Year: 1862

by Federal authority 20 Interfere with
slavery within State limits, referring as
II does the absolute control Of the subject
in each case TO the State and its people
Immediately interested, II is proposed
as matter Of perfectly free choice with
them"


In this view Of the subject, / can frank
ly say TO you, that personally never
could appreciate the objections so fire.
quently urged against the proposition.
IL understood you properly, Il was vonr
opinion, not that slavery should be re-
moved in order to secure our loyalty TO
the Government, for every personal act
Of your Administration precludes such
an inference, but you believe that the pc
culiar species Of property was in immi-
nent danger from the war in which we
were engaged, and that common Justice
demanded remuneration for the loss of il.
You then believed, and again express the
opinion, that the peculiar nature Of the
contest is such that its loss is almost
inevitable, and lest any pretext for a
charge of injustice against the Govern
ment be given to its enemies, You pro-
pose to extend TO the people of those
States standing by the Union, the choice
of payment for their slaves or the res
possibility of loss, should it occur, with
out complaint againstthe Government


Placing the matter in this light Ca mere
remuneration for losses rendered inevi-
table by the casualties of war; the OBJ
lection Of constitutional character may
be rendered much less formidable in the
minds Of Northern Representatives, whose
constituents will have to share in the pay
ment of the money; and so far as the
border States are concerned, this objec-
tion should be most sparingly urged, for
it being matter entirely of their "Own
free choice" in case of desire TO accept,
no serious argument will likely be urged
against the receipt of the money, or
fund for colonization But aside from
the power derived from the operations of
war, there may be found numerous pre-
cedents in the legislation of the past
such as grants of land and money to the
several States, for specified objects deem
ed worthy by the Federal Congress-
And in addition TO this may be cited a
deliberate opinion of Mr.. Webster upon
WIS WI " ohilNiNt IN bliN VI Atlt NblNrN III
guments of his life.


allude to this question of power,
merely in vindication of the position
assumed by me, in my vote for the reso-
luton of March last. In your last COM
munication TO us, you beg Of us ''to COM
mend this subject to the consideration
of our States and people" While en-
tirely differ with you in the opinion ex-
pressed, that had the members from the
Border States approved of your resolu-
| ton of March last, the war would now
be substantially ended" and while / do
not regard the suggestion "as one of'thc
most potent and swift means of ending"
| the war, am yet free to say that have
the most unbounded confidence in your
sincerity Of purpose in calling our at
! tentiOn to the dangers surrounding us.
! am satisfied that you appreciate the
| troubles of the Border States, and that
your suggestions are intended for our
good, feel the force OF your urgent ap-
peal aud the logic Of surrounding cir
cumstances brings conviction even TO an
unwilling believer Having said that in my
judgment you attached too much impOr-
tance to this measure as a means for sup
pressing this rebellion, il is due to you
that | should explain.


Whatever may be the status of the bor-
der States in this respect, the war cannot
be ended until the power of the Cow
ernment is made manifest in the seeded
States They appealed TO the sword /;
give them the sword. They asked for
war let them see its evils on their own
soil. They have erected Government
and they force obedience to its behests.
This structure must be destroyed th 8
image, before which an unwilling people
have been compelled to bow, must be
broken. The authority Of the Federal
| Government must be felt in the heart of
! the rebellious district. TO do this, let
armies be marched upon them at once,
and let them feel what they have inaict-
ed on us in the border. DO not fear our
States we will stand by the Government
in this work.


l ought not TO disguise from you or the
people of my State, that personally, ]
| have fixed aud unalterable opinions on
| the subject Of your communication,
Those opionions l shall communicate to
! the people in that spirit Of frankness that
| should characterize the intercourse Of the
representative with his constituents. II
| we're to- day the owner Of the lands aud
slaves Of Missouri, your proposition, so
! far as that State is concerned, would be
Immediately accepted. Not a day would
be lost. Aside from public consideration,
which you suppose TO be inyoled in the
proposition, aud which no patriot, lagrce,
should disregard at present, my own per-
sonal interest would prompt favorable
and immediate action.


But having said this, il is proper that
say something more. The Representa-
tive is the servant and not the master OF
the people. lie has no authority 10 bind
them 10 any course Of action, or even tC
indicate what they will or will not dc
when the subject is exclusively their
aud not his. / shall take occasion,
hope honestly, to give my views Of exist
ing troubles and impending dangers, anC
shall leave the rest to them--disposed al
/ am rather 10 trust their judgment upor
the case stated than my own, aud at Tia,
same time most choeriully 10 acquiescl
in their decision.


For you, personally, Mr., President


think can pledge the kindest consider


ations Of the people Of Missouri, and


shall not hesitate 10 express the belle


that your recommendation will be const


dered by them in the same spirit Of kind


ness manifested by you in it's presenta


ton to us, and that their decision will b.


such as is demanded by their interests


their honor aud their duty to the Who'll


country


] am, very respectfully your obodien
] -..-a,t II HTNnEEgON