Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-30

We have already announced to our readers that
Governor GAMBLE, of Missouri, has ISSUED his
proclamation summoning the Convention Of that
State, by virtue of the authority vested in him,
g to assemble at the Capitol in the city of Jeier-
son, on the fifteenth day of June next, then and
there to consult and act upon the subject Of eman-
cipation of slaves, and such other matters as may
be connected with the peace and prosperity of the
State" He prefaces this call with the following
statements
"The subject Of emancipation has now for some time
eagaged the public mind and it is of the highest mpor-
lance TO the interest Of the State that scheme OF
emancipation shoud be adopted The General Assembly,
at its late session. being embarrassed by constitutional
limitations upon its power, failed to adopt any measure
upon the subject of emancipation but clearly indicated
wish that the Convention should be called together to take
action upon the subject"
The progress Of public sentiment in Missouri,
keeping pace with the progress of events has made
it plain that slavery in that State is doomed to
certain, if not speedy extinction. This result
was predicted by the friends Of the Union, who
there as elsewhere warned the secession agitators
that in stirring up sedition against the Constitu-
ton and the Laws, they were undermining the
basis of that domestic institution and peculiar So
cial system in whose name and interests they as
sumed to speak. Among those who uttered these
significant warnings was Governor GAMBLE, who
has lived to witness the confirmation of all his pre-
dictions under this head.
The st. Louis Daily Union, in commenting on
the Governors call of the Convention holds the fol-
lowing language:
No nta tpn nd hat in Ia
MANNED fatally. Whether if the institution vigOr-
and prosperous whether slavery could enjoy such
fourishing growth az to make Missouri emphstcaly
Slave State able to rely exclusively slave labor for the
production Of wealth. IL would then be wise to nOursh it,
question need not debate, since the hypothesis
never be realized The alternative having
it Free State with all the advantages Of free labor
of having it suffer all the dvantages Of Slave State
without having in fact slave labor While it remains in
name Slave State it will continue TO rePel what its pre-
necessities mperatvely demandan influx Of foreign
labor and capital; it will want in foreign markets the
credit which free labor industry and enterprise and skill
always command No State in the Union ought to have
frmer credit than Missouri The largest in area,
cept Texas east Of the Rocky Mountains it is sec0nd to
fertility of SOIL in saubrity of climate in the
rety and exuberance of it's vegetable productions and in
the bOundess wealth OF its mineral The rich
soil of s plains exhaustess beds of stone COAL Its
mountains full OF iron and other minerals The hardy
vegetation of the North and the delicate and luscious
fruits of the South blossom in the same garden .
1t not important that slavery be ut removed
that it be put in the course of speedy and certain
m0va But its absolute removal should not be fixed at
date The aborer abroad would refuse fix bis
permanent residence in State in which he would have
to spend all his days by the side of slaves Nor would the
capitalist invest where the wealth of the State would be-
gin to be developed only after be had ceased to i've To
prevent any dearth of labor and any shock of industrial
pursuits emancipation should be graduated but graduated
by rapid steps Hence the proprety Of the suggestion
lately submitted that the ordinance of the Convention
should provide that a children Of slaves born after the 4h
day of next July shall be born Free to be apprenticed till
the age Of fourteen in to be prescribed by law
1t should also be provided that at early day. July
4th 1873 slavery shall expire by limitation. Under this
plan there will be violence Of change and the gradual
disappearance of slave labor will be by the
gradual Influx of free labor which the certain and speedy
removal of the former will invite.
To this plan it 10 clear that true friend of emanci
patton object 1t is peaceful, certain, and just 1t
effects the desiderated object in that cannot dis
tub social harmony produce Distress 10 the industrial
pursuits. None oppose it with reason, and will
oppose it who not reckless the interests Of the State
reckless of the of emancipation reckless of every
thing their srfsggrand cement and the further
ance Of their own partisan purposes"