The sun., 1862-06-12

AAoh' L'oit az 'l'ih't ~ -.
Rnasc4patisn In Missouri.
The Missouri State Convention, now in session
4, Jefferson CITY, has voted down the resolutions
introduced into that body for the emancipation
of slavery. The Convention was justified in this
action for the simple reason ,ha, the proposed
mcasure---lke all the projects Of the anti-slavcry
rarty--ienorci the fundamental principles Of
the state Constitution which fVrbids the eman-
cipa,ion of slave. ft~evcr. In this viw, the
onl, means tha, can be legally adopted to secure
cmanciration is to amend the Constitution itself,
and this can only lc effected in two ways by
a special Convention. and by amendments sub
mitted by one Legislature ani adopted by ano-
thcr, with n twc-thiris vote in both cases.
The resolutions of Mr. Ban KiNRipGr, however,
looked to the adoption Of no such means as these,
but provided that the emancipation ordinance
shall be submitted to tic popular vote at the
next election In l>di, and then take effect, ii
adopted by maj riiy.
/, is not probable that the illcrali,y Of this
proposition was the principle motive of tho ma
jority Of the Convention in failing 1t
60 promptly. Il has hal the effect, however,
Of melting discussion all over tho STATE,
and forms a prominent toi'c with tie
leading politicians sii journals. Men
who have hitherto kept alo.f from party politics,
now discuss the subject in all 10 hc,rin;-, AMI it
cannot be doubted that the weight of argument
L. with the omancipltioLi.i..
The most pruuiu,n, Of the new "-"''s tha'
have appeared before the public in this c'nncN-
ION /, JuI;c Wills, wlo VS. recently tcluc' +
eIby nUmicr Of citizens 10 give Is Ni.Ss on
thc erl !ua cmano i"iiou II joe. He hs r.
sd,i in the state nearly lif,y yea Is, is slave
holder. and las never been Ia any WAY III ntihcd
with anti slavery.
Judge WELLS takes strong ~ uul in favor
of emancipation. and. with coecn. reasoning
shows the absolute nocc- ny that exists for
;s adoption by Missouri. ils plan, If
no' original, has the merit oi hciu.; practicable.
lie proposes that all slas II, born after the year
1865 slal become free on arriving at the age Of
twenty ono, the owners to be pail for them a,
their full value. TLis hurlcn will be born in
part by the general sovcrnmcot under the re-
.,nt resolutions Of Congress. lie estimates the
lumber of slaves in the State at present at not
over co, ,0O0, at an average value Of 300 each.
At the expiration OF the term OF twonty-one
years the annual cost Of libcratng and coloniz-
ing the slaves, in consequence Of the large pro-
portion Of deaths that occur before the age Of 81
would not exceed s20,OO), aud this amount
would rapidly diminish Though the period for
emancipation would be so remote, Judge WELLS
argues that the advantages TO the State would
be immediate. In the first place it would crush
che slave power, which ke thinks ID desirable; 1t
would encourage immigration, and by this
means develop the resources and increase the
wealth Of the State.
The economical considerations advanced by
Judge walls, in favor Of the measure, arc
worthy OF attention. lie estimates the State
debt at twcnty-scycn millions the annual ln,eres,
On which is 81 600, 900. At the conclusion Of
tho war the United States Government will
need two hundred millions Of dollars per al.
mum. OF this, the share OF Missouri will be
shout seven and half millions Of dollars
which, with the expenses of tho State Govern
ment, would throw an annual burden, exclu.,v
Of local and county taN.iion, Of ten millions o
Missouri. This estimate i, maui'rstly erroneous
lnasmuch ss the Federal revenue will nJt
-aiscd 10y State aipo'tlonmcni, but according
wealth and population, and the city Of Ne
York will probably pay more taxes than tho 81
the South but the argument is an inn Iortai
one, az shown, that the bur lens OF the fl'u
are such can only bc borne under free ins,itl
tIVus.