Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-03-19
EMANCIPATION WITH CONFIRMATION.

| We referred several days ago to tho opinion
expressed by the st. Louis Democrat "a leading
Republican PAPER of the WesD to the effect
that but for the opposition of the Democratic
and Union" members the bill pending in Con-
gross, upon its adjournment, for the appro-
priation of fifteen million dollars to pay for
the slaves of Missouri, would have become q
law. Our contemporary added that the Republi.
cans were, with rare exceptions, in favor of the
measure, and would triumphantly have passed
IL had the opportunity presented itself This dis
position, it thought, exhibited in both Houses
by the passage of bills for the same purpose, al
though differing unfortunately in some Of their
provisions.
Without particularly controverting this opinion,
we intimated our conviction that "the policy Of the
President proposing to aid any State in the work of
emancipation by appropriating money for the pur-
pose Of purchasing slaves, had but very few seak
Gus friends in either House of Congress or in any
party" at the late session, and we have placed
distinctly before readers the facts and consid-
erations which justified this impression, and on the
strength of which we made our statements under
this head.
We observe that our Republican contemporary
Of St. LOUIS as the result doubtless of later und
more correct information derived from its political
friends, has come TO share with us in the opinion
that the Presidents practical policy on this sub
ject received only lukewarm support from his
political friends, notwithstanding the triumphant
manner in which they passed the resolution
expressive of sentiment" in favor of that policy,
and in which they pledged the United States to
aid any State in the work of emancipation. The
st. Louis journal, in some later observations
devoted to the subject, in its number of the 9th
instant, remarks follows
1--WE have apology TO offer for Congress on account of
its nonfuflmen Of solemn pledge made to Missouri to
emancipation 1t papable breach of faith Congress-
upon the recommendation Of the President made the pro-
position and Missouri accepted IL giving the understand
ing the binding force of contract IL would have been
infinitely better had Congress made show of Ii
berali'y it did, when it failed completely Of the fulfill
ment Nothing could have forc.by exhibited to the
world want of capacity in the Republicans of the last
Congress TO gpple efficiently with the Of the times
as their scion upon the Missouri question They had the
opportunity Of giving freedom, Immediately and uncond
onaly, to territory large New England ard natu
rally much more valuable, already containing million and
quarter of inhabitants and represented by members
n the lower House Of Congress- and which, upon being
saunch Republican States in the Union having a. it TO-
elected majority of Republicans TO the next Congress
ne golden u hung ripe ard ready to be gathered and
fully within their grasp but feeble the effort made
by Inc Republican members of Congress appropriate
that it slipped entirely away from their hands Nor was
Missouri oil that was at stake. The example which might
have been set in her would 10 short space Of time
have brought Maryland, ard perhaps Kentucky and Ten
nesfee to the door of eiayerys to be
let out into the light aud luxury If FREEDOM What eff
the bad faith OF Congress towards Missouri may t.
refard contamination devouty be wished it is i'm
possible TO tell but it cannot be otherwise than great For
th, result the Republican members of Congress stand
fairly aud mma diaely responsible Not one of them but
should hang bis head 10 shame when he meets liberty
loving constituency.
We do not pretend say that the non-actioa Of Con
gress by any means fatally defeats emancipation IN Mis-
souri, but easy to divine how thoroughly it embarrss
ses the friends Of the To see what capital i.
gives to its foes quote brief extract from the Mis-
Republican the leading MISS ur slavery journal of
this State when commenting upon the which Con-
gress has pursued:
measure Ct lined to be certain remedy present
ills of State not only adopted even ser usy
discussed by the peculiar and political of the
President All this with the knowledge that after March
4th 1905 ~ would be eyra tingly too late talk Of
newa Congressional efforts aboi IN ibe Sta
Thus have the Abo onists and Republicans shown their
capacity to grasp and bring practical ends topic which
willie cut OF power they have for years their political
by the saveholders"
The fact--the bal faith of Congress-aluded 70
gives enough show Of truhfuoess TO the faacy of the
above argument to make texceedingy difficult to remove
from the popular mind the impression it is calculated to
produce This weapon should been placed in the
hands If our enemies by friends The President urR
ed act on upon them with eanestness and force Of
ument which should have been irresisibe they decided
by resolution 10 in his recommendation; they knew
when their session would terminate and the necessity for
prompttude and yet suffered the to fail through
pure inaltentn 1t is true that the would me-
verheess have passed but for the acous opposition OF
the Democrats but the Republicans understood the dispo
slon OF The Democrats we'll enough to have anticipated
the result that followed"