Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-06-25
From the Missouri Democrat, May 25.
EXTINCTION OF SLAVERY IN
MISSOURI

MISSOURI. Il
The slave system is virtually dead in
Missouri. Decay has fastened upon its {
vitals, and the stifening limbs betoken
speedy dissolution. An industrial ele-
ment has intruded itself upon society, and
our politics are shaping themselves TO the
new requirements Of the people. Thought
iberalized, labor melted TO economic de-
velopment, massive movements Of popu-
lation tiding hither, have combined to
determine the matter in advance Of leg
islation, and in defiance of conservatism.
In some quarters narrow minded parti-
sans still seek to realize for self advance
ment those preiudices attendant upon the
unacknowledged fact, but men who read
the future with sagacity, and who fear
not to be prophets Of the dispensation, .
see with brilliant certainty that the role .
of such has been played out. Let Us
not exult with offensive complacency at
| the decree which has gone forth, whose
fulillment Is as assured as the census re-
turns Of 1860, or the appreciated value
, Of sub-divided homesteads. On the con-
trary, let Us admit that the system of
} slave labor entailed upon our state as an
: inheritance, has been dealt with consider
ately, has avoided much of unhumanity
characterizing it elsewhere, and has
largely contributed to the achievements
in industry which have built up the pres
/ ent commonwealth. But its task is done;
the day Of its displacement approaches :;
room is demanded for the exercise of
more energetic industries in the shape of
rewarded and skilled labor. A calm phi
losophy, considering the moral aspects Of
this change, will see in the past but the
i compelled course Of social events, and
j realize in the future benign end, evolv-
ing itself out Of transient but tolerated
wrong, hardship and inequality.
Whatever may be said about politicians
;, precipitating the issue Of emancipation
upon the State, we are satisfied that they
are not in advance of public sentiment,
although we do not think that they right
ly distinguish the features Of the nnara-
-. ment. They use the wrong nomencla-
ture, wrangle in confused iargon, and
strike at the shadows of coming events.
The free soil progression strides above
- the level of partisan strife, and is sus-
tanned by forces that cannot be neutral
=. lied in caucus or convention. 1t may be
. well to classify the elements of its pow
d, er First; the imagined dependence up
on slave labor, for large classes of pro.
duetion has been oflate exploded. Ma
O. chinery has undertaken, successfully, tC
do the drudgery of the farm, the mine
- and the factory. Even strength in man
ual labor IS Of exceptional demand ac
to tiyity and energy have become the chic
requisites. Home facts forcibly illustrat,
.. this view. The best hemp now raised il
be Missouri IS cultivated by the Germans 0
ID Lafayette county. The most successful
mining companies, IN the interior district
n, no longer hire slaTes, but rely enti7el,
upon free labor. II the field ofmechan
he ical and capitalized employment, il
known to all that the trades are held ex
ID clusi7ely by white workmen who do no
if even permit negro competition. Second
bt. the prestige has passed away from th
"a slave system here, both socially and pa
litically. An influx of capital and ror
. ulation contributes, more than all else. {
ID the growth Of state, and even the mo-
RI unthrifty cannot but see the accession
ed which free labor movements arc maxim
in to the wealth and prosperity Of Nilsson
ri. Real estate in many districts lia
quadrupled within the year. ColoniC
10 have realized more than double the pric
Of their own bomesteads out Of the a
ternate reserved sections within their pu
in chase. Villages have sprung up With
of a tgeIvemonth, rivalling the neighboriH
rs, seats of justice that have had twent
Il years the start. Farms that have failed
or support their owners have become 70
20 tunes by subdivision. All these thin,
f 4 men connect with the evident cause, al
40 they cease TO revere old forms Of servi
80 and unproduetive labor. Again to
Of wherever the matter has been mooted,
}, 3 the metropolis or ID the country, Il
and cause Of free soil progression has Il
rse umphed. Fought upon principle, indu
rise trial argument brought to bear; vote
-es- made to feel and know and decide the
300 sue; in no single instance has it fail
wv to achieve a signal victory. It's SUPP
to macy at St. Louis, is known as well
to Holland as in Maine, and we need \
26.- aIlude to It further. Along the Nisso
Fg-