Read Ebook: Address to the People of the United States together with the Proceedings and Resolutions of the Pro-Slavery Convention of Missouri Held at Lexington July 1855 by Unknown

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Die Mumie von Rotterdam.

Gedruckt und verlegt von Johann David Sauerl?nder.

Seinem verehrten Freunde

Ich habe Dich gefunden Im stillen Friedensthal: Wir waren l?ngst verbunden, Wir wurden's noch einmal.

So f?gt sich Ring dem Ringe Zur Blumenkette an, Dass sie uns sanft umschlinge Und unsern Lebenskahn.

Die Mumie von Rotterdam.

Erster Theil.

>>O Myn Heer,<< schnarrte der Professor, >>ich muss Euch anreden im Namen der Musen und als ein Vormund der Wissenschaften in den vereinigten Niederlanden. Freilich werde ich Euch von Dingen sprechen, die gew?hnlichen Menschen nicht angenehm sind, aber Ihr, Myn Heer, seyd kein gew?hnlicher Mensch, Ihr tragt das Gepr?ge des Ausserordentlichen in Euerm Antlitze, wie in Euerer Figura, und deshalb darf ich schon wagen, zum Nutzen und Frommen der Wissenschaft eine Frage an Euch zu richten. Habt Ihr bereits Euer Testament gemacht, Myn Heer?<<

We conclude, then, that this irruption upon Kansas by Emigrant Aid Societies and Kansas Leagues, under the patronage of the Massachusetts legislature, is to be regarded in no other light than a new phase of abolitionism, more practical in its aims, and therefore more dangerous than any form it has yet assumed. We have shown it to be at variance with the true intent of the act of Congress, by which the Territory was opened to settlement; at variance with the spirit of the Constitution of the United States, and with the institutions of the Territory, already recognized by law; totally destructive of that fellowship and good feeling which should exist among citizens of confederated States; ruinous to the security, peace and prosperity of a neighboring State; unprecedented in our political annals up to this date, and pregnant with the most disastrous consequences to the harmony and stability of the Union. Thus far its purposes have been defeated; but renewed efforts are threatened. Political conventions at the north and north-west have declared for the repeal of the Kansas-Nebraska law, and, anticipating a failure in this direction, are stimulating the anti-slavery sentiment to fresh exertions, for abolitionizing Kansas after the Massachusetts fashion. We have discharged our duty in declaring the light in which such demonstrations are viewed here, and our firm belief of the spirit by which they will be met. If civil war and ultimate disunion are desired, a renewal of these efforts will be admirably adapted to such purposes. Missouri has taken her position in the resolutions adopted by the Lexington Convention, and from that position she will not be likely to recede. It is based upon the Constitution--upon justice, and equality of rights among the States. What she has done, and what she is still prepared to do, is in self-defence and for self-preservation; and from these duties she will hardly be expected to shrink. With her, everything is at stake; the security of a large slave property, the prosperity of her citizens, and their exemption from perpetual agitation and border feuds; whilst the emissaries of abolition are pursuing a phantom--an abstraction, which, if realized, could add nothing to their possessions or happiness, and would be productive of decided injury to the race for whose benefit they profess to labor. If slavery is an evil, and it is conceded that Congress cannot interfere with it in the States, it is most manifest that its diffusion through a new territory, where land is valueless and labor productive, tends greatly to ameliorate the condition of the slaves. Opposition to the extension of slavery is not, then, founded upon any philanthropic views, or upon any love for the slave. It is a mere grasp for political power, beyond what the Constitution of the United States concedes; and it is so understood by the leaders of the movement. And this additional power is not desired for constitutional purposes--for the advancement of the general welfare, or the national reputation. For such purposes the majority in the North is already sufficient, and no future events are likely to diminish it. The slaveholding States are in a minority, but so far, a minority which has commanded respect in the national councils. It has answered, and we hope will continue to subserve the purposes of self-protection. Conservative men from other quarters have come up to the rescue, when the rights of the South have been seriously threatened. But it is essential to the purposes of self-preservation, that this minority should not be materially weakened; it is essential to the preservation of our present form of government, that the slave States should retain sufficient power to make effectual resistance against outward aggression upon an institution peculiar to them alone. Parchment guarantees, as all history shows, avail nothing against an overwhelming public clamor. The fate of the Fugitive Slave Law affords an instructive warning on the subject, and shows that the most solemn constitutional obligations will be evaded or scorned, where popular prejudice resists their execution. The South must rely on herself for protection, and to this end her strength in the Federal Government cannot be safely diminished.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

PRO-SLAVERY CONVENTION,

The Convention was called to order by Judge Thompson, of Clay county, and on his motion Samuel H. Woodson, Esq., of Jackson county, was called to the chair; and on motion of E. C. McCarty, Esq., Col. Sam. A. Lowe, of Pettis county, was appointed Secretary.

On motion of Col. Young, of Boone county, Resolved, That a committee of one delegate from each county represented in the Convention be raised, to select and report permanent officers for the Convention, and to select a committee who shall prepare resolutions and other business for the action of the Convention.

In accordance with the above resolution, the following gentlemen were appointed said committee:

J. W. Torbert, of Cooper county, Major Morin, of Platte " W. M. Jackson, of Howard " S. Barker, of Carroll " A. G. Davis, of Caldwell " J. S. Williams, of Linn " E. C. McCarty, of Jackson " Austin A. King, of Ray " Edwin Toole, of Andrew " D. H. Chism, of Morgan " A. M. Forbes, of Pettis " A. G. Blakey, of Benton " Thomas E. Birch, of Clinton " G. H. C. Melody, of Boone " Sam. L. Sawyer, of Lafayette " C. F. Jackson, of Saline " Wm. Hudgins, of Livingston " C. F. Chamblin, of Johnson " W. H. Russell, of Cass " John Dougherty, of Clay " Joseph Davis, of Henry " Capt. Head, of Randolph " John A. Leppard, of Daviess " Wm. H. Buffington, of Cole "

On motion of Mr. Russell, of Cass county, Resolved, That the delegations from the different counties furnish the Secretary of this Convention with a list of delegates from their counties.

On further motion of Mr. Russell, of Cass county, permission was given to the committee on resolutions, &c., to retire and draft resolutions, to report as soon as practicable.

On motion of Mr. Field, of Lafayette, a committee, consisting of Messrs. Field, of Lafayette, Bayless, of Platte, and Boyce, of Ray, was appointed to wait upon Messrs. D. R. Atchison and A. W. Doniphan, and invite them to address the Convention.

Mr. Moss, of Clay, offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That all persons who are present from the different counties, although not appointed as delegates by their several counties, be considered as delegates to this Convention.

Mr. Peabody, of Boone county, moved to amend so as to read, That all persons from the different counties of the State, friendly to the object of this Convention, be considered as delegates.

Pending which question, on leave granted, Mr. Field, of Lafayette county, from the committee appointed to wait on Messrs. D. R. Atchison and A. W. Doniphan, made their report, stating that those gentlemen declined addressing the Convention at the present time.

On motion of Mr. Bryant, of Saline, the Convention adjourned. to meet at 2 o'clock, P. M.

EVENING SESSION.

The Convention was called to order by the President, when, on motion of Mr. Slack, of Livingston, the resolution offered by Mr. Moss, of Clay, together with the amendment offered by Mr. Peabody, which was pending when the Convention adjourned, was laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. Field, of Lafayette, Major M. Oliver was requested to address the Convention, and to give his views on the different subjects now agitating this country, and which would be brought before this Convention; which he was proceeding to do, when the committee on resolutions, &c., asked leave to make their report, which was granted.

The committee then, through their Chairman, Hon. A. A. King, submitted the following report:

The Committee to whom was assigned the duty of designating permanent officers for this Convention, beg leave to report the following:

For President, Hon. W. G. Wood, of Lafayette county.

Secretaries, Hon. Samuel A. Lowe, of Pettis county, L. A. Wisely, of Platte "

For Committee on Resolutions, Major Bradley, of Cooper county, Dr. Bayless, of Platte " B. F. Willis, of Clinton " S. A. Young, of Boone " Wade M. Jackson, of Howard " Martin Slaughter, of Lafayette " Stephen Stafford, of Carroll " W. B. Napton, of Saline " W. S. Pollard, of Caldwell " W. Y. Slack, of Livingston " J. S. Williams, of Linn " G. D. Hansbrough, of Cass " Sam. H. Woodson, of Jackson " James H. Moss, of Clay " M. Oliver, of Ray " D. C. Stone, of Henry " Robert Wilson, of Andrew " B. W. Grover, of Johnson " John S. Jones, of Pettis " John A. Leppard, of Daviess " A. G. Blakey, of Benton " John Head, of Randolph " W. H. Buffington, of Cole "

The committee also offered the following resolution, which was adopted by the Convention:

Resolved, That to ascertain the sense of this Convention on all propositions submitted for its action, each county represented shall be permitted to cast the same number of votes that it is entitled to cast in the Lower House of the General Assembly of this State.

On motion of Col. Young, of Boone, a committee, consisting of Messrs. Young, of Boone, Napton, of Saline, and Russell, of Cass, was appointed to wait on the President, Hon. W. T. Wood, and escort him to the chair.

On motion of Dr. McCabe, of Cooper, the Convention took a recess for one hour.

The Convention was again called to order by the President, Hon. W. T. Wood, when the following gentlemen appeared as delegates, and took their seats:

Mr. Withers, of Clay, offered a series of resolutions, which he asked might be read and acted on by the Convention.

Mr. Jackson, of Saline, objected to the reading and moved their reference to the Committee on Resolutions.

Previous to the vote on said motion, Mr. Withers withdrew the resolutions, and then, by leave of the Convention, the resolutions were handed over to the Committee.

The President being notified of the presence of Gov. Sterling Price, in the house, on motion of Dr. Lowry, of Howard, appointed Messrs. Lowry, of Howard, and Shewalter, of Lafayette, a committee to wait upon him and invite him to a seat within the bar.

Mr. C. T. Worley offered the following resolutions:

Resolved, That it is the sense of this Convention, that no valuable purpose whatever will be subserved by debate, but on the other hand, will most certainly lead to heated and unprofitable excitement; therefore,

Resolved, That from henceforward, we will proceed on all propositions submitted to a direct vote.

Mr. Jackson, of Saline, moved to lay the resolutions on the table, which motion was carried.

On motion of Mr. King, of Ray, the Convention adjourned till to-morrow morning at eight o'clock.

SECOND DAY.

FRIDAY MORNING, 8 o'clock.

The Convention met, and was called to order by the President.

Owing to the absence of Mr. Lowe, one of the Secretaries, on motion of Col. S. A. Young, of Boone, L. J. Sharp, of Lafayette, was appointed to act in his place.

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