Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1861-03-14
MISSOURI CONVENTION.
RENAAKS VI
MESSRS. DoNIPHAN AND COAL Ter,
Delegates to the Peace Conference.
COL. DoNIpHASs REaARKs.

we OSt'sE IN S . AAos
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Convention: / was appointed as one Of the
delegates from the State of Missouri to &c
to a Conference that has been called a
Peace Congress-a Conference recommend
ed by the State OF Virginia, in which she
had asked a conference with her sister
States in relation 10 the difficulties ssd EN-.
barrsssments that now surround this Gov
ernment, and the Legislature Of my State
thought proper 10 designate me as one Of
the individuals to represent the interest
aud honor Of our State in that Convention.
l went there entertsining sn opinion that
presume is in accordance with the opinions
Of large majority of the members oil this
Convent IN: namely, that The disintegrstion,
or rather the revolution in progress in this
Government now, was caused by one sim
gle element Of striie-that we have no
other cause for the difficulties that now
sgitate and disturb the country save the
question CT negro slsvsry-that our nation
was never more prosperous in all the great
elements tiat constitute . free and happy
people than it is now; that our commsrcs
extending and ss prosperous as il ever has
been; that our sails whilened every sea, and
our flag fioated under every sky, that we
were respected at home and abroad, and in
volved in no conflict with any foreign ma.
tion; that while we were standing in peace
full relations to all the rest of the world;
while we were in the most prosperous
condition that nation could enjoy; while
We were blessed with abundance at home;
while the great Valley of the Mississippi
in which we live, and whose centre we oc.
cupy, extends from the crest of the ALLIE
ghanies to the crest Of the Rocky Noun.
tsins, and now feeds starving millions Of
the wsrld from sverhowing granaries, and
clothes the naked with ito cotton; that while,
therefore, we were in the most prosperous
condition. with our commerce, sgr,cultures
and manufactures continually increasing,
there was nothing 10 interrupt this prosper.
ity with the exception Of this solitary ques.
iion sgita,ing us at home-ths question Of
negro slavery. II naturally occurs TO eve.
~ rtfecling mind that in order 10 restore
harmony and union. that question mus, be
removed from the arena Of politics that
there can be no restoration Of harmony,
peace and quiet unless that question is re-.
moved. That question has interpo.sd be-.
tween the North and the South and created
q division, and you may plaster il together
- you please; you may Try Spaldine's glue
or snything else in the world but you can =.
not bring it together until this question is
removed, and when this question is removed
it will unite itself. The question has been
raised, what Is the best plan To remove this
difficulty? II 10 well known thst in oil
governments like this, originating in equal
i.y. having that - the very essence and
foundation OF our instituiisns-for this
government, IN its revolution, was unlike
that of any other, for the reason that but
one single sentiment pervided the henrts
Of our ia,hsrs-ons single, vital sentiment,
and that was that all men are born free and
equal, and sreecapabls Of self-governmsnt
that 10 what distinguished It IRON all 9th.
or revolutions in the world, and on that
principle the Government was framed, the
principle Of equality among States and in.
d,viduals, and Of equal protection TO- prop.
er,y; and when we have this removed, Of
course the very essence. foundations and
pillars of this Government arc destroyed
and it can no longer exist. Now, il there
Is truth in all governments, it is that ma
tionality ana sec.ionslism cannss exist at
the sa as time; they are entirely antsgonis-
tic and cannot flourish healtf fully in the
same body poli,io. Ssctionslisn- itself de-
s,roys, wIthers and brushes out nationality.
II there is sectionalism Of the South in the
shape Of slavery propagsndism. or at the
North in the shape Of abolitIonism, nation
sli,y cannot exist. and the vital element Of
the whole Union is crushed out. This
seclisnalism does exist. For twenty years
It shas been growing upon Us North and