Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-02-10
From tbe c.n,t.l tlio.l Aaroea,e.

STILL MORE ABOUT EMANCIPATION IN MISSOURI.
Tins CuRREET SETTING THAT wAY.-Other States
of our glorious confederacy have emancipated,
and the civilized world commend them; why may
not we2 Is there less of intelligence, less mora
lily, less love of order with US than with them?
Let whoever thinks so now speak. We do not
believe it, but, upon the contrary, believe the
people of Missouri fully eOmPetcat and capable
if they shall think we'll peacefully, and without
the infringement of the rights Of any, to eman-
cipate their slaves; and to do so, we believe
would subSerye in the highest possible degree,
the interests of the State.
But there are other and higher and holier
considerations which lead us to deSiTe-ifin Gods
providence it may be accomplishment
ton. We believe slavery to be great evil, )"
and cannot, therefore, so long as we have heart
to feel for others wOes-a Christian heart
cease to desire the re noval of the evil. Let not
our friends be alarmed, or our enemies, if we
have them, rejoice at the frank avowal of our
sentiments; entertaining them, VIC hesitate not
to avow them; we have nothing to disguise in
this matter; we holdno sentiments, advocate no
measures, pursue no policy which we would not
hold, advocate andpursue anywhere in this re-
public.
We are not here to intermeddlc, at this time
or any other time, through this or any other me-
dums, with the civil relation between master
and slave, but peacefully and cheerfully to pur-
sue our avocatiOn as an editor, in religious de-
nomination WIlUSe kUuWu DTlHClpSS anu usuBcS
on this subject ought to save us the labor of even
SO much as an explanation. In this, asin other
matters, we proclaim to the world, 1--WE defraud
no man." However deeply we may deplore an
existing evil, and however ardently we may de-
sire its removal, we regard ourselves obligated,
as Christian citizens, to promote all necessary
change in LAWFUL, peacctul manner. Yet sure
~ as a religious Journal, we cannot ignore sub
ject of such paramount importance, as ques-
ton of Christian morality.
In the attitude this subject is here assuming,
an attitude, as it should be- given it by our own
people and representatives, unintluenced by TO-
reign elements, there are just these two views
which may be taken, these two positions asSu-
med: Slavery, us it exists among us is eitheran
evil blessing; ii the former, let it be abOl-
ished; if the latter, let it be fOstered.
Let us have no lodging no sideissucs wrung
in. The scheme by which this is to be effected,
in all its details, can, by the wisdom Of our
statesmen and philanthrOpistS, be wrought out
in due time; and the means necessary to the ac-
lcomplishment of so grand and glorious
Summation-a contamination over which chris
tian men and angels would Shout-can be
secured.
In this we would not, were we now ready for
it, suffer ourselves to dictate, but would simply
suggest, that the Methodist Episcopal Church,
with other evangelical churches, continues still
the steadfast friend and patron of colonization,
until something more feasible shall he presented.
Our agents still in the field, funds are being
collected, and other efficient nruns nre being
employed to carry on this glorious work.
We declare that here every man is without
excuse. If any decline to favor emancipation,
we suppose it must be from one of two conSide-
rations: either they have not the courage to de-
clare their wishes, lest they incur the displeas-
ure of some. or they do not consider slavery an
evil but blessing, and therefore do not desire
its extinction.
Will the religious press of the State speak ont
Il =
see; not that we fear the consequences for our.
selves if they should not come to the rescue, for
we unhesitatingly assert that whenever we think
we may forward the cause of emancipation by
SO doing, we shall speak, regardless of what
others may do or fail TO do; but we are conf
churches of Missouri give their decided inau-
ence for emancipation, it will go very far toward
the accomplishment of this most desirable OBJ
ject.