Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-11-03
whatIs tho QuestIOnt
TEromI lhs palnyra tAIo) oourIsr., ool. q

NNn1L II Lu9
tRrom the Palmyra taIo) Courier, Oct. 2ll
The great question now before the poo
Pile of Missouri is, by some, supposed to
be, whether they shall or shall not adopt
some plan of ncipation-whether they
shall get rid of the dead body of slavery,
or hug it still closer to their bosoms, in
dulging the fond delusion that they are
warming Il to life, while, in fact Il is
chilling them to death. Such, to the casual
observer, would, indeed, appear to be the
issue-btF II is not.
Slavery in Missouri is dead, stiff and
stark carcass 1t has no life in it 1t is
breeding distemper in our social, moral
and political atmosphere. The question
is not whether we shall essay to galva-
nize this putrefying body into life, but
whether the remains shall be removed
from cur very doorstep, and decently
hidden from our sight; whether our nos
trils shall continue TO be assailed by its
intolerable stencil, or whether we shall
free the air and relieve our sense by the
ordinary methods of burial.
In plain English, there Is no question of
Emancipation HoiO before tie people of
Missouri. Emancipation is a foregone
conclusion-a fixed fact. 1t is a reality
10 which We cannot, If we would, close our
eyes. True, no act of Emancipation has
been passed-no proclamation offreedOm
has been issued, so far as Missouri is
concerned, giving liberty to the negro.
Yet the negro to-day in Missouri is
virtually free man-freer than many
masters who are really the slaves of their
own bondmen.
Tho decentralization" of slaves in this
State is universal IL perVadeS and
affects every family of negroes and every
individual slave in the entire State. True,
there are thousands Of them who as yet
mechanically and partially discharge
their habitual and wOnted functiOns-and
their masters discern upon the surface of
theirGOnduct no evidence OfinteTnal defec-
tion. But the fathas gone forth. "Liberty
to the slave" is sentiment which preya-
des the very air. 1t has entered into
every African breast in the land, and
there, like the seed in the moist earth, it
is terminating in quiet but as sure ns
there is a God in Heaven, that germina-
ting seed is taking deep root in the hearts
OF our slaves, and sooner or later-at a
period notremote at tfarthest-itwill burst
forth in irrepressible vigor, defying all
human restraints and legal bonds
The slave are emancipating themselves.
They wait not for blind Convention or a
tardy Legislature. Every bondman is
becoming q law unto himself-a walking
Emancipation Act-and NOT very gradual
at that, and regardless of compensation to
even loyal owners. Like birds in tho
opening of summer, they have set their
faces NoIthward, and no powers of earth
or hell can impede their fight. While
the pro-slavery fogies and dotards of
Missouri are prating Of the preservation
oftheir "rights," and conservation oftheir
constitutional privileges the slaves are
taking into themselves wings In few
months, at farthest, there will be few such
rights and piyilreges to be enjoyed in the
blessed Stateof Missouri.
He must move rapidly, who, in these
times, would not be run down and tramPled
under foot by the car OF progress. Old
gaits must be abandoned. Men that once
INDUCED the precious privilege of walking
to suit themselves, must now run in self
defence, Exorable fate pursues them, and
the Iaggard who sits down on his old rot
ten stump by the Way-side to rest, will
never overtake his companions in front of
the race.
The rush of current events Is mighty and
iFFeststible. TW0yeaTs ago, TO havS advo-
Gated emancipation, In Palmyra, of even
the most gradual character would have
subjected the daring man 70 the halter or
stake. One year ago the fountains Of the
great deep, though heaving, had not yet
broken up. Now, they dash over the land,
aud the e6ete Institution on which we have
hung our hopes and anchored our life
boats, are swashed off like empty tene-
ments on the low sea shore. All that We
eau now hope or expect 70 do Is 70 msave
the pieces"
The people Of Missouri are mad, crazy.
fit for the asylum for the'insane, ifthey re-
fuse to see the facts as they really exist
A miserable system, the curse aud ruin of
the Stare even 10 its very best aspects, is
now nnloosened and about 70 be cast of.
To the State aud the people it is now worse
that worthless. While We contemplate 10
CONSERVATION this fact, the Federal Govern
ment steps forward voluntarily and says /:
People OF the State OF Missouri, yon have in
your midst a system Of labor disastrous to
your very interest. You chose 1t your.
selves. The General Government has left
you free in this matter. Now it is seen
that 4 produces discord aud rebellion-that
all its tendencies are pestiferous % the
State and nation. If you, Of your own
choice, will abandon that Institution, the
Government will compensate you foF your
losses. You are free 70 act in the premises
as your own views and feelings may die
fata-hnt the GnVeFnunane warnG v0Tt that