Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-12-05
From the Missouri Democrat, Nov. 70.
To the Representatives, Press, aud the
People of the Northern states.

Feopie OF the NoFthcFn states.
Missouri, in her recent election Of Senators
and Representatives, has declared in favor Of
Free Soil. Her people have become convinced
that Slavery is an evil-a weight upon her skiris,
seriously impeding her progress in the racessho
is making with her sisters Of the Union, aud
with which she can well dispense. Hence their
decision.
To you it may appear an easy task for a SOW
ereign State 10 free herself from purely local
institution like Slavery. This you may sup
pose Missouri can do. as other States have done,
by legislative act Of emancipation, providing
either for its Immediate gradual Abolition
II so, youl are not advised Of the obstacles to
such action contained in the organic law Of this
State. The Constitution Of Missouri contains
the following provision;
%The General Assembly shall have no power
TO pass laws for the Emancipation Of Slaves
without the consent Of their owners or without
paying them, before such emancipation, a full
equivalent for such slaves so emancipated."
It will thus be seen that the power Of our Leg
islature to abolish Slavery is limited 10 the al
ternatiyes Of first procuring the consent of the
owners Of all the slaves, or, second, of paying
them a full equivalent for their slaves, before
emancipation. To procure the assent Of all the
owners of slaves nthe State, TO their liberation
upon any terms, much less without cOmpensa-
ton may be set down as an impossibility. The
cally reduced TO the passage Of an act Of liberia
tiOn which viii become effective, only upon the
means being procured and applied TO payment
for the slaves set free.
Owing to the utter prostration Of business in
Missouri, oeeasioned by the rebellion, and the
heavy losses . property her citizens have sus-
tanned from the same cause it is out Ofthe dues-
ton for her either al the present time OF in any
comparatively short period in the future, to make
compensation for all her slaves, out Of ler own
resources. Left to herself therefore, with the
public debt already hanging over her, she is
powerless to relieve herself from the burden
which is weighing her down Our people have,
nevertheless, not despaired Of accomplishing
Emancipation and have by their votes decided
in favor of employing all the instrumentalities
within their reach, to that end. Their chief re-
lance has been placed upon the promise OF as
sistanee from the General Government contain
ed in the special message Of the President to the
last Congress, and the favorable action Of that
body upon its recommendation.
The question now is whether the people Of the
Free States will, through their representatives.
in Congress, the President cOneurring, render
such national aid as will enable US constitution
ally to rid our State Of the ineumbrancc of Sla-
very, now and for all time. The opponents Of
emancipation among deny that you will. As
charity We have no right to ask such assist
ance, nor on that ground alone would we. Have
has been the first State to respond to the gener-
Gus offer of the President and of Congress. She
has accepted the proposition they have made,
and is not, therefore, without show of claim on
the ground Of contract Upon the score Of in
terest however, is not her case an exceedingly
strong one2
Missouri, although at no time, probably, hav-
ing population the majority Of which has not
been loyal, has been cursed with a most persist
emily rebellious element. To subdue which has
cost the nation immense amounts of treasure,
and TO keep it in subsection is likely TO involve
heavy continued expenditure so long as the or
iginal cause Of the rebellion exists in the State.
That eanse is slavery. On the score Of econo-
/ my would it not be wise policy for the Govern
ment to remove this source of expenditure, by
the purchase and Liberation ofthe slaves of Mis-
souri,, rather than TO continue armies upon her
soil, as she has been dOiBgI To assist in the So
luton of this problem, we viii state that, as
matter of fact, from the best evidence we can
gather, the number of slaves vet remaining in
Missouri does not exceed $4,000. Ofthis num-
Der one-half can safely be said to belong 10 dis
loyal owners, and to be entitled to their freedom
under the act Of eOnfsczfion. The slaves now
remaining in the State are the least valuable oi
their kind. general thing, such only as vere
not considered sufficiently valuable 10 take
I South, or who have not possessed sufficient en-
I eTgy To escape North The amount requisite
therefore, TO make purchase of the entire lot al
/ a fair valuation, cannot be 50 considerable.
/ The entire nation being interested in the re-
stOration Of a permanent peace in Missouri, Is
interested, as well ss her own people, in the
I question Of emancipation upon her own soil
Nor does mutuality Of interest stop here. The
locality Of Missouri s such that a Slave state
she stands directly in the path of Northern EN-
Igrafion, and the expansion Of Northern fret
Z institutions How serious obstacle Slave
State located as she IS did Eseome. was fairly
demonstrated in the memorable contest between
I. Freedom and Slavery, when the soil Of Kansas
vas the debaiable ground Every day renderi
|. her position as Slave State a more formidable
obstruction to the free North, as its free pOpula
ton spreads Westward; for over her soil mus
run the principal channel Of communication be.
tween the East and the West How essential
then, to the North thai the institutions of Mis-
sOuFi should zssimilate TO her own
But these are, BY no means. the only induce
menis Missouri offers to the North for co-Orera
ltion IN her struggle for freedom. As free State
Missouri viii furnish in return to the North 70
the aid she may now render, millions Of acres O
the richest soil upon which the sun looks doTI
for hOnes f0r her children, from which they ar
nov excluded by the barrier of Slavery. Thes
! alone are worth many times the entire amour
Of treasure necessary to success in the presen
issue in this State
, Missouri. therefore, asks Of the loyal States
the nation. in the present erisis Of her sfiairs
nothing which she vii not largely repay Wit
yos1 Of the North viii rest the decisiOn Of th
: question In VieE Of the facts presented, an
al other considerations involved, ve appeal I
YOU for its full and fair consideration I
: northern Reprssentzfives IN Congress II is i'm
: medisfeIy presented. OF the Northern pres
! ne AK for such discussion a. IL inpoTtsBe
P demands To the people Of the North, in Ehos
: hands sfier al, the power Is lodged, We can on
: ly recommend the views Ee have urged as be
!, ing honest, and, in our Judgment worthy {
Adoption
The Legislzture Of Missouri vii meet in
few weeks: and upon the response which III
: and similar aPPsNls vii elicit from the repT'
: sentztivss. pres. and people of the Free State
viii depend the decision Of question largel
I involving the Interests Of the Whsle nation-