Platte, and George T. Wood, of Henry. Messrs. J. Loughborough and George
F. Hill also appeared and took their seats as delegates from St. Louis
county.
Dr. Lowry, of Howard, moved that the President appoint a committee to
wait on President Shannon, of Boone, and invite him to address the
Convention on the subject of slavery.
A motion was then made to lay Dr. Lowry's motion on the table, which,
being voted upon by counties, resulted as follows:
Yeas--Cass, Daviess, Henry, Johnson, Ray, Cole, Clay.
Noes--Andrew, Boone, Caldwell, Carroll, Cooper, Jackson, Lafayette,
Livingston, Linn, Morgan, Pettis, Platte, Randolph, Chariton, St. Louis,
Saline.
Dr. Lowry's motion was then put to the Convention, and on motion of
C. F. Jackson, of Saline, the rule to vote by counties was suspended.
Dr. Lowry's motion was then adopted by the Convention: whereupon the
President appointed Dr. Lowry, of Howard, and Major Morin, of Platte,
said committee.
S. L. Sawyer, of Lafayette, announced that the Committee on Resolutions
was ready to report.
The report being called for, the Committee proceeded to report, through
their Chairman, Judge Napton, of Saline, the following preamble and
resolutions:
Whereas, This Convention have observed a deliberate and apparently
systematic effort, on the part of several States of this Union, to wage
a war of extermination upon the institution of slavery as it exists
under the Constitution of the United States, and of the several States,
by legislative enactments annulling acts of Congress passed in pursuance
of the Constitution, and incorporating large moneyed associations to
abolitionize Kansas, and through Kansas to operate upon the contiguous
States of Missouri, Arkansas and Texas; this Convention, representing
that portion of Missouri more immediately affected by these movements,
deem it proper to make known their opinions and purposes, and what they
believe to be the opinions and purposes of the whole State, and to this
end have agreed to the following resolutions:
1. That we regard the institution of African slavery, whether relating
to its social, moral, political or economical aspect, solely and
exclusively a question of State jurisdiction, and any agitation of this
question in the Congress of the United States, or in States where it has
no existence, with a view to affect its condition, or bring about its
destruction, is a direct and dangerous attack upon the reserved rights
of the several slaveholding states, and is an impertinent interference
in matters nowise concerning the agitators, and, if persisted in, must
sooner or later destroy all harmony and good feeling between the States
and the citizens thereof, and will finally result in a dissolution of
the Union.
2. That the resolution on the part of several of the northern and
western non-slaveholding States, never to admit another slaveholding
State into this Union, is substantially a declaration of hostility to
our Federal Constitution, and avows a purpose to disregard its
compromises; and implies a threat of continued aggression upon, and
ultimate destruction of slavery, under whatever sanctions it may exist.
3. That the diffusion of slavery over a wider surface tends greatly to
ameliorate the condition of the slave, whilst it advances the prosperity
of his owner; and the admission of new slaveholding States into the
Union, by maintaining to some extent an equilibrium between the
conflicting influences which now control the Federal Government, is the
only reliable guarantee which the slaveholding minority have for the
protection of their property against unconstitutional and oppressive
legislation by the non-slaveholding majority, now and hereafter destined
to be in the ascendancy.
4. That we cordially approve the recent act of Congress, for the
settlement of Kansas and Nebraska, and the act of 1850, popularly known
as the Fugitive Slave Law.
5. That the incorporation of moneyed associations, under the patronage
of sovereign States of this Union, for the avowed purpose of recruiting
and colonizing large armies of abolitionists upon the territory of
Kansas, and for the avowed purpose of destroying the value and existence
of slave property now in that Territory, in despite of the wishes of the
bona fide independent settlers thereof, and for the purpose, equally
plain and obvious whether avowed or not, of ultimately abolishing
slavery in Missouri, is a species of legislation and a mode of
emigration unprecedented in our history, and is an attempt, by State
legislation, indirectly to thwart the purposes of a constitutional and
equitable enactment of Congress, by which the domestic institutions of
the territories were designed to be left to the exclusive management and
control of the bona fide settlers thereof.
6. That these organized bands of colonists, shipped from Massachusetts
and other quarters under State patronage, and resembling in their
essential features the military colonies planted by the Roman Emperors
upon their conquered provinces, rather than the pioneers who have
hitherto levelled the forests and broke up the plains of the West,
authorize apprehension of an intent of _exclusive_ occupancy, and will
necessarily lead to organized resistance on the part of those who, under
the Constitution and laws of the United States, have equal rights to
possession; and whilst we earnestly deprecate such results, we are
justified in advance in placing their entire responsibility upon those
who have commenced the system, and are the aggressors.
7. That we disclaim all right and any intent to interfere with the bona
fide independent settlers in the Territory of Kansas, from whatever
quarter they may come, or whatever opinions they may entertain; but we
maintain the right to protect ourselves and our property against all
unjust and unconstitutional aggression, present or prospective,
immediate or threatened; and we do not hold it necessary or expedient to
wait until the torch is applied to our dwellings, or the knife to our
throats, before we take measures for our security and the security of
our firesides.
8. That the eighteen counties of Missouri, lying on or near the border
of Kansas, with only an imaginary boundary intervening, contain a
population of about fifty thousand slaves, worth, at present prices,
twenty-five millions of dollars; and this large amount of property, one
half of the entire slave property of the State, is not merely unsafe,
but valueless, if Kansas is made the abode of an army of hired fanatics,
recruited, transported, armed and paid for the special and sole purpose
of abolitionizing Kansas and Missouri.
9. That this convention and the people they represent, and the State
government of Missouri, and the entire people thereof, should take such
measures as to them appear suitable and just and constitutional, to
prevent such disastrous consequences to their security and prosperity
and peace; and confidently relying upon the sympathy and support of the
entire South and South-west, whose ultimate fate must inevitably be the
same with theirs, and confidently relying also upon the conservative
portion of the North, they respectfully appeal to the good sense and
patriotism of the entire North, to put down such fanatical aggressions
as have hitherto characterized the movements of Emigrant Aid Societies,
and leave the settlement of Kansas and the regulation of its domestic
institutions to be controlled as the settlement and institutions of our
other territories have been, by those impulses of self-interest and
congeniality of feeling on the part of settlers, which, by the natural
laws of climate and soil, will, if undisturbed, invariably determine the
ultimate condition of the Territory.
10. That a committee of five be appointed to draw up and publish an
address to the people of the United States, setting forth the history of
this Kansas excitement, with the views and action of our people thereon,
in conformity with the principles and positions of the foregoing
resolutions; and that printed copies of the same, with a copy of these
resolutions appended, be forwarded by the Secretary of this Convention
to the Executive of each State in the Union.
After the reading of which, Judge Napton proceeded to address the
Convention in support of the resolutions.
Judge Napton then read the following resolution, as recommended by the
Committee, to the Convention:
Resolved, That in view of the acts of the legislature of the State of
Massachusetts, and other Northern and Western States, practically
nullifying the Constitution of the United States, and the laws of
Congress relating to the rendition of fugitive slaves, and in
vindication of the Constitution, and for the purpose of preserving the
integrity of the American Union, we recommend to the General Assembly of
Missouri to pass such retaliatory measures, discriminating against the
sale of the productions or manufactures, or material of commerce,
whether of importation by them or of the production of said States,
within this State, as they may deem proper for that purpose, and that
such measures shall be made operative as long as the offensive
legislation above referred to continues on the statute books of those
States.
Mr. Withers, of Clay, moved the adoption of the resolutions as reported
by the Committee, and the vote being taken by counties, resulted in
their unanimous adoption.
On motion of C. F. Jackson, of Saline, the vote upon said resolutions
was then taken by the house, standing, which resulted in their unanimous
adoption.
A motion was then made to adopt the resolution recommended by the
Committee to the Convention.
Mr. Torbert, of Cooper, offered the following amendment:
"Insert after the word 'manufactures,' the words, or materials of
commerce, whether of importation by them or of their production;"
pending which the Convention adjourned till 2 o'clock, P. M.
EVENING SESSION.
The Convention met and was called to order by the President.
Major Morin, of Platte, from the committee appointed to wait on
President Shannon, reported that President Shannon would address the
Convention at any time, at the pleasure of the Convention.
Mr. Torbert, of Cooper, withdrew the amendment offered by him this
morning to the resolution recommended by the Committee, and offered the
following substitute:
Resolved, That in view of the acts of the State of Massachusetts, and
other northern and north-western States, practically nullifying the
Constitution of the United States, and the laws of Congress relating to
the rendition of fugitive slaves, and in vindication of the
Constitution, and for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the
American Union, we recommend to the General Assembly of the State of
Missouri to pass such retaliatory measures as may not be inconsistent
with the Constitution of the United States, or the State of Missouri,
discriminating against the sale of the productions, manufactures, or
goods and merchandise of any description whatever, of said States,
within this State, as may be deemed proper for that purpose, and that
such retaliatory measures shall be made operative as long as the
offensive legislation above referred to continues on the statute books
of those States.
Col. J. B. Brown, of Ray, moved to recommit the original resolution,
together with the substitute, to the Committee on Resolutions.
The previous question was called for and sustained by the Convention. On
this, the President decided, the effect was to require a direct vote on
the adoption of the substitute as offered by Mr. Torbert. From this
decision an appeal was taken by Gov. King, of Ray, and the decision of
the Chair was sustained by the vote of the Convention. The vote then
being taken on the substitute, it was adopted.
Mr. Withers, of Clay, offered a set of resolutions to the Convention for
adoption; whereupon a discussion arose, pending which Mr. Withers
withdrew his resolutions.
Col. T. M. Ewing, of Lafayette, presented to the Convention a letter
from Gov. Metcalf, of Kentucky, which being read, on motion of J. B.
Clark, of Howard, was entered upon the record, and made a part of the
proceedings of this Convention.
FOREST RETREAT, KY., July, 1855.
_Gentlemen of the Committee_:
Allow me to acknowledge the receipt of your kind favor of the
21st ult., inviting me to meet in Convention at Lexington, Mo.,
on the 12th inst. Your letter having been addressed to me at
Carlisle, instead of Forest Retreat, Kentucky, delayed its
reception a few days, in consequence of which this reply may not
reach you in due time for your meeting. It would indeed afford
me great pleasure to meet you on that patriotic occasion. But,
the delicacy of my health at present, although it has not cut
off all hope of ultimate recovery, is such as to forbid me from
attempting the journey to Lexington.
If I am not ungraciously and unfairly treated by my friends of
the Louisville Journal, a _second_ letter of mine must by this
time be published in that paper, intended as a reply to their
editorial commentary upon the _first_--the one referred to in
your postscript. My first letter that appeared in the Journal,
had been elicited by one previously received from a friend in
that place, whose pleasure it was to hand it over for
publication, to the editor of that paper; and it was published
accordingly, with a long editorial commentary, in which,
although kind and even generous enough in a _personal_ point of
view, they did not fail, _politically_, to give _Old
Stonehammer_ a right severe pelting with their ingenious and
hard-twisted sophisms, intended to cast _great blame and all
sorts of dishonor_ upon the southern section, for having
supported the Nebraska bill, &c.
Believing myself, that the North had redeemed itself from the
disgrace--the dishonor of having disregarded its constitutional
obligations in refusing to admit Missouri as a State, except
upon the condition of _restriction_, _north of_ 36° 30', and not
then, except by a few votes from that section--the most of whom
were condemned and prostrated by their constituents
respectively, who at that time denied that the few truant votes
of the North constituted a bargain on their part, or placed that
section under any legal or moral obligation to abide by it, I
was induced in my feeble way to vindicate the voters, North and
South, who supported the Nebraska bill. It is true, that in 1820
the southern section yielded to the glaring imposition of
restriction, rather than keep Missouri any longer out of her
constitutional right of admission, that being the only
alternative presented by the North for the time being. But, did
not all the parties know full well that no power was lodged in
that Congress to repeal, alter or modify any one of the
constitutional rights of succeeding generations? Was it not well
understood by all, that the Federal Convention alone had the
right to fix upon the line of 36° 30', or upon any other line?
and just as well known that the Union would never have been
formed if such an alternative had been presented to our
illustrious forefathers of that Convention? If in 1820 Congress
had the power to legislate upon the subject at all, by what
means has the same body been deprived of the right of
legislation upon the same subject in 1855?
To put any other construction than this upon the intention or
designs of the Congress of 1820, would, to my mind, amount to an
imputation of great arrogance on the part of that body, in the
assumption of power not conferred upon it. Admit the right of a
subsequent Congress to alter or obliterate the line of 36° 30',
and let this latter _compromise_ be sustained, together with the
Fugitive Slave Law, and all will be well for the future. Repeal
these acts, and we shall soon hear of retaliation in other forms
than described by Mr. Calhoun, which God forbid. But, pardon my
brevity, and allow me to refer you to my forthcoming letter,
expected in the Louisville Journal, for my further views
touching this question.
With many sincere thanks for your kind invitation, allow me
respectfully to subscribe myself your honored and ob't servant,
THOS. METCALF.
Messrs. T. M. EWING, WM. SHIELDS, WM. T. WOOD, F. A. KOWNSLAR.
P. S.--It is my intention to visit Missouri, if I can once more
recover my health so as to justify the undertaking; and in that
event will certainly call on my Lexington friends of the
Committee.
T. M.
Mr. F. A. Kownslar, of Lafayette, offered the following resolution,
which was adopted:
Resolved, That the peace, quiet, and welfare of this and every other
slaveholding State, as also a regard for the integrity of the Union,
require the passage, by the respective State legislatures, of effective
laws, suppressing within said States the circulation of abolition or
freesoil publications, and the promulgation of freesoil or abolition
opinions.
Mr. Graves, of Howard, moved that the Convention take a recess of
fifteen minutes, and then re-assemble to hear the address of President
Shannon. Motion sustained, and Convention took a recess.
The Convention re-assembled.
President Shannon came forward and delivered his address, after which
Col. Anderson, of Lafayette, moved that the President appoint a
committee to wait on President Shannon, and request a copy of his
address for publication.
Col. S. A. Young moved to amend said motion by the following: That a
committee be appointed to wait on President Shannon, and request a copy
of his address for publication, and that the speech be published in
connexion with, and as a part of the proceedings of this Convention.
Pending which motion, the Convention adjourned till 8 o'clock, to-night.
NIGHT SESSION.
The Convention met, and was called to order by the President.
Col. Anderson explained his motion made previous to adjournment, and
Col. Young withdrew his amendment; whereupon a discussion followed, when
F. C. Sharp, Esq., of Lafayette, offered the following resolutions:
1st. Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are hereby tendered to
President Shannon, for his able and patriotic address delivered before
us.
2d. That President Shannon is hereby requested to furnish a copy of his
address to this Convention for publication; and the Convention hereby
expresses the desire that he will deliver his address in as many
counties in this State, as his duties will allow.
Pending the discussion of these resolutions, Mr. Sharp withdrew his
resolutions and offered the following:
Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention are hereby tendered to
President Shannon, for his address delivered before us, and he is hereby
requested to furnish a copy of the same for publication.
And the vote being taken by counties, the resolution was adopted by the
following vote:
Yeas--Boone, Carroll, Cooper, Howard, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette,
Livingston, Pettis, Platte, St. Louis, Ray.
Noes--Cass, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, Saline. Two other counties voting in
the negative.
(The minutes of the clerk upon taking this vote being imperfect, the
vote by counties cannot be given with certainty.)
Mr. Cook appeared as a delegate from St. Louis, and took his seat in the
Convention.
On motion, the Convention adjourned till 8 o'clock, to-morrow morning.
THIRD DAY.
SATURDAY MORNING, 8 o'clock.
The Convention met, and was called to order by the President.
The President announced the following named gentlemen, to compose the
committee to draw up and publish an address, as required by the tenth
resolution:
Hon. W. B. Napton, of Saline county, (Chairman;) Hon. M. Oliver, of Ray
county; Gov. Sterling Price, Col. Sam. H. Woodson, of Jackson county,
and Hon. A. A. King, of Ray county.
The President also announced the following committee, to procure and
superintend the printing, under the action of this Convention, as
required by the resolution of Mr. Peabody:
Wm. Shields, Edward Winsor, and Charles Patterson.
It is also made the duty of said last mentioned committee, to call on
President Shannon, and obtain a copy of his speech for publication.
Col. S. A. Young rose and informed the Convention, that he had
information that a letter had been received by a member of this
Convention, Mr. Field, from a distinguished politician, advising and
urging him, that unless certain resolutions were adopted by this
Convention, to secede from the Convention and break it up in a row; and
he wished this matter investigated, and the facts properly brought out.
Mr. Field required of Col. Young to give the name of the distinguished
politician who had written the letter, and whether he referred to him.
Objection was made to the Convention hearing anything further of the
matter complained of by Col. Young.
The President decided that Col. Young was out of order, there being no
proposition before the Convention.
Mr. Moss, of Clay, moved that the Convention proceed to inquire into,
and investigate the matters charged by Col. Young.
Gen. Clark moved to lay the motion of Mr. Moss on the table.
Mr. Field desired to make an explanation. He had called for the name of
the author of the letter; did not get it; could not get him to say he
was the member of the Convention alluded to, as having received the
letter, but, from rumor, supposed he was the Field alluded to, and Maj.
J. S. Rollins the alleged author of the supposed letter. He had a
private letter from Maj. Rollins, which, amongst other things, spoke of
this Convention and its objects, but in terms of approval--giving his
opinions and views in strict accordance with the platform of, and
principles adopted by, this Convention, and denied that there was one
word of truth in the charge that Maj. Rollins advised a secession from
the Convention, or to break it up in a row in any contingency. He said
the letter of Maj. Rollins was at his office, and, although a private
letter, any gentleman who desired could see it; that he had intended, if
the investigation proceeded, to show it in Convention, and appealed to a
number of members of the Convention who had seen the letter, to say
whether he had not given a true statement as to its contents.
Col. Doniphan, Mr. Sawyer, Mr. Grover, and Mr. Moss, who had seen the
letter, confirmed the statement of Mr. Field, as to the contents of the
letter.
Col. Young acknowledged himself satisfied, and expressed his
gratification that the rumors on the street to Maj. Rollins' prejudice
were so fully proven to be false and groundless, and said his object in
bringing this matter up was to do but an act of justice to his friend
and neighbor, Maj. Rollins.
The motions to lay on the table and for investigation were withdrawn.
On motion, the thanks of the Convention were tendered to the President
and other officers of the Convention, for the faithful manner in which
they had discharged their duties.
On motion of Maj. Morin, of Platte, a vote of thanks was tendered to the
citizens of Lafayette, for their kind hospitality.
On motion, it was Resolved, That the proceedings of this Convention,
together with the address to be prepared by the committee appointed for
that purpose, be published in pamphlet form; that a committee of three
be appointed by the Chair, to superintend their publication, and that a
contribution be made by the delegates to this Convention and others
present, to defray the expenses of said publication.
Resolved, That ten thousand copies of said proceedings and address be
published, and that they be distributed to every part of the State, by
the publishing committee, in such manner as may be practicable and
advisable.
On motion of Mr. Staples, of Pettis, the Convention adjourned _sine
die_.
WM. T. WOOD, _President_.
L. A. WISELY, } _Secretaries_.
L. J. SHARP, }
Transcriber Notes:
Passages in italics were indicated by _underscores_.
Small caps were replaced with ALL CAPS.
On page 5, "manumiting" was replaced with "manumitting".
On page 9, "statesmanshp" was replaced with "statesmanship".
On page 9, "he ways" was replaced with "the ways".
On page 16, "Resolved, that" was replaced with "Resolved, That".