Smyrna times., 1862-07-03
Emancipation in Missouri.

II is evideAt that Slavery cannot exist for
any length Of time in the State of Missouri.
The mere fact that the question is being ugila.
ted all over the State seals the doom OF the in
stItutIon. Slavery can neither continue 10
exist Ia the midst of protracled war, nor OF
hostile agitation. The State Convention OF
Missouri last week gave reluctant consideration
TO the Presidents compensa ed ema Ocip paticn
message; aud responded that practical action
on the proposition was uncalled tor. But lnis
week an" Emancipation Convent on" has sat
at the State Capital, at which 190 delegates
were present, who represented twenty five
counties. oil nearly one-tourth Of the area Of
the Stale. By thIs ConvenIloB, resolutions
were adopted recommending the gradual eman.
cIpauon OF the slaves in the State, and the
acceptance of the aid rendered by the general
Government. The mere fact that such a Con.
venton could be held 10 Mlssouri, indicates
the marvellous change that has taken place in
the coudlIiOn of shat State s. nee two years ago
at which time such a meeting, at such a
w. ,-.3 probably have cost the lie Of
r.e;5 ...4 attended il. The growth OF pub.
D.. o.i.. t.o. State like Missouri. is extremely
't..e, t44 opinion hardly gets iormed on any
tOpIc. ere 1t is OverIaken by public action upon
II. II twenty five counties were represented
10 the Convention now, We may expect thai Ill
The cOntes IN the State will be represented
next year, and that the same year will see the
question authorltaIlvly submitted 10 the vote Of
The people.
The meeting and the action Of this Conven-
ton Is not the only symptom Of the change
gong on in the public opinion of Missouri on
the Slavery question. A great part OF the
Press Of the State Is now in favor OF emanci pa.
ton. In St. Louis alone there are four pow
ertul daily newspapers, three printed in English
and one in German, which advocate emanclPa
| lion; and the only journal OF any influence on
the other side ofthe question, the Republican,
seems very anxious TO prove that il Is not Pro
| Slavery. In ST. Joseph also. and in a consid.
ersbe number OF other large towns in the
State, there are vigorous emancipation jour,
nals. Everywhere the question is discussed :
everywhere the people are beginning TO
recognize the fact that they must soon decide
| it.
The gross number Of slaves n the State, by
last census. was lI5.000; but those familiar
with the subject estimate that the number has
been reduced by one fsince that time. The
war last Summer completely unearthed the
institution in nearly half the State. Many
slaves were taken by their frightened masters
into Arkansas; many tugitives fed TO Kansa,
and other free States; many were liberated BY
our troops on their march and the absence il
Prices army of the masters of thousand o
them. completely demoraIized them (as tbs
French say for future service as slaves. The
negroes OF Missouri are tolersbly Intelligent
class; and there is no doubt that system o
gradual ncipAton there would work kindly
and easily; ard that the bulk Of those now
held to service would thereafter be employ eC
as free Iaborers. The inaugurations Of such
a system would greatly help the growth anC
prospects ofIhe giant young State OF the South
west; and we are rejOiced that the day Of 1t,
realization is evidently SO rapidly approaching
-New York Times.