The emotions of the Hard shell [Locofoco] politicians, in the view of the proposed agitation of the Emancipation question in Missouri, may be imagined from the following from the St. Louis Republican:
The formation of Emancipation Societies in Missouri – with the leading society resting in St. Louis – leaves to the people of the state no other alternative than to prepare for the issue thus presented to them. In common with all men who are tired and sick of this disgusting war about the everlasting nigger, we had happed that the demagogues now taking the lead in this movement would at least have waited until the Union had been restored – until the North and the South and the Border States had shaken hands over a ruined country, and agreed upon some friendly and just means to bring us back to a comparative degree of prosperity – before again proposing to disturb the peace of the State by the agitation of this question. It may be safely assumed that nineteen out of twenty of those who are eager to bring on this contest – who are banding themselves together in secret societies, and pledging themselves to support the Constitution of Missouri, although by the prosecution of their object they commit moral perjury – have no interest whatever in the slave property. They own no slaves. They will neither profit nor suffer by the emancipation of them, no matter whether that be done under the Constitution or in defiance of the Constitution. Neither are they working men, who might be supposed to have some interest in getting rid of a species of labor which, by some is erroneously supposed to come in competition with the labor of the white man. They have no pretension of this kind. They are nothing but sham philanthropists in any sensible view of the matter. They are mischief makers and revolutionists. They are political demagogues who have run out of all other capital, and look to this question as the only one which is likely to keep their noses above water. But, from their position in some counties of the State, they have determined to present this question as the issue in the election next August. If it must be so the supporters of the Constitution of this State – those who think that the provision incorporated into that instrument by Benton, declaring “that the Legislature shall have no power to pass laws for the emancipation of slaves without the consent of their owners, or without paying them, before such emancipation, in full, equivalent for such slaves so emancipated,” has yet some binding force and obligation – every man who has any respect for the Constitution or the rights of individuals, is called upon to make like arrangements for an embittered contest. They have a vast interest at stake – the interest which every good man feels in compelling the observance of every clause of the Constitution, for it is only by that we have any guarantee for liberty or property, and the interest which attaches to the ownership of all the slaves in the State. On these grounds, they will, if they are wise, at once get up organizations in every county. No man but a lunatic will say that the State is likely to be in a condition, for some years to come, to pay for the slaves now in the State, and he who proposes to dispossess the owners of them by any other means than are provided by the Constitution is a knave, deserving of the condemnation of every honest citizen. At the election in August next, it will then, be the duty of the friends of the Constitution, and those who are opposed to all schemes of Emancipation at this time, to interrogate candidates, and to ascertain distinctly how they stand on this vital question. Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of State, candidates for Congress in the several Districts, and members of the Legislature, who will have to elect two Senators in the next Congress, all should be made to answer. If they are honest men, they will do it; if they fall to toe the mark, let the people withhold their confidence from them. If men will push themselves forward to inflame and exasperate the public mind of Missouri, at a time when repose is the thing most to be desired of all others, it should be met at the start and resisted firmly, at the place were resistance is most effective – the ballot box. We have no fear of the result. The Emancipationists will be squelched out.
It is said that the subject will occupy the attention of the conventions soon to meet at Jefferson City. That is very likely. We shall be surprised if it does not. Time may be profitably spent in the discussion of a question which has so direct a bearing on the constitution itself, the provisions of which it is proposed to set aside and spit upon, and we call upon the members of that body, not only to be prepared to discuss the proposition, but to speak the sentiments of their constituents. They are as competent to do so as any other body likely to be convened in the State, and it is their duty to make themselves heard in the struggle which is coming upon us. We can hardly err in supposing that the Mass Convention of the friends of the Union, called at Boonville for the 17th of this month, will also make their views known on a matter of so much importance. That meeting will in all probability be attended by the leading men of the state. It is certain that the people of a large district of the country will be there, and they should speak out open mouthed, more particularly at a time when we are composing all our internal difficulties, and no one desires to enter into a canvass of so exciting and unprofitable character.
Notwithstanding all this, we charge the people to be ready for the issue which dying demagogues are preparing to force upon them.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 2
The formation of Emancipation Societies in Missouri – with the leading society resting in St. Louis – leaves to the people of the state no other alternative than to prepare for the issue thus presented to them. In common with all men who are tired and sick of this disgusting war about the everlasting nigger, we had happed that the demagogues now taking the lead in this movement would at least have waited until the Union had been restored – until the North and the South and the Border States had shaken hands over a ruined country, and agreed upon some friendly and just means to bring us back to a comparative degree of prosperity – before again proposing to disturb the peace of the State by the agitation of this question. It may be safely assumed that nineteen out of twenty of those who are eager to bring on this contest – who are banding themselves together in secret societies, and pledging themselves to support the Constitution of Missouri, although by the prosecution of their object they commit moral perjury – have no interest whatever in the slave property. They own no slaves. They will neither profit nor suffer by the emancipation of them, no matter whether that be done under the Constitution or in defiance of the Constitution. Neither are they working men, who might be supposed to have some interest in getting rid of a species of labor which, by some is erroneously supposed to come in competition with the labor of the white man. They have no pretension of this kind. They are nothing but sham philanthropists in any sensible view of the matter. They are mischief makers and revolutionists. They are political demagogues who have run out of all other capital, and look to this question as the only one which is likely to keep their noses above water. But, from their position in some counties of the State, they have determined to present this question as the issue in the election next August. If it must be so the supporters of the Constitution of this State – those who think that the provision incorporated into that instrument by Benton, declaring “that the Legislature shall have no power to pass laws for the emancipation of slaves without the consent of their owners, or without paying them, before such emancipation, in full, equivalent for such slaves so emancipated,” has yet some binding force and obligation – every man who has any respect for the Constitution or the rights of individuals, is called upon to make like arrangements for an embittered contest. They have a vast interest at stake – the interest which every good man feels in compelling the observance of every clause of the Constitution, for it is only by that we have any guarantee for liberty or property, and the interest which attaches to the ownership of all the slaves in the State. On these grounds, they will, if they are wise, at once get up organizations in every county. No man but a lunatic will say that the State is likely to be in a condition, for some years to come, to pay for the slaves now in the State, and he who proposes to dispossess the owners of them by any other means than are provided by the Constitution is a knave, deserving of the condemnation of every honest citizen. At the election in August next, it will then, be the duty of the friends of the Constitution, and those who are opposed to all schemes of Emancipation at this time, to interrogate candidates, and to ascertain distinctly how they stand on this vital question. Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of State, candidates for Congress in the several Districts, and members of the Legislature, who will have to elect two Senators in the next Congress, all should be made to answer. If they are honest men, they will do it; if they fall to toe the mark, let the people withhold their confidence from them. If men will push themselves forward to inflame and exasperate the public mind of Missouri, at a time when repose is the thing most to be desired of all others, it should be met at the start and resisted firmly, at the place were resistance is most effective – the ballot box. We have no fear of the result. The Emancipationists will be squelched out.
It is said that the subject will occupy the attention of the conventions soon to meet at Jefferson City. That is very likely. We shall be surprised if it does not. Time may be profitably spent in the discussion of a question which has so direct a bearing on the constitution itself, the provisions of which it is proposed to set aside and spit upon, and we call upon the members of that body, not only to be prepared to discuss the proposition, but to speak the sentiments of their constituents. They are as competent to do so as any other body likely to be convened in the State, and it is their duty to make themselves heard in the struggle which is coming upon us. We can hardly err in supposing that the Mass Convention of the friends of the Union, called at Boonville for the 17th of this month, will also make their views known on a matter of so much importance. That meeting will in all probability be attended by the leading men of the state. It is certain that the people of a large district of the country will be there, and they should speak out open mouthed, more particularly at a time when we are composing all our internal difficulties, and no one desires to enter into a canvass of so exciting and unprofitable character.
Notwithstanding all this, we charge the people to be ready for the issue which dying demagogues are preparing to force upon them.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 2
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