Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-31
From the St. Louis Republican,
fermentation.

We have already given our opinion of the
harmless character of the resolution proposed to
Congress by President Lincoln, on the subject of
the radical Establishment" of slavery in the
States. The resolution has passed the House,
and we shall not esteem it very great bugaboo
if it should be pressed to a vote in the Senate
Like every other project that has yet been agita
ted in reference to slavery there is little that is
practicable about it, and no probability that any
of the Statesmen even Delaware-wl adopt
any such measure as the one contemplated, at
least for years to come. Delaware, State
wherein there are less than two thousand slaves,
has already, through her Legislature, refused to
consider a proposition ofJthe kind, and not one
of the Border States, called, is likely to signify
the least intention to disturb the institution at
present.
Under the Constitution of Missouri, the Legs.
ture is prohibited from passing laws for the
cipation of slaves without the consent of their
owners, or without paying them, before such
emancipation, full equivalent for such slaves
emancipated. MOI cover, the Legislature cannot
prohibit bona fide emigrants actual settlers in
the State from bringing from any of the United
States "such persons may there be deemed to be
slaves, so long as any persons of the same de-
scription are allowed to be held by the laws of
this State" The General Assembly may per-
init the owners of slaves to emancipate them, but
the owner so emancpating must ''give security
that the slave so emancipated shall not become a
public charge,
By the census of 1860, the slave population of
Missouri is Id sos. A large number of these
have been removed South since the beginning of
the present troubles in the country. and two or
three thousand have been stolen BY Lane, Jenni-
/ son 4 Co., and lesser instruments OF the kind.
But for arguments sake, let US say there are no
more than 100 900 now in the Stace--and this
certainly is very low estimate The average
valuation of the slaves Is not less than five hun
bred dollars each, making the figures as low as
the case viii possibly warrant. Thus, to under
take to emancipate the slaves of Missouri, under
the State Constitution, would require the enor-
nous sum of fifty millions of dollars, and could
then only be done with the consent of the own
ers, and be raised in advance Of the passage of
any act affecting their ownership.
But If it were decided to incur this vast ex-
penditure, other obstacles would quickly arise.
If in dsposing of the question of slavery the laws
of Illinois were to be respected what is there 70
prevent actual settlers from importing slaves here
in great numbers from Kentucky, Maryland and
other States. to be sold to the Government at a
full valuationg Then it would be found that
the fifty millions might all be expended and the
work of emancipation be only just begun in Mis-
souri,. And with this grand liberation Of negroes
permitted to roam al will and overrun the cities
and towns of the State to compete with white la
Dor, what security could be given that they would
not become public charged For be il remem-
bered the colonization scheme is not preached in
the Presidents resolution, and what TO do with
the negroes after they shall have been set free, il
a more difficult problem, il possible, than any
other connected with the question. Without any
design of going deliberately into the subject these
considerations have occurred to US. and would
seem to be worthy Of some reflection.
If, however,, as seems probable. this question