Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1861-05-09
SPEECH OF
SPEECH OF
HON. w M. A. Halt,
At Fayette. NAV &. 1861.

FELLOW CITrzENs.
Al. an not here to defend myself / engaged in
,nis contest from no selfish motives. IF shall
ave neen instrumental in influencing YOU to come
70 rient conclusions on the best course for Mis-
sour 70 pursue. under the present trying eircum.
stanees, shall be content, whatever effect it NAV
nave upon me In your estimation.
lhe future destiny of Missouri is dependant
upon tne action OF her people in the present
emergency; every personal or party consideration
ought to be lost SIGHT Of In our efforts to determine
what II is our duty to do.
take this proposition to be clear: That it is
The duty of the citizens of Missouri TO be con-
trolied by the interests of Missouri That we
have no right, as good citizens, to saw that GER
tam course of action is to the inter est of any 9TH
er State or country, and therefore, we will adopt
II. No citizen can do his duty in determining
TINS question, on any other consideration, than the
interests OF Missouri, and those alone. II a ma
tive OF Germany should come here, and urge
missouri 10 adopt q course of policy at variance
with her interests, bee ause such course would
favor the interests Of Germany, he would be a
bad citizen. So, if a native of Vermont, OF Geor-
gia, were to be influenced by the interests of his
native State, in determining the course of Mis-
saurI, after he became citizen Of this State, he
would be Justly condemned es bad citizen.
Whatever the feelings or sympathies of an in
dIsidual may be, he has no right to indulge them
at the expense Of the country in which he lives,
by the sacrifice of the interests OF his fellow
citizens there. Wherever he may be from, what
ever his attachments may be, with his fellow
citizens here he has one interest in common, the
interest of Missouri; and in determining her &C.
ton, he has no right to consider any thing but her
interests. While citizen of Missouri can fav-
or neither the North or the South-her interest.
and hers alone will seek.
If my feelings in favor Of any other section are
such that feel called upon to enlist in their cause,
will leave here, will 60 to the section in
whose cause my feelings are ;engaged, and do my
duty to that people, as have endeayored to do to
you.
What then are the interests of Missouri? What
connection will best secure them?
The FIRST object of all government is the Peace
and Security of its People. This is the main
purpose Of Government; without this it is worth
less. IL people are constantly exposed TO dan
ger to themselves and their property, they never
can be prosperous or happy people. If the
people Of Missouri adopt a policy which will
render Life and Property insecure, they will drive
from them many of hey best citizens who will
not live in this State of insecurity; she will drive
from her the capital which can be transferred;
she will prevent capital from coming here; she
will deter emigration from omlng here; she will
discourage industry, because no one can feel
that he win be certain to enjoy the fruits of his
labor; she will rob those that remain of that feel
ing of security, which is necessary TO domestic
and social enjoyment
IL Missouri withdraws from the Union, she
converts the people of the free States who sur
round her, in enemies. There are so many eau
ses of collision, so many irritating controversies
between US, that if we add to them the feeling of
resentment, which must grow out Of our contrib
uting to destroy this Union, there is, in my mind,
no hope for peace. And that war will be inter-
L.. af kaef
there may be truces called tres ties of peace
But the resentments growing out Of one war, will
induce each TO renew the conflict on slight prov
ocation, and our country will present the scenes
which England and Scotland presented for ages,
(untiI the Union was brought about between
them,) each by turns devastated-their borders
waste, inhabited only by robbers.
Not only will these causes inevitably involve
US in war but the very purpose for which it is
proposed that we shall secede, is to at once, en-
gage in tins war. We are told if is cur duty to
Join the Southern Confederacy and fight on the
side OF the South. The Southern Confederacy is
now at war with the Federal Government; troops
are now being raised in Illinois TO prosecute it
If we JON The Southern Confederacy their war
is our war, and we must at once assail our neigh
bors, and they must at once assail US. They can
not leave an enemy on their flank and rear. Our
State must be subdued first, If the Southern war
is prosecuted with success by the federal Gov
eminent. All the evils Of war must Immediately
and inevitably fall upon US. Well may they then
,ay. as distinguished southern statesman recent
ly said in Georgia, when Virginia seeded, "Ihe
planters may nOw cu!tirnte their fields IN peace,
ic, hase trGnsffrred The TO the border States"
How are we prepared for such q conflict? On
cur east are eighteen millions of people, who
will be united against US, with immense stores Of
arms, with thorough military organization, with
officers Instructed ir the science Of war, all this
power within one days travel of our borders by
the railroads which traverse the free States; on
our north hostile population equal to our own;
on the west Kansas, and the Mormons, who are
thirsting for revenge against the people of Mis-
souri, who look to Missouri as their promised
land, who are impatiently awaiting the fu!hlment
Of the prophecy Of their founder, who promised
them our fruitful fields as their future home.
How are we prepared for such q war? Without
arms, without organization, without defences.-
Where can we look for aid? Our people could
be slaughtered, our country laid waste, before aid
could reach US from the other slave States
We are Told we have friends in the North. We
have now many, who will aid us IN every consti-
tuticnal object, but il we nfict this great wrong
upon them, while they striving to serve US. if
we do all we can TO destroy a government 10
which they are attached, il We bring foreign
government TO their borders, and tell them we
will be their fellow-citizens no more, we cannot
serve US.
But suppose this war is fought out, which Sc
cession will inevitably bring upon US, suppose
we succeed, and they acknowledge our indepen-
dence, what viii be our condition then2 We
shall be still surrounded by this formidable pow
er, their citizens more hostile from the injuries
received, than they were at the commenc ement
of the conflict, really on slight grounds to renew
the contest. The Southern Confederacy to which
we should become attached having many GU s.
tions of difficulty to settle, and remote from dan
ger may needIessly involve us in war without
our approval; upon us must fall the weight Of the
war brought about by others as well as those
produced by our own or our neishbers acts.-
For situated a we are, Missouri viii be the battle
field, for every war between the sections OF the
Contederacy. no matter whose interests it may
be entered into to maintain.
In tine of peace the dangers to which we are
exposed will drive many from US. No good citizen
will come here, for ne will not be willing while
he can find home elsewhere to expose his prop
erty and his family to the pers that surround us.
Capital will leaue'us and none will come TO re-
place it. Our cities will dwinale, our country
will retrograde. Our railroads on which we
have expended SO much and which we have rea-
son to believe will at no remote period, II we re-
msi, in the Union, be a part Of the great thor
oughfare from ASA to the United States, and pos
ssibly to Europe, which will make St Louis the
great Emporium for that trade which has always