Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-13

souri,:
"JEygERsoH CRY, January IL, 1865.
"T6 Gov. Boremqn:
"Free Missouri greets you'll
(Signed.) T. Q. FLEToHER."
Our readers doubtless noticed in the dis
patches yesterday morning the decided
vote by which the ordinance of emanoips-
ton referred to in the Governors dispatch
was passed by the Missouri Constitutional
Convention. The ordinance was in these
sweeping words:
Be 1t ordained By People of the State of
Aissouri, in ConUsntOn AsSem6lsd, That
hereafter, in this State, there shall be
neither slavery or involuntary servitude,
except in punishment of crime, whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted, and
all persons held to servitude or labor as
slaves are hereby declared free.
Missouri is now, along with Maryland
and West Virginia, a free State. Kentucky
alone remains the slave state of the border.
But the day of the institution even there is
fast passing away. Resolutions of aboli-
ton have been introduced into both houses
of her legislature and Gov. Bramlette has
recommended emancipation in his m essage.
The Louisville Journal urges emancipation
action on the legislature, and the union
citizens Of the State are pressing the mem
bers Of the Legislature in way that will,
we think, prove irresistible. The iustitu-
ton is certainly doomed in the State and
it's extirpstlOn is only the question of a
very short time.
To show how rapid has been the pro-
gress of public sentiment along the border,
we may, in addition to the facts above
cited, instance the following note from the
Anti Slavery members of the Missouri
Convention to Theodore Tilton, one of the
editors of the New York Lndependent. 1t
speaks for itself:
"JEEEERsoN CRY, No., Dec. 81, 1864.
"IHsOdore zFltOn, Esq, Editor NetO York
Independent:
"Sir-A few years since the Mercantile
Library Association of st. LOUIS, invited
your coadjutOr, Henry Ward Beecher, to
lecture in that city, With the proviso that
he would not iutrude his peculiar reform
ideas upon the community. Times and
men have changed since then. To-day,
ideas, and not the slave. drivers lash, rule
the nation, and freedom of speech and of
the press prevail in Missouri.
1.-THE Radical Union Anti. slavery mem
bers of the Missouri Legislature cordially
invite you to visit this city and lecture.
Bring your views with you and express
yourself freely. For Freedom, yours"
Many of our readers will remember the
case of another New York editor who once
was invited here TO deliver lecture, but
who was notified while on his way that he
must not intrude any of his Anti.slayery
VFIuAUus upon the COuSurvaNivo Dourhvup
of the city. Mr.. Greeley no doubt often
Fecurs to the incident and perhaps laughs
over it. He could we'll afford to laugh at
any rate, for time has shown to him what
no must have felt even then-viz:-how
frail is the foundation of public opinion
built upon the suppression of speech
Times have changed here as they have in
Missouri and elsewhere. "Ideas, and not
the slave drivers lash, rule the nation."-
A significant evidence of this change is the
near approach to passage of the congress
sional joint resolution abolishing slavery
everywhere throughout the United States,
subject, of course, to ratification by three.
tourths Of the States. 1t has gained some
friends since the last session of Congress.
and lacks only about eight votes of the
necessary two-thirds in the lower house.
AT this time it is under discussion. and
hopes are still entertained that enough
votes will be gained to insure it's passage
at this session. If not, it is probable a
called session will be convened at once af.
ter the fourth of March, when the resolu-
ton will be put through in short order
Among the changes from last session is
that of Mr.. Yeamau, an opposition member
from Kentucky, who on Tuesday last spoke
as follows in favor of the amendment:
After much consideration he had coma
to the conclusion to vote for the SenRte's
resolution, which if responded to bv
constitutional majority of the States viii
forever settle the vexed question of slavsrv
and he had come to this conclusion az a
rational man from the Kentucky stand,
point: The passage of this Joint resolu-
ton did not determine the matter, but onIv
referred 1t to the people. 1t demanded the
earnest respect of the people aud a pro.
found regard for our system of govern
ment. Seeing that the people have deter.
mined to abolish slavery where it now ex-
ists' let the agony be over and the rubbish
be cleared away. If he desired the resoln.
ton to be passed merely as an anti. slave.
~ measure, he might quote in his support
southern men such as Washington, Jeffer.
son and Clay. This question. however.
was decided four years ago, one half Of
the jurors being the old friends of slave.
y. 1t is notorious that the rebel au-
tnorltles have resolved to put their ne.
groes in the fight, aud all citizens of
Nen'ucHy know that that meant anti .sla.
had resolved on general abolisbmeH, -, of
slavery, and as the leaders of the rebsII;on