Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-04-14
From the Springfield (Mass) Republican.
THE VETO OF THE MISSOURI FREE NE
GRO BILL,

The twice repeated veto by Gov. Stewart Of Mis-
souri, Of the bill to Danish or enslave the free ne
groes of that State is significant and important, not
only in itself, but from the objections be makes
to the measure in his last veto message. The vc-
to is evidently a concession to the growing anti
slavery feeling of that State, and the objection to
the bill which the Governor appears to feel most
strongly is the rec elton against slavery it would
naturally produce. lie insisted that as Missouri
is a mixed population and is constantly receiving
aocessions from every portion of the Union, it is
the true policy Of its shareholders not to exasper-
ate the public mind by extreme measures in sup
port of slavery. lie attributes this disposition to
legislate against free negroes to the hostility pro-
voked by anti slavery fanaticism, but insists that
it is an unhealthy and dangerous reaction, and will
not answer for Missouri. The provisions Of the
bill allowing the negroes enslaved under it to dis
pose of their own property, acquired while free,
are declared anomalous and impracticablo by the
Governor, since the slave, by his very position, is
incapable of holding property, and whatever is the
slaves is really the masters, ard would inevitably
become SO in spite of the law. Another objection
to the bill is that it is erpost Jacto. 1t is made
applicable to all free negroes who have entered
the State since lS47, and it is unnecessarily severe
in making a stay of twenty-four hours in the
State sufficient evidence of residence, thus enslav-
ing free negroes from other States who, by acci.
dent or ignorance Of the local law, happen to
spend a day in Missouri,
But the radical objection to the measure urged
by the Governor is that it is unconstitutional in
that it proposes to deprive persons of liberty with
out due process of law" Gov. Stewart insists
that the articles of the United States Constitution
to which be refers guarantees to all persons, in
cases involving life or liberty, he right of trial
by jury, and that persons 10 the Constitution ia.
clude negroes as well as white. No doubt this is
sound constitutional law and would invalidate
any such monstrous act as that vetoed by Gov.
Stewart, if there were an impartial Supreme Court
to interpret it. But it is equally conclusive against
the Fugitive Slave act, for that palpably deprives
persons of liberty without trial by jury. The Mis-.
souri, act also resembles the Fugitive Slave bill in
giving free negroes, arrested under it only summa.
ry examination before q justice. Gov. Stewart is
personally a poor dog, and, while his veto message
was being read, is described as being in the lobby
Of the Senate, "in a state of blissful unconscious
ness, his hair drawn over his eyes, HE bat hang.
ing on one Of his ears, and his mouth stuffed
with a ten cent plug OF tobacco" But he deserves
credit at least for understanding the tendencies OF
public opinion in Missouri, and for taking bold
ground against an unjust measure upon principles
that condemn the ultra prO-slavery course of the
party to which he belongs. 1t is not difficult to
recognise a saner and more diciplined mind in the
array of argumeut and authorities OF the message
which is most probably the work Of a distin-
guished lawyer Of st, Louis, who is at the same
time prominent in the Democratic pGrsy-but Gov.
Stewart must be honored for the sense and hu.
manity required to adopt these doctrines, and the
courage to set them up in successful aniaSonism TO
the wishes Of his party in the Legislature,