The national Republican., 1862-06-13
Friday, Jaae n, l8e2.

Friday, Jaae n, l8s2
MIssOUnI's REJEcTIoN OF THE
PRESIDENTS EMAHClPATION FOL.
ICY.
We have alresdy referred to the fact Of the
rejection by the State Convention Of Missouri,
now (or laasly) IN session, Of any suggestion
looking 10 emancipation. There are circum
stances, however, connected with this rejection
wbich deserve TO be stated more In detail.
The temper Of the Convention may be infer.
red from the character of the proposition on thi.
subisct made to II, and which was doubtless
supposed 10 be a. strong one - could bs
made ralAtab,e.
The Constitution OF Missouri has provision
In Il. which prohibits the Legislature from
emaucipsting slaves. even upon payment Of
compensation. This was inserted in II, as II iy
in the Maryland aud many other State consH
'uions, for the purpose Of securing slavehoh-
erH against popular majorities. While their
allied dcmagogucs at the North have made
popular sovereignty" special theme Of glo.
riication, the shareholders take good care not
10 allow any Of |! in practice o, home.
Now, the proposition just made in the Mis-
sousi Convention, was 10 submit to the people,
to bc voted on In 1864, such an amendment
ol the Constitution in the. particular to which
We have referred, as would permit the Lesisla.
ta'a to put an end to slavery upon the follow.
ing terms:
No slaves TO be hereafter brough: into the
State
AL pers1ns now slaves to remain 80, until
they shall be liberated from bondage by death.
All persons born in the condition Of slavery
after certain day in 1865, to be liberated
when they shall have attained the age Of 25
year,.
For all slaves 80 liberated alter arriving at
the age Of 25 years, compensation 10 be made
by the Government Of the United States. which
Government is also expected 10 remove item
from the country.
This was certainly putting the proposition in
form exceedingly mild aud amiable 10 the
Shareholders, but even 10 this form, thew would
not tolerate It, or even discussion upon il
They laid it on the table irstante-, by vote Of
% 10 Is, refusing q single moments debate.
One OF tho United States Senators from Mis-.
souri, was In the Convention, aud desired TO
speak, but the majority iuexorably refused to
hear him. 1t was, Of course in the power Of
that Senator 10 have communicated important
Information ss to the condition of opinion and
affairs At the seat Of the national Government,
but Information was something which the Mis-
sonri slaveholders did not want
And this is t5e end of all that the country
las heard for the last twelve months abou. IN.
practical extinction OF slavery in Missouri"
We supported with zeal the ratification he
Congress oil the suggestion Of the President,
that an ctIer Of pecuniary compensation should
be made to such States as would provide for
emancipation before this war closes We had
No d Iub! Of lis constitutionaity Us u military
measure; aud although not having the sliratest
expectation that anything practical would
como u it, we could not but see that the fac,
thit such au Offer was made and rejected would
teEd 10 reconcile the doubtful and wsveripg to
a more stringent line Of policy against slavery.
What has happened in Missouri indicates a
sr"'ence OF opposition To emancipation, aud
Gn 'xalta'ion If impudenc. in the pr,teusious
OI shareholders, for which we c,n.ss that W.
were not prepared.
Comp -n'ntion for the pest, la,al eulancipation
"i slaves ha' never been kaGwn in the history
oil 'hs or any other country. II INVOLVES an
"'aO properly Ii persons not born which
has no precedent in legislation anywhere.
In The STATES Vi this U.ion which have aJop.
Ted the plan of gradual emancipation. /. has |
oirn provided thai persons born after a eiyen
day shall he free males after arriving ut ,L.
w" "f twcnty one years, aud fem lles after ar
ri"Ing at the age OF eighteen Years. A. those
ages, The two seS.s are supposed to have ar
rived at thc period CT maturity, when they are
H. to lake charge Of themselves: and the yalue
OF their labor, when it was worth more than
Their support, Is supposed to have compensated
the cost Of maintaining them in infancy and
extr' me youth. But no State, which, having
decreed emancipation, has permitted the own
'rs o' slaves to have the services of the sons
ana daughters thereafter born to such slaves,
until they have arrived at the ages of twenty
one and eighteen years respectively, has .ver
dreamed Of also making comp ,nsa,iou to inch
owners. There is no foundation for II what.
ever.
This Missouri proposition, however, extends
the period Of the compulsory service Of persons
no! yet born to the age, as respects both sexes,
oi twenty five years, aud then asks the national
Government to make compensation iu addi-
ton.
Under the peculiar circumstances attending
the oil.r which tho President advised Congress
to make, in relation 10 emancipation, and cspe.
cially as war measure, we approved it and
supported II. But We trust no other such offer
will ever be made. twill only do mischief by
stimulating unreasonable pretengions On the
part Of Shareholders.
without meaning TO commit ourselves, till |
we get ready, upOn the uupstion whetber tb;s