The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-05-03

seo5 One snoo.h $50
81. "b !" fs Two % 80 100
:. :. se rnree. - ~ 20
.-e One year, .- 1a 90
Each additional square half the above price.
Emancipation in Missouri.
We have already printed the speech of N,
Thomss Of Massachusetts setting forth in faultles
rhetoric. the timid conservative view Of the pre
sent status, viz: that the Constitution and Unio
can only be saved with slavery that Emancips
tionis revolutionary and Con6soation barbarou,
We have also printed largely from Frank Blair
recent ingenious speech, semi conservative /.
character, and broaching new theory, viz: tha
the present rebellion is the result of jealousy
race, and the fear, on the part of the whites O
the South, that they would be put on the leve
with manunitted negroes We do not greatl,
admire Blsir's ideas, and very heartily dissen,
from Ar. Thomas special pleading But some
persons we're greatly pleased by these speeches
and thought them conclusive and unansw wersble,
II is every body's business to learn all that is To
bs learned, and examine this Slavery question in
oil its bearings. We desire that correct conclu.
sions shall be arrived at, ana il the public mind
10 not enlightened, II shall be no fault of ours.
Below we print letter Of B. GRArz BRowS, OF
st. Louis, on Emancipation in Missouri. We
consider it an exceedingly able and conclusive
argument, worthy of the attention and consid-
GRAFTON of the people Of that State We do not
print it because We desire to intervene in the
domestic affairs of our neighbors Tour interest
is in Missouri remaining slave State but be-
cause it contains much of general interest, and
is, we think, in the main, correct in theory
morally and politically sound. Those who read
this paper are invited to give it thorough Pc
rusal and careful consideration 8
LsrrKR OF B., GRATz BRows ON EMANCIPATION
IN Missouri.
The complications in which the finances of our
State have become involved, are of SO embar-
raising nature that reputation Of the public
debt stares US in the face. We have got the
question Of State bankruptcy to grapple with
and cast OF if We may, and very clear it is that
none other than some great measure of relief
that will rapidly repeople our deserted fields,
introduce thrift where sloth has heretofore pre-
vailed, and stimulate investment, able to meet
the demands of q stringent taxation for some
years to come, can save the State from ouch a
disgrace. But there is one, and only one meas
ure Of relief holding out any such prospect
If within fifteen months time Missouri does not
stand accredited in the eye of tie porld as putting
forth her ,ciH to abolish slavery, not toad of hers
,rM find quotation at any stock board; her treas
1ry wiA be discreded beyond hops, and her soil re-
garded both IN Europe and America as a location 10
Be avoided By all sco rely upon their o,cn Industry
That do not say this without warrant, let me
show by some specifications not without interest
at this moment.
From the Auditors report of ls6O-6l it will
be gathered that the bonded debt of the State OF
Missouri amounted, at the close of that fiscal
year to ($ss, ,903 ,0O0) twenty millions nine
hundred and three thousand dollars If we in
olude the unpaid interest of July and January
last. and that falling due in July next, which is
unprovided for, amounting together to (s2, l60,-
000) two million one hundred and sixty thousand
and the war scrip authorized by the Convention
which is estimated at (SSOO. .OOO) eight hundred
thousand dollars, we shall have i'm round num-
bers the of (s27, 600, ,000) twenty. seven mil.
lion of dollars for which the State is now liable,
and the annual interest on which (Sl ,62O, ,OOO)
sixteen hundred and twenty thousand dollars,
has to be provided for by taxation. The total
failure Of the several railroad companies to meet
the interest on the bonds loaned to them, and the
improbability of their being able to do SO for
years to come. makes it necessary that the entire
interest on the bonded debt shall be assumed by
the State. In addition to this the amount esti.
mated by the Auditor for the ordinary expenses
Of the State government, aud for the support of
public schools, is (s57O, ,0O0) Eve hundred and
seventy thousand dollars. The cost of temporary
loans, special appropriations, and incidental mat
ters not estimated for, may be safely set down at
not less than ($60,000,) sixty thousand dollars
Thus haze to start ,cih annual budget of 49,.
25O,0OO) ttco millions and quarter aud that too
scttoW any dllopasce for He military establishment
mhieh cM haze to be maintained, IN part at least
wheneper the United States shall cease TO audit ute
pay roll of our State forces. To meet this outlay
what resources have wes The Auditor in his
report already referred to, estimated the receipts
into the treasury from all ardnary revenue sour
ces for the two fiscal years ending September
30th, 1852, at one million seven hundred aud
sixty thousand dollars, or about (S9O0, ,o00) nine
hundred thousand dollars year. But this was
predicated upon the receipts of the preceding
year, when values were inflated and the scourge
Of war had not swept over Missouri. At the pre-
sent time it would be reduced in the assessment
at least ne-third, whilst the waste and poverty
of some portions of the State may make the col
lectirg Of any taxes at all very problematical-
Indeed, II may be questioned whether if the ex-
istipg status be continued for any length Of time
revenue of more than (sbO0,oO FIVE hundred
thousand dollars per annuHl, can be relied oI to
meet this liability Of ($2 .250, ,O00) two millions
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
Is it not very apparent then that upon this f.
nancial exhibit it will require something more
than ordinary pro slavery legislation to avert
the calamity of bankruptcy from attaching to
Missouri. Equally clear is it also that before
any change for the better or hope of extrica-
ton can be had. there wiH have to be first gipen
some guarantee for The future, a guarantee both
against rebellion and in fruor of labor interests,
guarantee that shall invite capital and people, and
cirilization to this State, and thus establish
groundwork for paying our debts hereafter.
Ineed scarcely repeat that in my opinion
there is no guarantee that will be accepted by
the world abroad in this respect, except the abo'
ishing or initiating the abolition Of slavery What
ever We may think on the subject, those commu
mites and countries to which we must look fol-
immigration, capital and credit, do so regard j,
and that is conclusive. Abolish slavery and da
eybarrdssnenfs of the financial crisis may be tidet
oar in uie, of The broad Foundation thereby iait
for future soiuency; but on the othe, hand refus
to Do SO, or even do thing and I can see no obte
fate than repudiation in store for Missouri.
1t is true, and no doubt the proposition will
DC aCteu upon, tuht LUIS NdSt ueDL, anu VS COf
responding heavy annual interest can be mucl
diminished aud brought within more manage
able limit by sale of all the railroads to whcl
the State credit has been loaned, receiving
bonds in payment therefor. But it must ais
be remembered that the same guarantee for tn
future, that is necessary to restore our revenu
10 even still more indispensable to effect such
sale as that suggested and induce the inves,
ment of millions Of capital in railroad enter
prise Such a sale would be an absolute sacri
fee and afford no relief to the public deb, from
awant Of competition among bidders, if no othc
security for profitable venture be held out, Usa
o'r pat pro-sta,ey record, of prescription, n
bellion and 6ankraptcy. q ,-4l
II Is common and perhaps the most formi
dsoie assertion made by those who oppos
emancipation, that its cost will be far beyon,
the ability Of this generation to bear. The NOR
thougbtless or malicious do not hesitate to pu
down the sum At fifty millions of dollars. The,
say that the constitution requires compensation
TO be first made to slave holders before an,
oct Of emancipation can take effect, that th,
mode Of revising or amending the Constitutio,