of the feeling is aggravated, when we re-
member by what agency they were empowered
to assal thcinterests, and outrage the principles
of our citizens. Having spoken OF the st. Louis
delegation, it would be an objectionable omis-
sion to say nothing of Senator Stephenson; the
only representative Of country constituency,
who has declared by speech and vote for eman=
cipation; but in stating the fact we pronounce
a paaegyric, which every reader will paraphraze
for himself
A high authority has said that he who can
define accurately is to be regarded as more than
human. We should willingly concede the claim
to any who could accurately define the position
of the National Democrats" in the General AS
seulbly upon the question of emancipation
They elected an eInancipationist to political
office accompanied by the statement that not
emancipation opinions, but opposition to Benton
and Blair was the genuine test. They subsc-
quently proclaimed through their organ, the
Leader, that emancipation was tolerated as a nom
essential in their Sanhedrim. When barnes
offered his resolution against emancipation, 1T
was laid on the table on motion Of Captain Reid,
the leader of the National Democrats, and barnes.
himself was laid under the table on another mo-
ton of the same ndivi .ual, barnes thus be.
coming the promartyr of slavery in this State.
Those very National Democrats, who made
holocaust of barnes and his resolution, which
auttcred like banner in his hand who pro-
claimed federation for emancipation, and who
elected an e1nancPationist in convention, now
vote that emancipation is ''unwise," &c. Who
will define the position of the National Democ-
racy upon emancipation?
We confess our inability to do it They have
kicked it higher and higher like football agl-
tating day after day while protesting against
agitation, Just like the Pierce administration,
protesting obedience to the Baltimore platform,
which declared against the agitation of the sla-
very question in or out of Congress, while 1T
was engaged in fomenting one of the most bit
ter slavery agitations winch has yet occurred
To agitate the slavery question, and at the same
time to protect against its agitation, seems to be
the two-edged sword Of the National Dcmocra-
cy. and as the strife progresses, they will lind 1t
a dangerous weapon.
We can easily explain Cars resolution by
the remarks with which he accompanied it. To
scduco slaveholding immigration to Missouri,
and to erect barrier against the free State i'm
migration, was, we are convinced, on mature
reflection, tho purpose contemplated; and pur-
from the free or slave States could not be enter
tained. Emigration should certainly be encour-
aged, but no partially should be shown to those
from n particular section, and no-false pretenses
should be held out like that which promises the
of slavery in Missouri.