Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-06-27

The slavery question in Missouri is an
interesting one The Convention now in
session at Jefferson City was called to con-
slider the emancipation question. It is
proposed by some of its members, to effect
gradual emancipation by ordaining that
slavery shall not exist in the State after
the year 1876. It is claimed, with much
show Of reason, that the design of the
proPosers Of this scheme is to 1reuent aud
not ensure emancipation. They hope for
some action during the thirteen interven-
ing years, which shall annul the act Of
this Convention. The more progressive
members favor immediate emancipation.
The following is a closing paragraph of an
able speech made upon the subject by Mr..
Drake, Of st. Louis:
Do you not see the hand writing on the
Wall2 If not, I pray you to open your
eyes to 1t, and read the doom Of slavery
IN Missouri, written by her loyal people
IN characters never 10 be effaced. Read
itin the changed views and action of the
Executive; in the results OF recent cleo
tons to fill vacancies in this body; in the
primary assemblies Of The people; in the
tone Of the public press, with few excep-
dOns, throughout our State; in the sudden
and precipitate abandonment Of Slaverv's
defense by obstinate pro slavery men in
every quarter; in every form and phase
in which the stern end steuiy r0sUfve tHII
! Slavery shall cease to exist on our soil,
aDd that right early, can make itself
known. You cannot protect It, you can
not prop II up. you cannot defend IL. It's
prestige is gone, it is in disgrace. It
stands at the bar of public opinion in
Missouri condemned by its fruits, hope
lessly aud without possibility Of appeal.
1t has ever been a clog upon our advance
and prosperity. 1t has alliedus TO the in
surrectionary States 1t has made our
territory The held of war. It keeps up the
domestic strife now desolating our State,
when the rebel armies are at a hopeless
distance It fills our woods with robbing
and numbering hordes, who are fed, cloth
ed and sheltered, waTded Of approaching
danger and guided to pillage and blood
by the neighbOrs of their victims. It
transforms cur men, and, God forgive
them our worIen, too, into implacable
enemies Of Union men, into treacherOus
betrayors Of their former friends, into
spies and informers, into puryeyOrs Of re-
veDge, Tapine and assassination. Against
this common enemy all classes Of our peo-
pie make common cause. Every great in
terest in our State wars upon it. Farmers,
merchants, manufacturers, professional
men, spectators, landowners, steamboat
men, re lroad men, and multitudes Of
Shareholders, all combine to attack it
Reason is against it ; experience is against
it. The past condemns it; the future re-
jects it; the present deals it deadly blows.
The people are marching over it. Polid-
clans abandon it, as rats a falling house.
1t is, in fact, deadl We are here to bury
il. They who cling TO ii cling to a corpse,
and win be buried with it. No man who
upholds it now will be trusted by the peO-
pie, except perhaps in a few spots of our
State, from this time forward. You can
not save it. but you may lose yourself in
the effort. When the wrecked vessel goes
down, it is they who cling to it to the last
that 20 down with it.