The Van Buren press., 1861-05-08
rbe Sentiment in Missouri.

The announcement on the street, and IN
business circles. yesterday. that Gov Jack
son had emphatically declared his OPPOSE
ton to the secession of Missouri, and avow-
ed himself in favor of this State occupying
q position of neutrality. c;eated . general
feeling of relief in all quarters. except
among those who think the course Missou-
ri ought to pursue is the mad one OF with
drawal from the Confederacy
Gov. jackson has been regarded as an
open and avowed secessionist (though to
do him justice we must say we have never
seen positive declaration OF secession
views from him) ami when 1t was known
that he had decided to lend his official IN
huence in favor of the position which the
duty and the interests OF Missouri dictate,
commercial and business men, and the
friends of peace felt at once that the danger
of local tumults in the city, and dissensIons
in the State had been materially lesscned
and that with united and cordial effort, we
may be able to drive back the tide of strife
from our border, and save our homes and
fields from the devastation that must inev-
itably follow hostile irruption from the
North and South.
We are glad to know that the sentiment
throughout the State, witt. Inc exception Of
two or three localities is daily growing
more healthful and more strong in favor Of
neutral position. There is not now. as
there never has been in Missouri, any con-
siderable number of persons who desire to
, see the State withdraw from the Union
The feeling in Missouri, and even in st.
: Louis, is in opposition t. the present Ad-
ministration but, even in their opposition
to the Administration, the people maintain
their ancient love for the Union, and are
a determined to adhere to it.
n Secession would place Missouri in hos
). tility to the Government and to the three
free States upon her borders. and inevita-
o bly, provoke an invasion by the Federal for
" ces, and invite invasions from Illinois, Iowa
and Kansas We would be unable to reacf
,. the South, and the South would be unable
and no doubt, unwilling to reach US. W.
ii would be surrounded by enemies, and Gu
II off by the conditions of our position from
friends.
We would be compelled to fight, not on
n battle, but the battle of the South, unaid
ed and alone. with finances disordered, wit
re- a commerce utterly annihilated and indus
c. try crippled. without guns to arm one-tent
of our troops, without powder, shot. can
ee non. or any of the necessary munitions c
k war
.r. The Confederate States would not com
DO to our succor, since their forces would be
come concentrated on the Virginia frontie
10 and on the Gulf, to defend those more in
Il. portant positions. Those States would ha
he the secession Of Missouri with Joy but
would not be an honorable, disinterested an
he fraternal joy. 1t would be a selfish exu
,st tation, not over the fact that Missouri ha
he become their friend, but that she had be
,s- come the enemy of the Union-that she ha
les in the maddest folly. voluntarily throw
to herself as bulwark before the Confedel
he ate States, to shield them by the inevitab
nd sacrifice Of her own existence.
Ter This is the calm and deliberate view Il
IN. people of Missouri are taking of the crisi
In Difference to their natural sympathy f
their late Southern brethren, they will n
o.. raise arms against them and in dutytothe
country, which is no less their country
cause it is governed for the time by Il
AS AS Republican party. they will not raise re
vs. Press.