Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1861-05-09

RACES on the South.
AT my request, very able lawyer in st. Louis,
Z; ID. DRAKE, Esq, made careful examination
OF those laws, and published the results to the
country. He found that only four States had
passed laws which were in violation OF the Con-
stitution, and that these were States remote from
the border and to whlch negroes rarely If es-
cape. That none Of the border free States had
passed such laws. We know that the unconsttu-
uonal laws would be so declared by the courts
and could therefore injure no one. But the ques-
uoh ARISES shall we for an attempt on the part of
some OF the free States, four ont of nineteen, TO
Vloia;e our rights. break up the government in
Wmcn all are interested, and violate our obliga-
tions 10 the remainder who have not by any act
injured Us?
propose now 10 consider the conduct of those
for " hom we are allied upon to make all these
sacrifices; and who are considered by some as Pc
culiarly cur friends.
Although it has been well known, that for sew
eral years there has been in the Southern States,
party which desired to withdraw from this Union
and establish Southern Confederacy, vet it was
believed that that party was not large, and when
the movement commenced last winter towar
Withdrawing the Cotton States from our present
Government, the belief here was general, that il
was done with a view to their return Believing
this as we did, and thinking that if the slavery
question could be settled in this way, much good
would result from it, and that the Union would
rest on a 6rmer basis than it ever had, many
here favored this movement Of secession, and 9TH
ers who thought it unwise, sympathizing in the
objects they hoped would be attained by it, were
not disposed strongly 10 condemnit.
With view to the restoration OF the Union.
which we all hoped for, and to the settlement of
the slavery question on basis which would pre-
cude forever its future agitation, We all united in
favor OF the compromises, which it was thought
would settle the question, and most OF the slave
States gave the Southern States assurances that
they should not be eoerced into submission by the
Federal Government. They did this because they
believed we were engaged in common cause,
although adopting different course TO secure it.
The leaders IN this secession movement In the
South, awaited themselves Of this assurance OF
good will from the border slave States TO encour-
age their people to withdraw from the Union
After they had Withdrawn, they organised gov
eminent, and now declare TO us that they VIII
never consent TO a reconstruction; that the time
for compromise is passed. The return we have
for our good offices to them, is that they consent
if we will abandon our own government they Will
take us in.
They have acted in bad faith TO us. After
making common cause with us, and pretending TO
have the same purposes in view, they have aban-
doned US. They have Insulted US by debating
terms on questions Of vast importance 10 our
S elves, without consulting us IN regard to them.
They have held out 10 us as the motives to their
action, reasons calculated to enlist us in their
cause, which we now see cannot be the true rea-
sons. For if an equal participation in the Terri
tories were the ground of their secession, how
can they attain that by making this dissolution
perpetual nd.forsver abandoning all share in them!
If the personal liberty bills were the cause, hoS
have they helped themselves, by Withdrawing
from the States enacting them all inducements, so
far as they are concerned, TO repeal them, by de-
claring that whether repealed or not they will
not return.
The State. of the Southern Cohfederacy by
abandoning US, have lest all CLAIMS upon our sym
pathy. They have said TO us, '.we are henceforth
to you as TO other nations: in war enemies-in
peace friends"
| have never believed that at any time this
OF secession could be prevented by
as it is called. II could not at
first, because It was the opinion Of the people OF
all the slave States, that the movement was a tenn
porary expedsnt, only resorted to to compel
final adjustment of the slavery question, and there
was so much indignation throughout the slave and
free States at the refusal Of the Black Republican
Congress TO adopt what was considered a rea-
sonable compromise, that an attempt at coeI-
zion at that time might have resulted in a gener-
Al revolution, and could have done nothing but
evil.
Coercion can accomplish nothing but evil now,
because although since they have svowed their
re al purpose of permanent dismembsrment of
he confederacy, they have forfeited all claims TO
The sympathy they had at one time, the South
srn Confederacy is now thoroughly organised
powerful for defence, and could not
be conquered except by inhicting great evils with
no corresponding benefit.
You will see that the question of coercion has
,ntirely changed its character in a few weeks.
Pledges against coercion at one time were pied
res in favor Of countrymen that they should not
be molested while conending for the settlement of
IN irritating question. They were pledges made
for the establishing Of the government on firm
sr basis, with view 10 reconstruction. They
were made by the people of the North and South
ex pressng their sympathy for those they still re-
carried as fellow citizens. Now the Southern
people having established an independent govern
nent, having declared their purpose 10 maintain
i, and never to return TO this Union, pledges of
nd TO them are pledges to foreign government
10 resist our own-they are pledges TO treason
The trick has been played out. II has accom-
plished their purposes by giving time to estab
ish and organize their government They would
willingly continue il to create disseIsions in our
own government. Shall we any longer be their
iupes?
IL they desire restoration of our Union let
hem return to us let them send their members
10 Jul hSAt NoHbtces, VIII give Us dill OFCT-
majority in both branches. This will
protect them from the hostility of the
We will pledge them again to
for all reasonable demands lf they
will not, we shall not be less faithful 10 our gov
srnment than they will be to theirs. / am oppos-
ed to a war with the Southern Confederacy, be-
cause nothing but evil can q ow out Of it. will
use all honorable constitutional means to prevent
It. But will not engage in war with my own
government on their account. They have de-
ceived, abandoned and insuled us. j will no aid
in destroying the government, which has confer
red SO many benefits upon US and upon them;
which still confers so many blessings upon us, TO
please them. p
l will not assail my government and bring ruin
upon my fellow citizens and myself, because 4
party has got into power, for a short time, ex-
remely obnoxious to US, whose first act was IN a.
abandonment of their Objectionable measures, and
which We know by the dissensions now existing
in it, can never again succeed.
We mnst take care Of ourselves, we must not
sacrifice our own interests for the sake of others
who have shown so little regard for US. BY this
course we shall be better able to secure an ad-
ustment Of these troubles than BY any other.
The course which Missouri has thus far pur-
;ned, has commanded the admiration Of every
patriot in the Union. II win give to the wishes
II her people great weight in the government.
The influence she now possesses, and can exert
n the counseis Of the nation, If exerted in the
iame spirit which has hitherto controlled her,
will do more to settle present difficulties, and aid
l. q c..